Asia House

Asia House is the UK's leading pan-Asian cultural organisation, covering 38 countries of Asia from the Gulf in the West to Japan in the East. Through its stimulating and vibrant Corporate and Public Programmes, Asia House aims to shape and contribute to the understanding and knowledge of Asian countries, their arts, religions and economies, and to foster closer communication between the peoples of Asia and Europe.

This year, Asia House presents its second Pan-Asia Film Festival 2009 (27 November to 11 December) a compelling selection of the best new cinema from across Asia, from the latest work by Academy Award nominated director Zhang Yimou (House of the Flying Daggers, Hero) to films by award-winning film-makers and emerging talent from China, Japan, Iran, Bhutan, Taiwan and the Philippines.

The festival provides a unique snapshot of current film-making across Asia and supports the Asia House mission of contributing to the understanding and knowledge of Asia in the UK. Teaming up with Apollo Cinema in Piccadilly Circus, the Asia House Pan-Asia Film Festival 2009 includes three UK premieres: Yang Yang, the latest feature by award-winning director Yu-Chieh Cheng, mentored by Ang Lee and now emerging as Taiwan's brightest new talent; Those Three, a beautiful atmospheric debut feature by award-winning Iranian short film maker Naghi Nemati; and Bakal Boys, about the boys who dive for scrap metal in the harbour slums of Manila, directed by acclaimed Filipino screen writer and documentary maker Ralston Jover.

Audiences will also have a rare opportunity to see Milarepa, a new feature film by Bhutanese director Neten Chokling which follows the life of the legendary 11th century Tibetan Bhuddist mystic and saint Jetsun Milarepa; Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles, by Chinese Director Zhang Yimou and Instant Swamp by Japanese film maker Miki Satoshi. New for 2009 is an evening of award-winning short films from Asia selected by Future Shorts, the world's leading short film label.