Ryoo Seung-wan’s action thriller ESCAPE FROM MOGADISHU has been announced as the opening night film for the 2021 New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF). It joins over 60 previously announced and new films that will screen at the hybrid festival — both virtually and in person — between 6 and 22 August 2021.
The film will arrive fresh from opening in its native South Korea in late July. Set in war-torn Somalia in 1991, it depicts the perilous escape attempted by North and South Korean embassy workers who were stranded during the conflict. Veteran director Ryoo, who we last saw in a similar historical action-thriller with The Battleship Island (2017), brings stars Kim Yoon-seok, Jo In-sung, Heo Joon-ho and Kim So-jin to his cast.
Six films will screen as part of the Uncaged Award for Best Feature Film Competition: ANIMA (Cao Jinling, China), CITY OF LOST THINGS (Yee Chih-yen, Taiwan), HAND ROLLED CIGARETTE (Chan Kin Long, Hong Kong), JOINT (Oudai Kojima, Japan), TEN MONTHS (Namkoong Sun, South Korea) and TIONG BAHRU SOCIAL CLUB (Tan Bee Thiam, Singapore).
Other new films announced include Fruit Chan’s COFFIN HOMES, Lee Woo-jung’s SNOWBALL, Stanley Tong’s RISING SHAOLIN: THE PROTECTOR and the world premiere of Takahiro Horie’s SENSEI, WOULD YOU SIT BESIDE ME?
Legendary Hong Kong filmmaker Ann Hui will will be the recipient of the Variety Lifetime Achievement Award. There will also be a special focus on Asian American stories in response to the rise in violence against the Asia American community since the start of the pandemic.
A complete list of new additions are below. You can find more on the official NYAFF website and all of our past and future coverage right here.
OPENING FILM
— Escape from Mogadishu | dir. Ryoo Seung-wan, South Korea 2021 | International Premiere.
ANN HUI TRIBUTE SCREENING
— The Story of Woo Viet | dir. Ann Hui, Hong Kong 1981 | 40th anniversary tribute screening. In-person Only
UNCAGED AWARD FOR BEST FEATURE FILM
The Uncaged competition section shines the spotlight on first- or second-time directors and celebrates their passion, their vision and their willingness to take risks.
— Anima | dir. Cao Jinling, China 2021 | North American Premiere. In-person Only
— City Of Lost Things | dir. Yee Chih-yen, Taiwan 2020 | North American Premiere. In-person Only
— Hand Rolled Cigarette | dir. Chan Kin Long, Hong Kong 2021 | North American Premiere. In-person & Virtual
— Joint | Kojima Oudai, Japan 2021 | International Premiere. In-person & Virtual
— Ten Months | Namkoong Sun, 2020 | International Premiere. In-person Only
— Tiong Bahru Social Club | dir. Tan Bee Thiam, Singapore 2020 | U.S. Premiere. In-person & Virtual
ASIAN AMERICAN FOCUS
— Americanish | dir. Iman K. Zawahry, USA 2021 | In-person Only
— A Shot Through the Wall | dir. Aimee Long, USA 2021 | In-person Only
— Snakehead | dir. Evan Jackson Leong, USA 2021 | In-person Only
— Shorts Showcase, 10 films | In-person and Virtual
GENRE MASTERS
— Coffin Homes | dir. Fruit Chan, Hong Kong 2021 | North American Premiere
— The Prayer | dir. Min Kyu-dong, South Korea 2021 | International Premiere. Virtual Only
— Rising Shaolin: the Protector | dir. Stanley Tong, China, Hong Kong 2021 | International Premiere. Virtual Only
NEXT/NOW
— Snowball | dir. Lee Woo-jung, South Korea 2021 | International premiere. In-person Only
STANDOUTS
— A Leg | dir. Chang Yao-sheng, Taiwan 2020 | US Continental Premiere. In-person & Virtual
VANGUARD
— Sensei, Would You Sit Beside Me? | dir. Takahiro Horie, Japan 2021 | World Premiere. In-person Only
