Tickets are now on sale for the 20th edition of the New York Asian Film Festival which runs from August 6 through 22, and more than ever today’s announcements prove this is a festival you don’t want to miss. More than 70 films are now listed for the hybrid line-up with a closing title soon to be announced.
Among its ceremonies currently in store, the festival will be handing actor Gordon Lam Ka Tong the Variety Star Asia Award. The festival will be showcasing four titles, three of which are screen-credited to Lam: Soi Cheang’s Limbo, Chan Kin Long’s Hand Rolled Cigarette and Vincent Kok’s star-studded All U Need Is Love. Lam also produced Ricky Ko’s assassin pic, Time, which will screen for the festival.
Lam now joins the ranks of previous Star Asia Award recepients such as Donnie Yen (2012), Sandra Ng (2014), Aaron Kwok (2015), Lee Byung-hun and Miriam Yeung (2016), Gang Dong-won and Duan Yihong (2017) and Kim Yoon-Seok (2018).
The added festivities continue onward with a trio of actors from different countries who will all be awarded along with their films all screened for the festival: Bang Min-a from South Korea (Snowball), Janine Gutierrez from the Philippines (Here and There) and Sosuke Ikematsu from Japan (The Asian Angel).
“Although they are at different stages in their careers, all three actors exhibit the mix of focus and dedication that only first-class actors possess. They all bring to their films a center of gravity and that most rare of qualities: screen presence.” says Samuel Jamier, Executive Director of NYAFF and President of the New York Asian Film Foundation.
“It made sense for us to give all three of them the Rising Star Asia Award (though regrettably, remotely) for roles that leave us to wonder if any actors have delved with more modesty and honesty into the tremors and intermittences of the human heart.”
Moreover, sophomore filmmaker Yoon Jae-keun will be honoree for the Daniel A. Craft Award For Excellence In Action Cinema, for his work on 2020 thriller Spiritwalker, which will have its World Premiere this year for NYAFF. Directed from a script by Yoon, the film centers on Kang Yi-an (Yoon Kye-sang), an amnesiac with the crackerjack skills of a highly trained intelligence operative switches bodies every 12 hours.
Per the announcement: Told with incredible visual panache and dazzling stunt work, the rousing film marks Yoon’s emergence as a brilliant talent in the action-film space. The World Premiere of a brand new cut of Spiritwalker will be screened at NYAFF.
“Spiritwalker is an extraordinary blend of action and drama,” says Jamier, “where action is not only seamlessly integrated in the storytelling, but where the action itself reinvents its own grammar within the language of the sci-fi thriller (and in the genre itself, Spiritwalker’s premise is already deeply original and innovative). While the film offers a check-list of the set pieces expected from contemporary action films, from fierce Jason Bourne-like brawls and gun fights to breathtaking car chases, it’s also, ultimately, far more than just the sum of its parts.”
Friday’s announcement also dives in further on the titles to be screened for this year’s debut of Asian American Focus, all of which are stories set in New York City. The section aims toward uplifting and empowering our Asian American communities by showcasing their diverse voices, in the wake of more than a year ot surging anti-Asian hate and violence, amplified both by the pandemic and the 2020 presidential election.
Writer/director Aimee Long’s A Shot Through The Wall stars Kenny Leu as a Chinese-American police officer whose life is unraveled after he mistakenly shoots an innocent Black man in Brooklyn, and builds to an unexpected conclusion; Iman K. Zawahry’s Queens-set comedy, Americanish, celebrates racial connections and ethnic traditions in the intercultural comedy Americanish; Evan Jackson Long’s crime thriller, Snakehead, starring Sylvia Chang, Celia Au and Sung Kang and recently acquired by Odin’s Eye for U.S. release, will highlight the darker histories of Manhattan’s Chinatown.
The festival is also adding the Emerging Voices Narrative Shorts Showcase, comprised of the works of young filmmakers, most of whom are New York-local graduates or current students. Per the announcement, the shorts, grouped in two selections: IRL (In Real Life) and Missed Connections, will be available through Eventive platform, including 1056 Metres and Invited In; 1056 Metres will also screen in-person preceding the feature film Babi, with Invited In preceding the feature film, Ten Months, with bonus animated short, SVA student YuanYuan Lu’s Kite screening in the SVA theater preceding the feature, City of Lost Things.
