The New York Asian Film Foundation and FLC announce first highlights from 23rd edition of the New York Asian Film Festival (2024)

New York, NY – WEBWIRE – Monday, June 17, 2024

TheNew York Asian Film FoundationandFilm at Lincoln Centerannounce the 23rd edition of the New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF), running July 12–22 at Film at Lincoln Center, with additional screenings from July 22–28 at the SVA Theatre and July 13–15, 18–21, and 23–25 at LOOK Cinemas W57, plus a special collaborative presentation of films at the Korean Cultural Center New York.

“For so many, Asian films start and end withParasiteorEverything Everywhere All At Once(who could blame them?), but the real action is happening in the trenches of Asian cinema, where audacious auteurs and daring debutantes are unleashing a tidal wave of talent that’s about to crash on American shores,” said Samuel Jamier, festival director and president of the New York Asian Film Foundation. “This year’s festival is like sriracha sauce—it’s spicy, it’s tangy, it’s got a kick that’ll wake up your senses. And it’s hard to find right now! We’ve got more fresh faces than a K-pop band. It’s a blockbuster year for us, and we can’t wait to share these passionate stories with equally passionate audiences in the city that never sleeps—although they might want to catch a nap before our late-night screenings! Whether you’re a die-hard cinephile or just looking for a wild ride, we got you covered.”

The festival will host the premieres of20 feature debuts, its largest lineup of newcomers ever, and features an amplified number of films focusing on LGBTQ+ characters and themes, including several that represent touchpoints in queer cinema.

Opening Night is the July 12world premiere ofPark Beom-su’sVictory, a cheerleading epic that’s likeBring It OnmeetsParasite, with a dash ofTeen Spirit.Screen InternationalRising Star Asia honoree Lee Hye-ri(of 3rd-gen K-pop band Girl’s Day) will be on hand alongside her co-starPark Se-wan(ofLife Is Beautifuland6/45) and director Park.

Hong Kong has always been the beating heart of NYAFF, and this year’sHONG KONG PANORAMA, co-presented and backed by the generous support of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York (HKETONY), is a testament to Hong Kong’s unparalleled cinematic legacy, showcasing a broad array of films that exemplify its unique blend of artistry, innovation, and sheer entertainment value. A star-studded lineup of Hong Kong luminaries will be in attendance, including living legendTai Bo, who will be honored with this year’sStar Asia Lifetime Achievement Award; directorHo Miu-kiofLove Lies; the creative trio of directorChow Kam Wing, screenwriterLam Tsz Ki,andactressKuku So, who will appear for the world premiere ofFor Alice; the multi-hyphenate talentSasha Chuk, who will be present for the North American Premiere ofFly Me to the Moon; and the charismaticAngus Yeung, who hits the ground running as an action star withInexternal, whose world premiere is proof that the Hong Kong martial arts movie tradition is alive and kicking. Soi Cheang’sTwilight of the Warriors: Walled In, which played at Cannes last month, will make its North American premiere with producerJohn Chongand actorPhilip Ngin attendance for Closing Night.

As part of this panorama, the festival is turning a much-deservedFILMMAKER-IN-FOCUSon Hong Kong auteurRay Yeung, showcasing his most transcendent, era-definingLGBTQ+films, including his 2015 masterwork,Front Cover, set in the high-fashion world in New York; 2024 Berlin Teddy Award winnerAll Shall Be Well, which Yeung will introduce withthe luminous lead, Patra Au, andproducers Stanley Guingon and Michael Werner; andhis 2019 featureTwilight’s Kiss (Suk Suk).

There will also be a specialSpotlight on 852 Filmswith Hong Kong singer-actor-producerJosie Ho, who returns to NYAFF to introduce and re-introduce some of her most daring projects, most notablyOnpaku, a surreal, V-cinema-style terror extravaganza from horror meister Shugo Fujii, and Janell Shirtcliff’s unclassifiable 2021 debutHabit(International Version), in a cut never before screened in North America.

