Boreak Goes To Toronto
Heather, the Artistic Director at Toronto Reel Asian Film Festival just sent us this press clipping on Aki Ra’s Boys. We continue to be amazed at how far Boreak’s story has travelled.John TeraudsEntertainment Reporter, Toronto Star Akira’s Landmine Musuem has an unforgettable guide in 12-year old Boreak. He can tell you the name, purpose and...
The Pyongyang Metro
When we were in Pyongyang, any occasion that allowed us get up close to ordinary citizens was an event, something to be discussed and analyzed. Imagine the excitement among festival delegates when we were told we were going for a ride on the metro. Down, down we went. The escalators seemed to go on forever....
The Flower Girl
We were seated next to a North Korean superstar and we didn’t realize it. Our translator introduced her as the Famous Actress – Hong Yong-hui. We didn’t understand just how famous until sometime towards the end of the dinner. A stream of fans marched up to say hello, and suddenly we were surrounded by people...
Visitors From Earth
A huge Starbucks sign. Yao Ming peddling mobile plans. No guide waiting just beyond check-out. No guide telling you to hand over your cellphone. Or follow you around. Or hustle you onto the bus. Taxis on demand! Beijing. The real world. We’re still coping with the culture shock. Pyongyang was all about what we couldn’t...
Pyongyang
It is hard to visit North Korea with no pre-conceived notions. The secret state. That place ruled by the strange man with the even stranger hairdo. A man adored by millions. A man said to be intent on pushing the world to the brink of nuclear disaster. Whacky, was a word someone once used to...
The Other PIFF
We’re going to North Korea! Aki Ra’s Boys has been invited to the Pyongyang International Film Festival – yes, it’s true, they have a festival there. The last one featured films like Bend it Like Beckham and Cry, the Beloved Country. The Dear Leader, we’re told, loves movies and the festival has been described as...
Freezing But Worth It
This is Chimbulak, reputedly Central Asia’s best ski resort and host of the 2011 Asian Winter Games. Riding on one of those things was great fun. We dangled in the air for 20-something minutes, jumped off at the top, oohed and aahhed over the truly spectacular view, and were about to start on the vodka...
The Green Market
Almaty’s biggest bazaar. So named because the walls are painted green. Sells everything under the sun. Spent the bulk of our time in the food hall sampling berries, caviar and honey. And dodging hardworking security guards, who refused to let us take photos. Those apricots are to die for. Everyone agreed this guy had the...
The Red Carpet
Who says you need to be in Cannes to walk on one? The Kazakh version led us all the way into the Palace of the Republic, for the opening ceremony of the Almaty International Film Festival. Police everywhere. Crowds straining to see. Paparazzi. Everyone went wild when Russian actor, Alexander Mokhov, showed up. The organizers...
From Almaty
A column of Porches holds up traffic outside our hotel. Down the road, workmen put the finishing touches to the city’s newest Armani store. The bar round the corner serves up sushi and shishas. The streets are clean, green. Not a beggar in sight. This could be anywhere. This beautiful, happening city surrounded by snowcapped...
Homeless In Taiwan
Time to polish up on our Mandarin. Homeless FC has just been invited to the 10th Taipei Film Festival.
In Which The Boys Get Invited To Barcelona
The last time we were in Barcelona, we whiled our days away on great tapas, lots of cava and more great tapas. Six days in the city and virtually no sightseeing. Oh, we might have ambled down to the Sagrada Familia, but even that memory is hazy. Yes, our bad. We were pigs. Which is...
