FACT Liverpool is bringing its acclaimed pop-up cinema experience, Cinema in the City, to the Pagoda Arts centre on Henry Street this May.
From Thursday 16 May until Sunday 19 May, attendees can enjoy four evenings of Chinese and Vietnamese cinema, music and food from beloved local restaurants, Big Bowl Noodle Bar and Doux Chaton.
The film programme includes a curated selection of dramas, documentaries and vintage classics.
Leong Po Chih’s 1986 mystery-comedy Ping Pong, starring Lucy Sheen and Liverpool-born David Yip, will be screened in high-definition for the first time ever thanks to a recent digital re-release.
The film follows a law clerk tasked with executing the will of a famous London Chinatown restauranteur after his body is discovered in a phone box.
This one-off screening will be followed by a Q&A with lead actor David Yip and host Rosa Fong, Senior Lecturer in Film at Liverpool John Moores University.
The screening of Hải Ninh’s 1974 drama The Little Girl of Hanoi, which depicts the 1972 US bombing campaign of the Vietnamese capital, will be accompanied by an original live score by Nammy Wams, a London-based DJ and music producer specialising in Grime and UK Drill.
Also featured are Anthony Chen’s Ran Dong (The Breaking Ice), a 2023 Chinese-Singaporean romantic drama set in a border city in the north of China where over half of its inhabitants are of Korean ancestry, which was selected for the Cannes Film Festival, and Dust & Metal, Esther Johnson’s 2022 archive essay film, showcasing films from across Vietnamese cinematic history.
The Dust & Metal screening will be accompanied by a live score by Xo Xinh, a Vietnamese-born American electronic music composer and performer, who will join director Esther Johnson for an in-person Q&A session following the film.
Lewis Eyles, Film & Events Officer at FACT, said: “We’re really excited to be working with Pagoda Arts to bring Cinema in the City to the Chinese community centre this May.
“The four-day cinema event is filled with firsts including the UK debut of two Vietnamese films, the first high definition screening of the newly remastered Ping Pong, and the brand new addition of live music to selected film screenings.
“This season brings together lots of local, regional and national partners including venue Pagoda Arts, Liverpool restaurants Big Bowl Noodle Bar and Doux Chaton, ESEA salon series Moongate Mix North, and Vietnamese film tour Star Nhà Ease”.
FACT Liverpool, which is supported by public funding from Arts Council England and Liverpool City Council, is renowned as a hub for independent film screenings in the heart of the city.
The multi-storey venue, which celebrated its 20th anniversary last year, is home to three art galleries, four cinema screens and a Studio/Lab for creatives and has displayed work by more than 500 artists.
Zi Lan Liao, Chief Executive of Pagoda Arts, said: “We extend our heartfelt gratitude to FACT for this partnership, and we look forward to welcoming audiences to experience the magic of Cinema in the City at Pagoda Arts.
“This immersive experience promises to captivate audiences, celebrating the rich tapestry of storytelling from across East and South-East Asia.
“Join us as we delve into captivating narratives, accompanied by delicious food, and engaging discussions, creating unforgettable memories right here in our community.”
Tickets for Cinema in the City at Pagoda Arts range from £7.50 to £13.00 and are on sale now.
All films will be screened with English subtitles.
Image credit: FACT Liverpool