This year’s enhanced Thai program,THAI TREASURES,presented with support from the Thailand Creative Culture Agency (THACCA), is a full-bodied celebration of Thai film culture, boasting six new films and the largest movie delegation ever to attend the festival. The lineup runs a gamut from genre scorchers to beguiling coming-of-age frolics. Highlights include the effervescentNot Friends, a disarmingly imaginative teen saga from the Thai studio behindBad Genius(NYAFF 2017), andYou and Me and Me(NYAFF 2023), withdirectorAtta Hemwadee, producerBaz Poonpiriya(director ofBad GeniusandOne For the Road), andthe film’s young starsAnthony BuisseretandThitiya Jirap*rnsilpin person for its North American premiere.At the other end of the tonal spectrum isSupposed, the haunting final film from the late Thanakorn Pongsuwan, who’ll be honored posthumously by his producerSiwap*rn Pongsuwanin attendance. She’ll be joined by theACTOR-IN-FOCUS Ananda Everingham(also appearing forPattaya Heat), who stars as a fatalistic lady-killer, andChayanit Chansangavej,who makes an unforgettable turn as “that obscure object of desire.” Everingham resurfaces in the eerie folk horrorThe Cursed Land, which mines fertile terrors from Thailand’s ethnic Muslim communities. Its horror auteurPanu Areeand his lead will be on hand to expound on his inspired integration of ethnic representation and supernatural chills.

For more visceral genre highs, the lineup includesPattaya Heat, a pastiche of postmodern crime theatrics set in Thailand’s infamous sin city—it’s what you’d get if Tarantino spent quarantine penning a Bangkok flophouse folly.Kongkiat Komesiri, the genre maestro behind the belovedKhun Panfantasy franchise, will be in attendance with his latest, WWII zombie actionerOperation Undead, whichreaffirms Thailand’s cinema as captivatingly shapeshifting. And Thai cinema superstarPutthipong “Billkin” Assaratanakulwill take the NYAFF stage for the North American premiere of record-breaking filmHow to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies.

TheTAIWAN TRANSCENDENTsection, generously supported by the Taipei Cultural Center of TECO in New York, shows a cinema in full, defiant bloom, irreverent toward binaries of high/low art, and freely pivoting between profound introspection and mercurial passions. Leading manAustin Linand acclaimed actressNikki Hsiehare set to attend with their filmSuffocating Love. On the arthouse end of the Taiwan lineup is the masterful debut of Hwarng Wern-ying,Be With Me, executive produced by Hou Hsiao-Hsien. The turbocharged, star-studded action/comedyBreaking and Re-enteringbrings wunderkind directorLeo Wangand starKent Tsaito the festival in person, and Hsiao Ya-Chuan’sOld Foxis a stark yet lyrical morality tale set against the social upheavals of Taiwan’s economic boom years.

A two-film sampling of Taiwan’s cinematic intoxicant of choice—the “Boys Love” rom-com renaissance—includesThe Time of Huan Nan, a coming-of-age tale that perceptively probes the eternal tangles of yearnings and societal repression, andA Balloon’s Landing, director Angel Teng’s metaphysical charmer starringHong Kong heartthrobTerrance Lau and Taiwan’s Fandy Fan.

Other notable films includeSalli, directed by Chien-Hung Lien, featuring Esther Liu as a sexy, sassy chicken farmer, and the captivating Japan-Taiwan coproduction18×2 Beyond Youthful Days, starring Hsu Kuang-han (also known as Greg Hsu, ofMarry My Dead Bodyfame, NYAFF 2023).

Co-presented with Korean Cultural Center New York (KCCNY),KOREAN FRONTLINESserves as a potent reminder of why Korea remains the undisputed king of the cinematic shock to the system. Leading the charge is this edition’sCenterpiece Presentation,The Killers, an anthologized hit man odyssey destined for cult fame. This world premiere presentation brings together a group of visionary directors—all NYAFF alumni—includingChang Hang-jun,Kim Jong-kwan,Lee Myung-Se,andRoh Deok, along with incandescent actressShim Eun-kyung(Miss Granny,Sunny).

Another standout isThe Guest, a film whose deceptively benign title masks a tense, uber-creepy thriller, with directorYeon Je-gwangand lead actorLee Ju-seungin attendance.Kim Da-minwill attend the North American premiere of her wonderfully off-kilter feature debutFAQ, a whimsical fantasy centering on an exceptionally smart little girl who befriends a bottle of clairvoyantmakgeolli(rice wine). The film heralds Kim as a major new voice in Korean cinema. Equally original (but a lot more unsettling) is Yoon Eun-Kyung’sThe Tenants, a monochromatic nightmare about bathroom and attic squatters.