View the current line-up below with newly added titles in bold, and check back for updates!
OPENING FILM
Escape from Mogadishu | dir. Ryoo Seung-wan, South Korea 2021 | International Premiere. In-person OnlyDANIEL A. CRAFT AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN ACTION CINEMA SPECIAL SCREENING
– Spiritwalker | dir. Yoon Jae-Keun, South Korea 2021 | World Premiere of new version. In-person Only
– Ryuk-sa: A Teaser | dir: Cho Jin-woong, South Korea 2021 | TBC premiere. Short film. In-person Only.SPECIAL 20TH ANNIVERSARY CLASSIC SCREENING IN DAMROSCH PARK
Dragon Inn AKA New Dragon Gate Inn | dir. Raymond Lee, Hong Kong 1992 | In-person OnlyANN HUI TRIBUTE SCREENING
-The Story of Woo Viet | dir. Ann Hui, Hong Kong 1981 | 40th anniversary tribute screening. In-person Only
– Boat People | dir. Ann Hui, Hong Kong 1982. In-person OnlyUNCAGED 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 20201 | 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 | dir. Oudai Kojima, Japan 2021 | International Premiere. In-person & Virtual
– Ten Months | dir. Namkoong Sun, South Korea 2020 | International Premiere. In-person Only
– Tiong Bahru Social Club | dir. Tan Bee Thiam, Singapore 2020 | U.S. Premiere. In-person & VirtualCROWD PLEASERS
Films with broad appeal and titles accessible to all tastes
– All U Need is Love | dir. Vincent Kok, Hong Kong 2021 | North American Premiere. Virtual Only
– Breakout Brothers | dir. Mak Ho Pong, Hong Kong 2020 | North American Premiere. Virtual Only
– The Con-Heartist | dir. Mez Tharatorn, Thailand 2020 | North American Premiere. Virtual Only
– From Today, It’s My Turn!! | dir. Yuichi Fukuda, Japan 2020 | U.S. Premiere. Virtual Only
– Hold Me Back | dir. Akiko Ohku, Japan 2020 | U.S. Premiere. Virtual Only
– jigoku-no-hanazono: Office Royale | dir. Kazuaki Seki, Japan 2021 | North American Premiere. In-person Only
– My Missing Valentine | dir. Chen Yu-hsun, Taiwan 2020 | New York Premiere. Virtual Only
– One Second Champion | dir. Chiu Sin-hang, Hong Kong 2020 | New York Premiere. Virtual Only
– Tonkatsu DJ Agetaro | dir. Ken Ninomiya, Japan 2020 | North American Premiere. Virtual Only
– Zero to Hero | dir. Jimmy Wan, Hong Kong 2021 | North American Premiere. In-person OnlyGENRE MASTERS
Innovative new work that tweaks and twists genre conventions
– Coffin Homes | dir. Fruit Chan, Hong Kong 2021 | North American Premiere
– The Fable: The Killer Who Doesn’t Kill | dir. Kan Eguchi, Japan 2021 | North American Premiere. In-person Only
– Last of The Wolves | dir. Kazuya Shiraishi, Japan 2021 | North American Premiere. In-person Only
– Limbo | dir. Soi Cheang, Hong Kong 2021 | North American Premiere. In-person Only
– Midnight | dir. Kwon Oh-seung, South Korea 2021 | International Premiere. Virtual Only
– 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
– Sweetie, You Won’t Believe It | dir. Yernar Nurgaliyev, Kazakhstan 2020 | North American Premiere. Virtual OnlyNEXT/NOW
Highlighting emerging voices and promising works by up-and-coming directors
– Here And There | dir. JP Habac, Philippines 2021 | North American Premiere. In-person & Virtual
– Keep Rolling | dir. Man Lim Chung, Hong Kong 2020 | New York Premiere. Virtual Only
– Money Has Four Legs | dir. Maung Sun, Myanmar 2020 | North American Premiere. Virtual Only
– The Old Town Girls | dir. Shen Yu, China 2020 | North American Premiere. In-person Only
