Far East Film Festival

Udine, European capital of Asian cinema

Born in 1999, the Far East Film Festival (FEFF) has grown to become the largest event on the continent dedicated to popular cinema from East and Southeast Asia. Organized by the Centro Espressioni Cinematografiche (CEC) of Udine, it brings dozens of films from China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia to the Friulian capital each year, many of which are world or European premieres: action films, melodramas, comedies, blockbusters, and auteur cinema are screened in the city's cinemas, attracting thousands of spectators and hundreds of accredited guests from all over the world.

A nine-day celebration

For nine days, Udine becomes, as the organizers like to say, the largest Asian epicenter in Europe. Screenings are concentrated at the Teatro Nuovo Giovanni da Udine and the Cinema Visionario, managed by the CEC itself, while the entire historic center comes alive with the so-called Asian Zone: over a hundred collateral events including workshops, meetings with directors and actors, markets, exhibitions, oriental street food tastings, and cosplay gatherings.

The Golden Mulberry and the FEFF atmosphere

What makes the festival special is not only the quality of the selection but the atmosphere: the Udine audience is famous for its warm participation, filled with applause, laughter, and ovations. The symbolic award is the Golden Mulberry (Gelso d'Oro), awarded by the vote of the audience in the hall: a formula that has made the festival famous worldwide. The Golden Mulberry Lifetime Achievement Award has celebrated some of the most important figures in Asian cinema over the years, including actors, directors, and martial arts masters.

Much more than a festival

An entire world revolves around the screenings: masterclasses, the professional market Focus Asia, exhibitions, and evening events. Supported by the Municipality of Udine, the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, and the Ministry of Culture, the FEFF is now an international reference point for producers, distributors, and critics, as well as one of the main cultural calling cards for the Friulian capital. For enthusiasts and those who want to discover a constantly evolving cinematic world, Udine in spring is an unmissable stop.