A trio of the year’s most popular Korean films—12:12: The Day,The Roundup: Punishment, andExhuma—will be showcased at the brand-new building of the Korean Cultural Center New York.

The films of this year’sJAPANORAMA, partially supported by the Japan Foundation, range from the sumptuous nostalgia of period pieces to the neon-soaked, karaoke-fueled underbelly of crooning yakuza, all tied together with a generous helping of VFX sorcery and the odd cross-border romance.

Kento Yamazaki, the festival’sBest from the Easthonoree and the undisputed king of the Japanese screen, delivers a tour de force of regal charisma and smoldering intensity in the latest chapter of theKingdomfranchise,Kingdom: Return of the Great General. Other highlights include90 Years Old – So What?, a hilarious, life-affirming dramedy based on the irrepressible spirit of award-winning author Aiko Sato;Brush of the Godby 88-year-old legendary stuntman Keizo Murase; andBushido, with NYAFF stalwart Kazuya Shiraishi going full samurai with starTsuyoshi Kusanagias the ronin protagonist.

A real gem in the lineup is Shimako Sato’sYin Yang Master Zero, the first-ever big-budget fantasy directed by a Japanese woman. Starring Kento Yamazaki and Shota Sometani, and featuring sumptuous visual effects from Shirogumi (the Oscar-winning team behindGodzilla Minus One, led by Sato’s husband, Takashi Yamazaki), this is a film that doesn’t just push boundaries—it obliterates them. It’s a stunning showcase of what’s possible when you put a woman at the helm of a blockbuster production.

Nobuhiro Yamash*ta’s (Linda Linda Linda)Let’s Go Karaoke!delivers a little musical madness, while Shusuke Kaneko’s pitch-black mystery-thrillerGold Boyproves that even the darkest of tales can shine brightly.

A second wave of NYAFF announcements will be made next week, highlighting theUncaged Competitionlineup and jury members, theShorts Showcase Competitionlineup and jury members, exciting new titles, special guests and award honorees, master classes and panels, and other unmissable events. NYAFF is also thrilled to host theOpening Night Marketon July 12 and theMatsuri Nighton July 23, both with live music and Asian food stalls, as well as other parties and receptions.

The New York Asian Film Festival is co-presented by the New York Asian Film Foundation and Film at Lincoln Center, and takes place from July 12–22, 2024 at FLC’s Walter Reade Theater (165 W 65th Street), and from July 22–28 at the SVA Theatre (333 W 23rd Street). There will also be screenings July 13–15, July 18–21, and July 23–25 at LOOK Cinemas W57 (657 W 57th Street), and a special collaborative lineup at the Korean Cultural Center New York (122 E 32nd Street).NYAFF is curated by executive director Samuel Jamier, associate director Claire Marty, programmers David Wilentz, Karen Severns, Koichi Mori, Thailand expert Donsaron Kovitvanitcha, and China Region Consultant Dana f*ckazawa; the short film program is curated by Elliot Gong.

FIRST WAVE OF LINEUP (40 feature films)– more titles to be announced
(Please note the program is still subject to change.)

HONG KONG(presented with the support of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office)
All Shall Be Well | dir. Ray Yeung, Hong Kong, 2024 | East Coast Premiere
Finding Bliss: Fire and Ice | dir. Kim Chan, Dee Lam, Hong Kong, 2022 | Special Screening
Fly Me to the Moon | dir. Sasha Chuk, Hong Kong, 2023 | North American Premiere
For Alice | dir. Chow Kam Wing, Hong Kong, 2024 | World Premiere
Inexternal | dir. Yuen Kim-Wai, Hong Kong, 2024 | World Premiere
Love Lies | dir. Ho Miu-ki, Hong Kong, 2024 | North American Premiere
Twilight’s Kiss | dir. Ray Yeung, Hong Kong, 2019 | Special Screening
Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In | dir. Soi Cheang, Hong Kong, 2024 | North American Premiere

