It’s back! Returning for the 21st edition, the New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF) will be fully in person at Film at Lincoln Center and the Asia Society, from 15 July to 31 July.
Highlights include the previously announced opening night film FAST & FEEL LOVE, J-Horror maestro Takashi Shimizu’s latest film OX-HEAD VILLAGE and Kim Han-min’s period action-war epic HANSAN: RISING DRAGON. Closing out the fest will be Choi Dong-hoon time-travel flick ALIENOID, the first of a two-part epic that stars Ryu Jun-yeol, Kim Tae-ri, and So Ji-sub.
There’s also an amazing Hong Kong film — retrospective featuring titles from Wong Kar Wai, Johnnie To, the Pang Brothers, Stephen Chow, Alan Mak and Felix Chong — a tribute to Josie Ho and a focus on Asian American cinema.
We’ve been covering NYAFF for the last few years, and there’s always more content than we can possibly fit into two weeks. It doesn’t stop up from trying though — because it’s always a pleasure.
You can find more on the official NYAFF website and all of our past and future coverage right here.
Opening Film
Fast & Feel Love | dir. Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit, Thailand 2022 | International Premiere
Centrepiece Film
Hansan: Rising Dragon | dir. Kim Han-min, South Korea 2022 | North American Premiere
Closing Film
Alienoid | dir. Choi Dong-hoon, South Korea 2022 | North American Premiere
Crowd Pleasers
Films that captivate, comfort, and cheer
– Mama Boy | dir. Arvin Chen, Taiwan 2022 | North American Premiere
– Mama’s Affair | dir. Kearen Pang, Hong Kong 2022 | New York Premiere
– My Best Friend’s Breakfast | dir. Du Zheng Zhe, Taiwan 2022 | North American Premiere
– Offbeat Cops | dir. Eiji Uchida, Japan 2022 | World Premiere
– Stellar: A Magical Ride | dir. Kwon Soo-kyung, South Korea 2022 | International Premiere
– Table for Six | dir. Sunny Chan, Hong Kong 2022 | North American Premiere
– We Are Family | dir. Benny Lau, Hong Kong 2022 | World Premiere
Genre Masters
Innovative new work that tweaks and twists genre conventions
– Confession | dir. Yoon Jong-seok, South Korea 2022 | North American Premiere
– Lesson in Murder | dir. Kazuya Shiraishi, Japan 2022 | North American Premiere
– Ox-Head Village | dir. Takashi Shimizu, Japan 2022 | North American Premiere
– Preman: Silent Fury | dir. Randolph Zaini, Indonesia 2021 | New York Premiere
– Shin Ultraman | dir. Shinji Higuchi, Japan 2022 | U.S. Premiere
– The Funeral | dir. Dan-Guei Shen, Taiwan 2022 | International Premiere
– The Killer | dir. Choi Jae-hun, South Korea 2022 | Special Screening
– The Swordsman | dir. Choi Jae-hun, South Korea 2020 | Special Screening
Next/Now
Highlighting emerging voices and promising works by up-and-coming directors
– Chilli Laugh Story | dir. Coba Cheng, Hong Kong 2022 | International Premiere
– Fire on the Plain | dir. Zhang Ji, China 2021 | New York Premiere, A CineCina Selection
– I Haven’t Done Anything | dir. Park Sang-min, South Korea 2022 | World Premiere
– Legendary in Action! | dir. Justin Cheung, Li Ho, Hong Kong 2022 | North American Premiere
– Virgin Blue | dir. Niu Xiaoyu, China 2021 | New York Premiere, A CineCina Selection
Beyond Borders
Films that tell stories about characters confronting different cultures
– Before Next Spring | dir. Li Gen, China 2021 | North American Premiere, A CineCina Selection
– Far Far Away | dir. Amos Why, Hong Kong 2021 | North American Premiere
– Finding Bliss: Fire and Ice—The Director’s Cut | dir. Kim Chan, Dee Lam, Hong Kong 2022 | North American Premiere
