For the fifth year in a row, Taiwanese films will be hitting London’s cinemas as a part of the London East Asia Film Festival – the largest film festival of its kind in the UK. Running on an adjusted timeframe due to the pandemic and local restrictions, Taiwanese films “Detention”, “I WeirDO” and “Wild Sparrow” will be screening at the festival from the 10th to the 13th – making up three of the programme’s ten films.

Detention 返校 (2019)

Cineworld Cinema Leicester Square / 20:00 - 22:00 UTC Friday 11th December

Winner of five Golden Horse Awards, this super-natural scare-fest takes place during Taiwan's authoritarian era of government censorship. However, in the school the film takes place, the government isn't the only one watching.

I WeirDO 怪胎 (2020)

The Cinema at Selfridges / 18:15 UTC Saturday 12th December

This quirky rom-com, shot entirely on an iPhone, is film full of facemasks  and sanitizer. Telling the story of two germaphobes falling in love, I WeirDO is timely story about overcoming fears and discomfort.

Wild Sparrow 野雀之詩 (2020)

The Cinema at Selfridges / 20:15 UTC Sunday 13th December

When his local school closes, 12 year old Han must leave the tranquillity of his mountain home to live with estranged mother in the bustling city of Taipei. The drama Wild Sparrow reflects on inter-generational struggles of family.

With the pandemic causing a major crisis in the global film and cinema industry, bringing Taiwanese films to London’s cinemas represents the deep connection between Taiwan and the global film industry.