The Asian Film Archive co-presents three Asian films on the theme of Arts and Environment at the NUS Arts Festival 2009 on 27 February, 1 and 14 March 2009. The programme offers a broad mix of films from all over the world from the green themes of climate change and conservation, to society and politics, and even the fantasy worlds of our wildest imaginings.

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STORIES FROM OUR SUNNY HOMELAND
by Edwin (Indonesia)
2006, 63 mins, M18

Date/Time/Venue: 27 Feb 2009, 8pm, UCC Theatre Green Room, Free admission

This film captures Edwin’s brief but unforgettable encounters with the children of Aceh – from Remon who has an obsession to be a rock star, to Dasmin who simply wants to catch a fish under the emergency bridge, from Gadis who surprisingly knows about guns for a girl her age, to Linda who knows the recipe for fried rice. A documentary about Acehnese children, their high-soaring spirit, and a glimpse into daily life in Aceh after the tsunami.

About the Filmmaker: Edwin, born in Surabaya, graduated from Petra Christian University in 1999 and continued his study in Film Directing at the Jakarta Institute of Art. One of the most promising short filmmakers in Indonesia in recent years, his works have been showcased at international film festivals in Rotterdam, Cannes and Hamburg. His recently completed his debut feature for the prestigious New Currents Awards at the Pusan International Film Festival 2008.

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A NARMADA DIARY (Singapore Premiere)
by Anand Patwardhan & Simantini Dhuru (India)
1995, 57 mins, PG

Date/Time/Venue: 1 March 2009, 8pm, UCC Courtyard
Free admission

A Narmada Diary introduces the Save Narmada Movement against the building of the Sarfar Sarover Dam. The dam project is estimated to cause damage to 37,000 hectares of fertile land and displace over 200,000 indigenous people living near the Narmada river. When government resettlement programmes proved inadequate to account for ecological, cultural, and human costs, the people of the Narmada valley mounted one of the most dynamic and global resistance against the unjust and unsustainable development. Under the codirection of Anand Patwardhan, the documentary investigates this long and complicated struggle over the dam project at Narmada river.

About the Director: Anand Patwardhan has been making political documentaries for nearly three decades, pursuing diverse and controversial issues that are at the crux of social and political life in India. Many of his films were at one time or another banned by state television channels in India and have become the subject of litigation by Patwardhan who has successfully challenged the censorship rulings in court. Patwardhan was a student activist and since then, has been active in movements for housing rights of the urban poor, for communal harmony and participated in movements against unjust and unsustainable developments, miltarism and nuclear nationalism.

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THE HORSE THIEF
by Tian Zhuang Zhuang (China)
1986, 88mins, PG

Date/Time/Venue: 14 Mar 09, 8pm, UCC Dance Studio Free admission

Set against the breathtaking landscape of Tibet, the film tells the story of Norbu who is banished from his clan for stealing horses to support his family. Assuming the life of wanderers, his family continues their religious faith and practices. After his second son is born, Norbu seeks acceptance from the clan to save his family from starvation during winter. Told with mesmerizing photography and hypnotic images of Tibetan rituals, the film is a unique cinematic experience that transports audiences to an otherworldly place and time. A rare insight into the Tibetan culture, this critically acclaimed masterpiece has also been lauded by renowned film critics like Jonathan Rosenbaum and Roger Ebert. Martin Scorsese also rates it as the top film of the 1990s, a prized honour for the filmmaker who has seen Scorsese’s Taxi Driver 11 times when he was a film student.

About the Director: Tian Zhuangzhuang is one of the major figures amongst China's Fifth Generation filmmakers, along with Zhang Yimou and Chen Kaige. The trio studied at the Beijing Film Academy and were the first graduates of the school in 1982 since its reopening after the cultural revolution. Born in 1952, Tian's earlier experimental works documented ethnic minorities in Inner Mongolia and Tibet. His acclaimed Cannes entry, The Blue Kite (1993), resulted in him being prohibited from making films until 1996. His recent works include Spring in a Small Town (2002), a remake of the Chinese classic of the same title and Delamu (2004), a documentary on people living in the remote border region of Yunnan and Tibet. He currently teaches at his alma mater, mentoring younger filmmakers.

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Ticketing:
1. Tickets to films at the UCC Theatre Green Room and UCC Dance Studio will be distributed at the door one hour before the show and on a first-come-first-served basis. Seating at the UCC Theatre Green Room is limited to 64 pax, and 100 pax for the UCC Dance Studio. Tickets will not be available for reservation
2. Films rated NC-16 and above will require viewers to produce photo ID bearing date of birth at the door.
3. Films at the UCC Courtyard do not require tickets for admission but audiences are advised to come early to secure seating.

About the Asian Film Archive
The Asian Film Archive is a global non-governmental organisation founded to preserve the rich film heritage of Singapore and Asian Cinema, to encourage scholarly research on film, and to promote a wider critical appreciation of this art form. As an important nexus, it brings together the various segments of the Asian film community in order to open and enrich new intellectual, educational and creative spaces. Find out more at www.asianfilmarchive.org

About the NUS Arts Festival 2009
NUS Arts Festival (NAF) is NUS’ flagship arts season to showcase our campus talents – students, staff and alumni – and their unique partnerships with industry professionals. This annual festival, organised by the NUS Centre For the Arts, also brings the arts to the campus community and beyond. Through performing, literay and visual art forms, NAF 09 will carry the theme of Arts & Environment. Find out more at http://www.nus.edu.sg/cfa/nusartsfestival/

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