Asiexpo

Asiexpo is a Lyon-based association dedicated to promoting the diversity of Asian cultures in France. It was founded by enthusiasts who, in January 1995, decided to launch a festival in Lyon devoted to Indian culture and cinema. The first event, Nocturne indien, took place in November 1995 and became the first annual French festival dedicated to India. In 1997 the festival expanded to cover the whole Asian continent, adding China, Japan and Hong Kong to its programme, and was renamed Cinémas et Cultures d'Asie. From 1997 to 2006 it became a major fixture for Asian cinema in France, with around fifty media outlets covering it each year and audiences travelling from across the country. The festival offered premieres, unseen films and classics from Central Asia to the Far East. In November 2010 the festival was replaced by Asian Connection, restricted to a single venue, the MJC Monplaisir; a second edition followed in October 2011, but in 2012 it was reduced to online film screenings via the Asiexpo TV platform. Asiexpo also organises two monthly cinema events, the Asian Ciné club and 100% Manga evenings, and since 2000 has held the annual Japan Touch event. Beyond cinema, the association runs a wide range of cultural activities including Afghan tea-concerts, Japanese film evenings, Indian dance workshops and Asian language courses. Its long-running festival awarded prizes such as the Jonque d'or, Jonque d'argent and Jonque de bronze, as well as New Asian Cinema awards and animation and short film prizes. Asiexpo remains active in Lyon's cultural landscape, with its website serving as a hub for its events and activities.

Asiexpo was born in January 1995 when a group of enthusiasts decided to launch a festival in Lyon dedicated to Indian culture and cinema. The first event, named Nocturne indien after the novel by Antonio Tabucchi (adapted to film by Alain Corneau in 1989), took place in November 1995. It laid the foundations for the festival's success: passion, conviviality and eclecticism. The Nocturnes indiens became the first annual French festival devoted to India. In 1997 the festival expanded and diversified: the entire Asian continent was now represented, with India joined by China, Japan and Hong Kong, and screenings held in venues ranging from multiplexes to art-house cinemas. From 1997 to 2006 the festival, now called Cinémas et Cultures d'Asie, became an essential event for Asian cinema in France. Around fifty media outlets covered it annually, and audiences came from all over the country. Its programme offered premieres, previews and classics from Central Asia to the Far East, providing a broad panorama of Asian cinema past and present. In November 2006, for its 12th edition, the festival continued its mission to explore these cinematic horizons and bring the best to Lyon's screens, allowing these films to exist and meet an eager public. The 12th edition ran from 7 to 13 November 2006 and awarded the Jonque d'or to Rang De Basanti by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra (India), the Jonque d'argent to Love for Share by Nia Dinata (Indonesia), and the Jonque de bronze to The Shoe Fairy by Robin Lee (Taiwan). The 13th edition took place from 6 to 11 November 2007, mainly at the Cinéma Opéra, with the Jonque d'or going to Sky in December by Hiroshi Toda (Japan), the Jonque d'argent to Gandhi, My Father by Feroz Abbas Khan (India), and the Jonque de bronze to 18 Grams of Love by Han Yew-kwang (Singapore). In November 2010 the festival Cinémas et Cultures d'Asie was replaced by Asian Connection, restricted to a single venue, the MJC Monplaisir. Asiexpo also organised a 100% Bollywood evening there in January 2011. A second edition of Asian Connection was held in October 2011, but in 2012 the festival was reduced to online film screenings via the Asiexpo TV platform. Throughout its history, Asiexpo has organised two monthly cinema events, the Asian Ciné club and 100% Manga evenings, and since 2000 has held the annual Japan Touch event. The association also runs a variety of cultural activities such as Afghan tea-concerts, Japanese film evenings, Indian dance workshops and Asian language courses, staying true to its mission of promoting Asian cultures in their diversity.

• 2012

  Festival reduced to online screenings via Asiexpo TV.

• 2011

  Second edition of Asian Connection held in October; 100% Bollywood evening in January.

• 2010

  Festival replaced by Asian Connection, restricted to MJC Monplaisir.

• 2007

  13th festival held from 6 to 11 November, mainly at Cinéma Opéra.

• 2006

  12th Cinémas et Cultures d'Asie festival held from 7 to 13 November.

• 2000

  First edition of Japan Touch, which becomes an annual event.

• 1997

  Festival expands to cover all of Asia and is renamed Cinémas et Cultures d'Asie.

• 1995

  First festival Nocturne indien held in November, the first annual French festival dedicated to India.

A non-profit association promoting Asian cultural diversity in Lyon through festivals, screenings and workshops.

• Japan Touch

  Annual event organised since 2000.

• Cinémas et Cultures d'Asie

  Film festival held from 1995 to 2009, formerly Nocturnes indiens.

• Asian Connection

  Festival held in 2010 and 2011, successor to Cinémas et Cultures d'Asie.

• Asian Ciné club

  Monthly cinema event.

• 100% Manga evenings

  Monthly manga-themed evenings.

• Asiexpo TV

  Online platform for film screenings.

1. 1Asiexpofr.wikipedia.org
2. 2Asiexpowikidata.org