Frontlines
Films grounded in the lives of those in marginalized communities, with narratives that examine pressing issues
– Arisaka | dir. Mikhail Red, Philippines 2021 | New York Premiere
– Broken Commandment | dir. Kazuo Maeda, Japan 2022 | International Premiere
– The Girl on a Bulldozer | dir. Park Ri-woong, South Korea 2022 | North American Festival Premiere
Standouts
Exceptional films, regardless of premiere status
– Big Night! | dir. Jun Robles Lana, Philippines 2021 | New York Premiere
– Hot Blooded | dir. Cheon Myeong-kwan, South Korea 2022 | U.S. Premiere
– I Am More | dir. Lee Il-ha, South Korea, 2021 | North American Premiere
– Manchurian Tiger | dir. Geng Jun, China 2021 | U.S. Premiere, A CineCina Selection
– Next Door | dir. Yeom Ji-ho, South Korea 2022 | U.S. Premiere
Vanguards
Original films that break away from formalistic and/or narrative conventions
– Grown-ups | dir. Takuya Kato, Japan 2022 | International Premiere
– Intimate Stranger | dir. Mayu Nakamura, Japan 2021 | North American Premiere
– Life for Sale | dir Tom Teng, Taiwan 2021 | International premiere
– Nothing Serious | dir. Jeong Ga-young, South Korea 2022 | New York Premiere
– Ribbon | dir. Non, Japan 2022 | East Coast Premiere
– Ripples of Life | dir. Wei Shujun, China 2021 | New York Premiere, A CineCina Selection
– Terrorizers | dir. Ho Wi Ding, Taiwan 2021 | New York Premiere
Uncaged Award for Best Feature Film Competition
– #LookAtMe | dir. Ken Kwek, Singapore 2022 | World Premiere
– Angry Son | dir. Kasho Iizuka, Japan 2022 | North American Premiere
– Imaginur | dir. Nik Amir Mustapha, Malaysia 2022 | World Premiere
– One and Four | dir. Jigme Trinley, China 2021 | North American Premiere
– Perhaps Love | dir. Cho Eun-ji, South Korea 2021 | North American Premiere
– Reclaim | dir. CJ Wang, Taiwan 2022 | International Premiere
– The Sales Girl | dir. Janchivdorj Sengedorj, Mongolia 2021 | North American Premiere
– Fast & Feel Love | dir. Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit, Thailand 2022 | International Premiere
25th Anniversary program HKETO, CLASSIC MARATHON
(presented with the support of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York)
– Happy Together | dir. Wong Kar Wai, Hong Hong 1997 | Outdoors at Hearst Plaza
– Kung Fu Hustle | dir. Stephen Chow, Hong Kong 2004
– Overheard | dir. Alan Mak, Felix Chong, China/Hong Kong/Singapore 2009
– Running on Karma | dir. Johnnie To, Wai Ka-Fai, Hong Kong 2003
– The Eye | dir. Pang brothers, Hong Kong/Singapore 2002
Josie Ho Tribute
(presented with the support of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York)
– Dream Home | dir. Pang Ho-cheung, Hong Kong 2010
– Full Strike | dir. Derek Kwok, Henri Wong, Hong Kong 2015
Asian American Focus
– Dealing with Dad | dir. Tom Huang, USA 2022 | East Coast Premiere
Bright Futures: The Narrative Shorts Showcase
Superlative short works by emerging filmmakers
– Ateh | dir. Kristie Ko, Hong Kong 2021 | North American Premiere
– Black Goat | dir. Tang Yi, USA/Nepal 2019 | New York Premiere
– Double Happiness | dir. Scarlett Li, China/USA 2021 | New York Premiere
– Honekami (A Bite of Bone) | dir. Honami Yano, Japan 2021
– Natsuko | dir. Shuna Iijima, Japan 2020
– S.Q.A.G. (Short Quiet Asian Girl) | dir. Benedict Chiu, USA 2022 | World Premiere
– Tank Fairy | dir. Erich Rettstadt, Taiwan/USA 2021 | New York Premiere
– The Sea Between Us | dir. Yuga J Vardhan, Singapore 2021
– Visitors | dir. Kenichi Ugana, Japan 2021
– Wax and Wane | dir. Beidi Wang, USA 2022 | New York Premiere
