Past Time

About the Programme

Our modern world seems to be in a perpetual rush – expected high productivity, shrinking attention span, and not pausing long enough to soak in the present or to remember our recent past. Since the rise of industrialisation, human time has been commodified—an economic resource to be bought, sold, or traded. The cyclical rhythm of labour is used to maximise productivity where every waking second has to be optimised. To consciously reclaim lost time feels needed. A simple slowing down of things as a counter-response to the capitalist, motion-driven nature of time triggers questions of labour and the nature of work.

Past Time invites us to lose ourselves to the flow of time of various duration, to ponder on the notion of time that is embodied and qualitative. Consisting of both monumental and intimate works by renowned auteurs, these films traverse memory, time zones, and space to contemplate and reflect on humanity’s struggle against the tyranny of time.

Past Time will run from 11-27 September 2026 at Oldham Theatre.

Programme

News From Home (1976, Chantal Akerman, France/Belgium/West Germany, 88mins) *2K Restoration*

Sátántangó (1994, Béla Tarr, Hungary/Switzerland/Germany, 439mins) *4K Restoration*

As I Was Moving Ahead Occasionally I Saw Brief Glimpses of Beauty (2000, Jonas Mekas, United States, 288mins)

In Vanda’s Room ( No Quarto da Vanda , 2000, Pedro Costa, Czech Republic, 171mins) *2K Restoration*

What Time Is It There? (你那邊幾點 2001, Tsai Ming-liang, Taiwan, 110mins)

Tie Xi Qu: West of the Tracks (铁西区, 2002, Wang Bing, China, 551mins)

Mundane History (2009, เจ้านกกระจอก, Anocha Suwichakornpong, Thailand, 81mins)

An Elephant Sitting Still (2018, 大象席地而坐, Hu Bo, China, 234mins)

Please take note of the runtimes for the films. There will be intermission and breaks for selected films.

Tickets will go on sale Monday, 24 August 2026.

Scroll down to select the screening of your choice and click through to purchase tickets.

Friends of AFA members, please read the membership guide on how to purchase your discounted tickets and redeem your complimentary tickets.

Oldham Theatre’s opening hours

For further assistance, please contact us at ticketing@asianfilmarchive.org

Important Notice:

Do note that Oldham Theatre does not play ads and screenings will start promptly. Doors will open 20 minutes before showtime, so arrive early to register and find a seat. Arrive early so as not to disrupt the screenings. All patrons are encouraged to purchase your tickets online to be able to secure a seat. If you choose to purchase tickets or merchandise at Oldham Theatre’s box office, cashless payment is preferred.

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T&Cs

Concession tickets apply to Students (Local & Overseas), Full-time National Servicemen (NSF), Senior Citizens (55 years and above) only.

Please check film ratings before purchase of tickets. Please note that you may be asked to present your ID at the door (this applies to concession tickets as well). Only physical photographic identification is allowed, digital copies of identification are not allowed. AFA reserves the right to turn away any members of the public without physical photographic identification.

Upon confirmation of your order for Tickets, no exchange of Tickets will be made under any circumstances and Tickets are not transferable. No refund on Tickets will be made under any circumstances except due to cancellation of the event. The resale of Tickets at any price is prohibited.