– Shadows | dir. Glenn Chan, Hong Kong 2020 | North American Premiere. Virtual Only
– Snowball | dir. Lee Woo-jung, South Korea 2021 | International premiere. In-person Only
– Time | dir. Ricky Ko, Hong Kong 2021 | North American Premiere. Virtual Only.BEYOND BORDERS
Films that tell stories about characters confronting different cultures
– The Asian Angel | dir. Yuya Ishii, Japan 2021 | North American Premiere. In-person Only
– Fighter | dir. Jéro Yun, South Korea 2020 | North American Premiere. Virtual Only
– A Song for You | dir. Dukar Tserang, China 2020 | North American Premiere. In-person OnlyFRONTLINES
Films grounded in the lives of those in marginalized communities, with narratives that examine pressing issues
– Babi | dir. Namewee, Malaysia 2020 | North American Premiere. TBD
– A Balance | dir. Yujiro Harumoto, Japan 2020 | North American Premiere. In-person Only
– I Don’t Fire Myself | dir. Lee Tae-Gyeom, South Korea 2020 | North American Premiere. Virtual Only
– Ninja Girl | dir. Yu Irie, Japan 2021 | World Premiere. In-person Only
– The Silent Forest | dir. Ko Chen-nien, Taiwan 2020 | New York Premiere. Virtual Only
– Three Sisters | dir. Lee Seung-won, South Korea 2020 | North American Premiere. Virtual Only
– Tough Out | dir. Xu Hui-jing, China 2020 | North American Premiere. Virtual Only
– The Way We Keep Dancing | dir. Adam Wong, Hong Kong 2020 | New York Premiere. Virtual OnlySTANDOUTS
Exceptional films, regardless of their premiere status
– Blue | dir. Keisuke Yoshida, Japan 2021 | U.S. Premiere. Virtual Only
– The Book of Fish | dir. Lee Joon-ik, South Korea 2021 | International Premiere. In-person Only
– A Leg | dir. Chang Yaosheng, Taiwan 2020 | US Continental Premiere. In-person & Virtual
– Samjin Company English Class | dir. Lee Jong-pil, South Korea 2020 | New York Premiere. In-person & Virtual
– Under the Open Sky | dir. Miwa Nishikawa, Japan 2020 | New York Premiere. In-person OnlyVANGUARDS
Original films that break away from formalistic and/or narrative conventions
– As We Like It | dir. Muni Wei, Chen Hung-i, Taiwan 2021 | East Coast Premiere. Virtual Only
– Barbarian Invasion | dir. Tan Chui Mui, Malaysia, China, 2021 | North American Premiere. In-person Only
– Junk Head | dir. Takahide Hori, Japan 2021 | U.S. Premiere. In-person Only
– Over the Town | dir. Rikiya Imaizumi, Japan 2020 | U.S. Premiere. Virtual Only
– Sensei, Would You Sit Beside Me? | dir. Takahiro Horie, Japan 2021 | World Premiere. In-person Only
– Zokki | dir. Naoto Takenaka, Takayuki Yamada, Takumi Saitoh, Japan 2021 | North American Premiere. Virtual OnlyASIAN 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 OnlySHORTS SHOWCASE | In-person and Virtual
IRL (In Real Life)
– Piglet Piglet | dir. Tsung-Yen Lin, Taiwan 2021 | Virtual Only
– Just Another Day | dir. Prataya Saha, India 2021 | Virtual Only
– 1056 Metres | dir. Edwin Ho, Singapore 2020 | In-person & Virtual
– Mother Tongue | dir. Eris Qian, USA 2020 | Virtual Only
– Chimera (키메라) | dir. Eileen Yoon, South Korea/USA 2020 | Virtual OnlyMissed Connections
– Winter by the River | dir. Shuyao Chen, China 2020 | Virtual Only
– In the Dusk | dir. Zhoulan, China 2020 | Virtual Only
– Invited In | dir. Yuyu Kitamura, Hong Kong 2021 | In-person & Virtual
– Journey to the East | dir. Eve Liu, USA 2020 | Virtual Only
– ufo:pm | dir. Xiao Han, China/USA 2020 | Virtual OnlySpecial Showing
– Kite | dir. YuanYuan Lu, USA 2021 | In-person Only