Words by Maggie Arandela-Romano
The 10th anniversary of the London East Asia Film Festival (LEAFF) opened exactly as it should have — with style, laughter, cinematic nostalgia, and just the right amount of chaos.
The evening began inside the National Portrait Gallery, where guests mingled between portraits, sipping prosecco and nibbling delicate canapés under the gaze of centuries of British faces. There’s something poetic about starting an East Asian film festival in a building that celebrates faces — familiar, iconic, forgotten — all staring back at us. The mood was warm, relaxed, and a bit giddy.
People weren’t just networking; they were chatting. I overheard animated conversations about everything from Korean thrillers to Hong Kong action classics. Someone compared Oldboy to Shakespeare; someone else defended Parasite like it was a national sport. I smiled, glass in hand, surrounded by that rare mix of cinephiles, critics, and dreamers — people who still believe cinema matters.
After a round of introductions (and maybe a little bit of champagne), we were shepherded out toward Leicester Square, the beating heart of London cinema. The walk between the Gallery and the ODEON Luxe felt symbolic — from art on walls to art on screens.
Leicester Square, lit up and humming as always, welcomed us with its usual glamour: neon reflections on the wet pavement, tourists clutching phones, that unmistakable whiff of popcorn. And in the middle of it all — the LEAFF red carpet, marking ten years of celebrating East Asian cinema in London.
Inside, the energy shifted instantly. The ODEON Luxe isn’t just any cinema; it’s the place where London rolls out its biggest premieres. Seats reclined, lights dimmed, and there it was — the official start of LEAFF 2025.
The ceremony opened with festival director Hye-jung Jeon, who greeted the audience with calm pride, noting how far the festival has come since its modest beginnings in 2015. She reminded everyone that the festival was founded to build bridges between East Asia and the UK, not just through films but through shared imagination.
Then came the awards — and the night got lively.
Ha Jung-woo, actor, director, and all-around icon, stepped on stage to receive the Honorary Award for his contribution to East Asian cinema. And yes — I might have squealed a little. There’s something about Ha Jung-woo in person: that calm confidence, that mischievous half-smile. Even the photographers seemed to pause before snapping again. When he thanked the festival “for a decade of passion,” the room burst into warm applause.
There were giggles too — mine included. I caught myself whispering “he’s so charming” to no one in particular. Around me, others were just as taken. It’s funny how cinema stars have that effect: they walk in and for a second everyone forgets their job titles, their deadlines, their drinks waiting outside.
Yonfan, the legendary Hong Kong filmmaker, received the Lifetime Achievement Award, and the applause was just as heartfelt. The two men on stage — one representing a new generation of bold storytelling, the other a symbol of timeless artistry — felt like the perfect pairing for LEAFF’s tenth year.
And then came the movie moment.
The festival opened with the UK premiere of John Woo’s newly remastered Hard Boiled, presented in partnership with the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office. The screen lit up with that unforgettable mix of slow motion, chaos, and smoke that only Woo can pull off — bullets flying like fireworks, Chow Yun-fat sliding across hospital floors with a baby in one arm and a shotgun in the other.
I couldn’t help but think of my mother. She used to watch Chow Yun-fat movies like they were romance dramas. For her, Hard Boiled wasn’t an action film — it was a love story, mostly between herself and Chow Yun-fat. I’m convinced she would have left all of us behind for him, suitcase packed before the first credits rolled.
Watching that remastered glory on the big screen, surrounded by an audience gasping, laughing, and clapping at every iconic moment, I felt something familiar. Nostalgia, yes — but also gratitude. Gratitude for festivals like LEAFF that keep these stories alive, that bridge generations and continents, that remind us cinema is more than entertainment. It’s a memory.
After the film, people lingered — reluctant to leave. Some debated Woo’s editing style: others were busy taking selfies in front of the LEAFF 2025 banner. I chatted with a few filmmakers, one of whom described the festival as “the most human one in London.” That stuck with me.
Ten years ago, LEAFF began as a small initiative, a pre-festival with big dreams. Now, it’s a fixture — a celebration of voices from Korea, Japan, China, Hong Kong, and beyond, all finding their place in London’s cultural landscape.
Walking out into Leicester Square past midnight, I felt a mix of exhilaration and quiet pride. The kind of night where the city feels a little more alive, the art feels a little closer, and you can almost believe you’re part of something that matters.
Maybe that’s what LEAFF’s tenth anniversary is really about — not just film premieres or awards, but connection. Between East and West. Between artists and audiences. Between one woman’s mild fangirling in row H and her mother’s undying love for Chow Yun-fat.
Cinema brings us together — sometimes with laughter, sometimes with tears, sometimes with a collective sigh at the sight of a certain Korean actor holding a bouquet.
Here’s to ten more years of that.
So, as the lights came up and the crowd spilled back into the London night, I couldn’t help but smile — tickets, memories, and a little fangirling in hand. Have you got yours?
Info:
Check out the full programme of LEAFF on their website : https://www.leaff.org.uk/lineup2025
My personal recommendation is the first ever Korean featured movie that integrates AI, Run to the West directed by Yoon Sung Kang. It will premiere on November 1st at 16:00 at the Soho Hotel Cinema, followed by a Q&A with the Director. Tickets available here : https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/leaff-2025-run-to-the-west-soho-hotel-cinema-tickets-1820520889989