JAPAN(presented with the support of Japan Foundation)
90 Years Old – So What? | dir. Tetsu Maeda, Japan, 2024 | North American Premiere
Brush of the God | dir. Keizo Murase, Japan, 2024 | International Premiere
Bushido | dir. Kazuya Shiraishi, Japan, 2024 | North American Premiere
Gold Boy | dir. Shusuke Kaneko, Japan/China, 2023 | North American Premiere
Kingdom: Return of the Great General | dir. Shinsuke Sato, Japan, 2024 | International Premiere
Let’s Go Karaoke! | dir. Nobuhiro Yamash*ta, Japan, 2023 | North American Premiere
Onpaku | dir. Shogo Fujii, Japan/Hong Kong, 2022 | New York Premiere
The Yin Yang Master Zero | dir. Shimako Sato, Japan, 2024 | North American Premiere

SOUTH KOREA(Co-presented with Korean Cultural Center New York)
12.12: The Day | dir. Kim Seong-su, South Korea, 2023 | Special Screening
Exhuma | dir. Jang Jae-hyun, South Korea, 2023 | Special Screening
FAQ | dir. Kim Da-min, South Korea, 2023 | North American Premiere
The Guest | dir. Yeon Je-gwang, South Korea, 2023 | North American Premiere
The Killers | dir. Lee Myung-Se, Chang Hang-jun, Kim Jong-kwan, Roh Deok, South Korea, 2024 | World Premiere
The Roundup: Punishment | dir. Heo Myeong-haeng, South Korea, 2024 | Special Screening
The Tenants | dir. Yoon Eun-Kyung, South Korea, 2023 | North American Premiere
Victory | dir. Park Beom-su, South Korea, 2024 | World Premiere

TAIWAN(presented with the support of Taipei Cultural Center of TECO in New York)
18×2 Beyond Youthful Days | dir. Michihito Fujii, Japan/Taiwan, 2024 | North American Premiere
A Balloon’s Landing | dir. Angel Teng, Taiwan, Hong Kong, 2024 | International Premiere
Be With Me | dir. Hwarng Wern Ying, Taiwan, 2023 | East Coast Premiere
Breaking and Re-entering | dir. Leo Wang, Taiwan, 2024 | North American Premiere
Old Fox | dir. Hsiao Ya-Chuan, Taiwan, 2023 | East Coast Premiere
Salli | dir. Lien Chien-Hung, Taiwan, 2023 | East Coast Premiere
Suffocating Love | dir. Liao Ming-yi, Taiwan, 2024 | North American Premiere
The Time of Huan Nan | dir. Leading Lee, Taiwan, 2023 | International Premiere

THAILAND(presented with the support of Thailand Creative Culture Agency – THACCA)
How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies | dir. Pat Boonnitipat, Thailand, 2024 | North American Premiere
Not Friends | dir. Atta Hemwadee, Thailand, 2023 | North American Premiere
Operation Undead | dir. Kongkiat Komesiri, Thailand, 2024 | World Premiere
Pattaya Heat | dir. Yang Shupeng, Thailand, 2024 | North American Premiere
Supposed | dir. Thanakorn Pongsuwan, Thailand, 2023 | North American Premiere
The Cursed Land | dir. Panu Aree, Thailand, 2024 | North American Premiere

U.S.
Front Cover | dir. Ray Yeung, U.S., 2015 | Special Screening
Habit (International Version) | dir. Janell Shirtcliff, U.S., 2021 | Special Screening

NYAFF TICKET PRICING AND INFO:
Tickets for the 23rd edition of the New York Asian Film Festival go on sale June 20 at 2pm ET, with early access for FLC Members beginning June 20 at 12pm ET. Tickets are $19 for General Public; $17 for students, seniors (62+), and persons with disabilities; and $14 for FLC Members.

See more at FLC and save with a 3+ Film Package ($17 for General Public; $14 for students, seniors (62+), and persons with disabilities; and $12 for FLC Members. Note: Opening Night and premium events are excluded.

Opening Night tickets forVictoryare $25 for the General Public and $20 for FLC Members, students, seniors, and persons with disabilities. Those who wish to attend the Opening Night screening and the Night Market can get tickets for $50 for the General Public and $40 for FLC Members, students, seniors, and persons with disabilities.

Premium events includeKingdom: Return of the Great Generaland more to be announced. Premium event tickets are $25 for the General Public and $20 for FLC Members, students, seniors, and persons with disabilities.

