ACF 1209: IN FOCUS: FORTISSIMO FILMS to feature 10 Asian films

Last Life in the Universe (Thailand)

In Focus: Fortissimo Films is an upcoming series that will screen at the Museum of Modern Art in New York from November 10-21, 2011. Ten of the eleven films are from Asian countries, including All About Lily Chou Chou (Japan), Devils on the Doorstep (China), and Tears of the Black Tiger (Thailand). The one non-Asian film is Yes Nurse! No Nurse! from The Netherlands.

An early, visionary force in the global independent film movement, Fortissimo Films now has offices in several entertainment capitals and maintains an expansive reach within the international independent film community, nurturing relationships with talented directors and producers throughout the world. Fortissimo has played an especially important role in the international expansion of Asian cinema, helping to introduce a multitude of talented and innovative artists. The company’s willingness to champion films that confront tough political and artistic issues is evident in the titles in this exhibition, which stretch across many territories to represent two decades of production, sales, and distribution.

In addition to supporting scores of notable films from Hong Kong and China—from Wong Kar-wai’s Happy Together (Hong Kong) to Tian Zhuangzhuang’s Springtime in a Small Town (China) and Zhang Yuan’s Beijing Bastards (China/Hong Kong)—the company has helped to develop titles from Taiwan, Korea, the Philippines and, in particular, Thailand, with filmmakers such as Wisit Sasanatieng and Pen-Ek Ratanaruang (both of whom are represented in this series).

Full information about the films to be shown, the screening schedule, and ordering tickets can be found here.

In Focus: Fortissimo Films was organized by Jytte Jensen, Curator, Department of Film at MoMA.