The final stop for Odyssey 2023 for its offline screening programme is St Ives – 23 June.
The enchanting coastal town of St. Ives is set to experience an exciting event on the 23rd of June at the Royal Cinema, as Odyssey 2023’s St. Ives GALA Screenings make their much-anticipated debut. Marking a significant milestone in the realm of Asian cinema, this premiere promises an evening of thought-provoking discussions on two vital topics – ‘Environment’ and ‘Urban Development’.
As St. Ives embraces its rich culture and magnificent environment, the convergence of these themes with the town’s distinctive identity guarantees a truly captivating experience for all local film enthusiasts.
In its 3rd edition, UK based independent film festival Odyssey: a Chinese cinema season celebrates ‘Global Sustainability’ as its main theme this year, responding to the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It has 5 main strands for the festival programme comprising both online & offline screenings. They include “JOURNEY”, “EQUALITY”, “BIODIVERSITY”, “ENVIRONMENT” and “URBAN DEVELOPMENT”.
Two exciting films are set to have their UK premiere at the St. Ives GALA screenings. The Fish delves into the topic of “Environment” through experimental cinematic expressions. By portraying a confrontation between life and death, the short film powerfully depicts the destruction of fish habitats caused by human actions. With St. Ives’ history as a picturesque seaside town once economically dependent on fishing, Odyssey believes that such a film will resonate with the local community, serving as a silent yet powerful reminder of our responsibility to protect the environment.
Till Love Do Us Part explores the awakening and self-liberation of a middle-class woman trapped in a traditional marriage. The film also has discussion in the theme of urban development as the protagonist experiences separate lives in two different cities.
Odyssey 2023 St. Ives GALA Screening Programme
The Fish (2021)
UK PREMIERE
Strand: Environment
Director: Yupeng He
Country: China
Run Time: 3 mins
Language: No dialogue
Genre: Experimental
Synopsis: It is a confrontation between life and death.
Till Love Do Us Part (2022)
UK PREMIERE
Strand: Urban Development
Director: Ran Li
Country: China, Czech Republic
Run Time: 110 mins
Language: Chinese, English and Czech with Chinese and English subtitles
Genre: Drama
Synopsis: A romance between Czech and China. College lecturer Shu falls madly in love with theatre director Fan in Prague, during a work trip to Europe. However, she has a fiancé Hu to marry, and a decent middle-class life in China to pursue.
Against the backdrop of St. Ives’ artistic culture and natural splendour, Odyssey 2023 provides a unique opportunity to celebrate diverse cinematic voices while shedding light on the pressing issues that shape our world. Prepare to be immersed in the magic of Chinese cinema as it converges with the captivating charm of St. Ives, Cornwall.
ABOUT ODYSSEY 2023
Cinema is where people connect.
60+ films, masterclasses, discussion panels and exclusive Q&As.
Odyssey is the biggest annual film festival in the UK, bridging curious audience with Greater China and overseas Chinese communities. The theme for 2023 is ‘Global Sustainability’.
Presented by UK-China Film Collab (UCFC)
Festival Date: 26 May – 30 June 2023
Format: Offline in Person and Online via Shift 72
Festival Website: odysseychinesecinema.uk
Instagram & Twitter Handle: @odysseyccs
Hashtags: #globalsustainability #odyssey2023 #ukchinafilm #peace
