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ROME – The 17th edition of the Far East Festival in Udine, Italy, Europe’s biggest showcase of genre and mainstream Asian cinema, will get a splashy opener with a live concert by Joe Hisaishi (pictured), the composer best known for his soundtracks to films by Hayao Miyazaki and Takeshi Kitano.

That will be the preamble to a high-profile lineup of 70 movies from 11 Asian territories ranging from the international preem of Daniel Lee‘s colossal Chinese blockbuster “Dragon Blade” to Tsui Hark’s 3D war action adventurer “The Taking of Tiger Mountain,” making its Italian bow.

Hotly anticipated Hong Kong police thriller “Helios” and Japanese sci-fi chiller “Parasyte: Part 2” will world preem in Udine day-and-date with their Asian releases, a clear measure of how prominent this event has become, even in Asia.

There will be 6 world premieres, 13 international preems, 25 European preems and 14 Italian bows.

Tickets for the Hisaishi concert, to be held in a 1,200-seat venue, were sold out in less than a week.

Fest will run April 23-May 2.