For additional information, please visit Film at Lincoln Center atfilmlinc.org, New York Asian Film Festival atnyaff.org, and follow us on social media @filmlinc and @nyaff.

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NYAFF 2024 VENUES

●Film at Lincoln Center (FLC), July 12–22
Walter Reade Theater, 165 W 65th Street, New York, NY

●SVA Theatre, July 22–28
333 W 23rd Street, New York, NY

●LOOK Cinemas W57, July 13–15, July 18–21, July 23–25
657 W 57th Street, New York, NY

●Korean Cultural Center New York (KCCNY), Dates to be announced
122 E 32nd St, New York, NY

NEW YORK ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL (NYAFF)
Celebrating its 23rd edition in 2024, the New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF) is North America’s leading festival of Asian cinema. It was called “the best film festival in New York” byThe Village Voiceand “arguably the world’s best-curated program of new and classic Asian cinema” byIndieWire. Launched in 2002, the festival showcases a wildly diverse lineup of singular titles each year, ranging from mainstream blockbusters and art-house eccentricities to genre and cult classics. It was the first North American film festival to champion the works of Johnnie To, Bong Joon Ho, Park Chan-wook, Takashi Miike, and other auteurs of contemporary Asian cinema. Notable festival guests have included Lee Byung-hun, Ryoo Seung-wan, Masami Nagasawa, Sammo Hung, Lee Jung-jae, and Jackie Chan. Since 2010, NYAFF has been produced in collaboration with Film at Lincoln Center.

For more information, visitnyaff.org

NEW YORK ASIAN FILM FOUNDATION
The New York Asian Film Foundation Inc. is America’s premier 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the exhibition and appreciation of Asian film culture in all its forms, with year-round festivals and programs, and a view to building bridges between Asia and America.

The New York Asian Film Foundation’s flagship event is the annual New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF), which has been presented in collaboration with Film at Lincoln Center since 2010. Now celebrating its 22nd year, NYAFF is North America’s leading festival of Asian cinema.

The foundation’s other events and initiatives include special screening events and an annual Winter Showcase at the SVA Theatre.

The New York Asian Film Festival, a program of the New York Asian Film Foundation, is made possible in part by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature.

FILM AT LINCOLN CENTER
Film at Lincoln Center (FLC) is a nonprofit organization that celebrates cinema as an essential art form and fosters a vibrant home for film culture to thrive. FLC presents premier film festivals, retrospectives, new releases, and restorations year-round in state-of-the-art theaters at New York’s Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. FLC offers audiences the opportunity to discover works from established and emerging directors from around the world with a passionate community of film lovers at marquee events including the New York Film Festival and New Directors/New Films.

Founded in 1969, FLC is committed to preserving the excitement of the theatrical experience for all audiences, advancing high-quality film journalism through the publication ofFilm Comment, cultivating the next generation of film industry professionals through our FLC Academies, and enriching the lives of all who engage with our programs.

Film at Lincoln Center receives generous, year-round support from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. American Airlines is the Official Airline of Film at Lincoln Center. For more information, visitfilmlinc.org

SVA Theatre
SVA Theatre is the cultural center of New York’s artistically vibrant Chelsea neighborhood. The Theatre serves the School of Visual Arts, the arts and entertainment industries, and the community at large as a stage for the presentation of noteworthy artistic work. From film screenings to artist lectures to design conferences and more, SVA Theatre hosts a variety of events year-round, many of which are free and open to the public.

For more information,visitsvatheatre.com

LOOK Cinemas 57W
About LOOK Dine-In Cinemas: LOOK Dine-In Cinemas is an innovator in the entertainment space and incorporates the newest technology to maximize the movie-going experience. LOOK’s auditoriums provide a state-of-the-art viewing environment for guests, featuring laser projection, wall-to-wall oversize screens, digital surround sound systems and luxury recliner seating. Look & Dine mobile ordering enables guests to customize their food and beverage choices and orders are delivered directly to their seats. LOOK Dine-In Cinemas operates 13 theaters and approximately 130 screens located in Texas, California, Florida, Arizona, Georgia, Virginia and New York. For more information and to buy tickets, visitlookcinemas.com.

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