A student society at Coventry University has secured its place
as the home of a major film archive, the first of its kind in the
UK.
Coventry University East Asian Film Society (CUEAFS) has
attracted an enthusiastic following and established important links
with film distributors from across the world. This relationship has
now resulted in the donation of five 35mm film prints worth around
£6,000 from one of the UK's leading distributors of Asian
Cinema.
Terracotta Distribution has been a major supporter of CUEAFS
since its foundation in 2009, taking an active part in the
society's development by supplying films, promotional material and
overall professional advice and encouragement to students in the
Department of Media.
Now to celebrate the opening of a new state of the art screening
room at Coventry University, Terracotta has donated five film
prints to the department, marking the start of the first archive of
Asian Cinema in the UK.
Joey Leung, Managing Director of Terracotta Distribution
said:
"One of our aims in setting up Terracotta was to encourage the
next generation of film lovers to watch more Far East Films, and
Coventry University has embraced that.
"We chose to donate our collection of 35mm film prints to
Coventry University because of our strong links with the students
through sponsoring their East Asian film club, the standard of
their film print storage facility, the passion which their lecturer
Spencer Murphy has for teaching his students about Asian
Cinema, and their impressive approach to hands-on film making when
they shot short films at the Terracotta Festival. We know the
prints will have a loving home and fully support the University's
Department of Media as it builds up its library of films."
Among the donated cinema prints are the South Korean hits
'Breathless' and 'Hansel and Gretel', which students can now enjoy
on the brand new cinema screen in the recently opened Hub
building.
CUEAFS founder and Lecturer in Film and Visual Culture, Spencer
Murphy said:
"This latest act of generosity to our society, the donation of a
number of 35mm film prints, is a testament to Terracotta's
investment in not only our University, but in the broader
appreciation of East Asian film in the UK.
"I am immensely proud for our society to be associated with
Terracotta and I know I speak on behalf of all the students in
saying a massive thank you. We look forward to continuing our
relationship, and with the help of Terracotta, CUEAFS can provide
even more exciting events at Coventry University."
Voted Society of the Year 2011 by Coventry students, CUEAFS aims
to promote and celebrate cultural diversity by raising awareness of
South East Asian Cinema. Films are screened every Wednesday from
2pm in the Square One arts and entertainments venue in The
Hub.
For more information about Coventry University, please visit
their website here: www.coventry.ac.uk