Third Window Films ‘A Window to the East’


By Michelle Bailey


Third Window Films and


CUEAFS’s partnership began three years ago when Adam Torel (Managing Director of TWF) took a chance on a handful of students and their lecturer with the collective dream of bringing the best of East Asian cinema to the Midlands. While through Adam’s support, CUEAFS quickly established itself as the award- winning society it is today, Third Window Films acquired more than 35 titles, brought some of the big names from the Asian film industry to Europe and it seems Adam has yet to make a poor business decision. Adam founded Third


Window Films in 2005 after working for one of the largest UK film distribution companies of East Asian film, Tartan. Through growing frustration of their selection of Tartan Asia Extreme titles, Adam’s business ethos was to provide “a window to the East” (hence the company’s title) that could provide more variety of films. “My goal


was to bring all sorts of Asian cinema to the UK but without exploiting the market as had been done before through other company through films like long haired ghost or action or other genre films. I wanted to do the full spectrum – drama, comedies, musical


comedies, even one or two action films.” This mission is evident in


the eclectic Third Window Films catalogue with its celebration of different genres and regions, from Japan to Hong Kong and South Korea, and showcasing the work of heavyweights such as Tetsuya Nakashima and Sion Sono, alongside upcoming debut directors. Among the distributed titles are the South Korean hits ‘Oasis’ and ‘Peppermint Candy’ (by Chang-dong Lee), the Japanese ‘Kamikaze Girls’ and ‘Confessions’ (by Tetsuya Nakashima), Momoko Ando’s ‘Kakera’ and Sion Sono’s ‘Love Exposure’, while some of the re- appearing directors also include Yuya Ishii and Satoshi Miki. Last year, Third Window


Films in collaboration with CUEAFS gave the start to what will hopefully be a well- established East Asian festival in the Midlands, the first edition of East Winds. The idea for the festival was born out of Adam’s


not really going to breach a larger audience or an audience that wouldn’t already be there.” It wasn’t all smooth


ride for Third Window Films, however, as in August 2011, the UK saw what many described as the worst riots in British history. One of the looted and burned buildings was the Sony Warehouse in Enfield, where many companies, among which Third Window, held their stock. The result - a major loss and setback for the distributor. But the company got back on their feet and released the scheduled films for October and November, and went on to acquire the Japanese ‘Kotoko’ in late December 2011. The company then


continued their development and recently began a co- production with Sion Sono for his ‘Land of Hope’ – a drama that deals with the aftermath of Japan’s earthquake. Along with that, Third Window Films’ Charity Event in March deals with raising money and awareness for the people of Fukushima. With only a


Images courtesy of Third Window Films


interest into popularising East Asian cinema in smaller towns. “When you’re in London,


you’ve got your crowd, that are mostly already going to the Curzon cinema anyway, you’re


few years since its foundation, Third Window Films have already taken their first step into a new aspect of film, while being still dedicated to their original aim of breaking the


stereotyped genre-filled streak of popular Asian cinema. With so many projects under his belt, one can only imagine where Adam and his company will be within the next year.


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Asia Exposure, Issue 3


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