22nd New York Asian Film Festival

22nd New York Asian Film Festival
Official poster
Opening filmKilling Romance by Lee Won-suk
LocationFilm at Lincoln Center, New York
Founded2002
Awards
Hosted byNew York Asian Film Foundation Inc.
Artistic directorSamuel Jamier
No. of films78 films
Festival dateOpening: 14 July 2023 (2023-07-14)
Closing: 30 July 2023 (2023-07-30)
LanguageInternational
WebsiteNYAFF
New York Asian Film Festival

The 22nd New York Asian Film Festival was held in New York on 14 July with North American premiere of South Korean film Killing Romance by Lee Won-suk, who attended the screening in person. In the 22nd edition seventy eight titles were screened in person. The lineup included eight world premieres, nine international premieres, thirty-two North American premieres, three U.S. premieres, and sixteen East Coast/New York premieres.[1] Films from various genres from Hong Kong, Japan, China, South Korea, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Singapore, Vietnam, the United Kingdom, and the United States were screened.[2][3]

In Star Asia Awards category, Asian stars were honoured with various awards such as: Louis Koo a Hong Kong actor, singer and film producer with Extraordinary Star Asia Award;[4] Junji Sakamoto, a Japanese film director, with Screen International Star Asia Lifetime Achievement Award; Ryohei Suzuki, a Japanese actor, with Screen International Rising Star Asia Award;[5] and Lee Hanee a South Korean actress, model, classical musician, with Best from the East Award.[2]

The festival was closed on 30 July with Anthony Stacchi's animated Netflix film The Monkey King. It is the first time the festival has partnered with Netflix for the world premiere of a film, which was held before the August 18 worldwide release on Netflix.[6] Malaysian film Abang Adik by Jin Ong won the Uncaged Award for best feature film. It is a directorial debut feature of Jin Ong and follows two orphaned brothers whose bond is tested after a brutal accident.[7] The Audience Award was awarded to Taiwanese film Marry My Dead Body, a LGBTQ+ story from director Cheng Wei-hao. In his closing speech the NYAFF Executive Director and President of the New York Asian Film Foundation Samuel Jamier said, "2023 marked a giant leap forward for the festival, in terms of audience size (with a 35% increase in attendance, and the largest number of sold out screenings), numbers of films and guest filmmakers and actors (over 100 guests from Asia), a major partnership with Netflix and a whole new, expanded pool of donors."[8]

Jury

  • Po-Chih Leong: British-Chinese film director. He has worked in England, Hong Kong, and the United States.
  • Rebecca Choi: VP, Narrative Film at Archer Gray, a media company in New York City, New York.
  • Anna Isabella Matutina: A filmmaker, documentarian and editor based in the Philippines.
  • Chieko Murata: Co-producer at The Japan Broadcasting Corporation, (NHK)
  • Donsaron Kovitvanitcha: A film writer, critic, journalist and independent film producer based in Thailand.
  • Ko Mori: A film producer and the founding CEO of Los Angeles-based Eleven Arts Studio.
  • Lauren Yee: An American playwright, screenwriter and TV writer whose many acclaimed plays include Cambodian Rock Band and The Great Leap (2018).

Screening venues

Films showcase

Sources:[12][13]

Year Title Original Title Country Director Premiere Status
Opening film
2023 Killing Romance 킬링 로맨스 South Korea Lee Won-suk North American Premiere
Beyond Borders
2022 Mountain Woman 山女 Japan Takeshi Fukunaga North American Premiere
2022 The Sunny Side of the Street 白日青春 Hong Kong Lau Kok-rui New York Premiere
2022 A Tour Guide 믿을 수 있는 사람 South Korea Kwak Eun-mi North American Premiere
Centerpiece Presentation
2023 Dream 드림 South Korea Lee Byeong-heon International Premiere
China On the Move
2023 Art College 1994 艺术学院 China Liu Jian North American Premiere
2022 The Cord of Life 脐带 China Qiao Sixue New York Premiere
2020 Empty Nest 空巢 China Zhang Wei New York Premiere
2014 Factory Boss 打工老板 China Zhang Wei Special Screening
2023 Flaming Cloud 三贵情史 China Liu Siyi World Premiere
2023 Redemption with Life 兄弟 China Zhang Wei World Premiere
2018 The Rib (Director's Cut) 肋骨 China Zhang Wei Special Screening
2022 A Woman 孔秀 China Wang Chao North American Premiere
Closing film
2023 The Monkey King United States Anthony Stacchi World Premiere
Crowd Pleasers
2023 Bear Man 웅남이 South Korea Park Sung-kwang North American Premiere
2022 Gaga 웅남이 Taiwan Laha Mebow East Coast Premiere
2022 I Love You, Beksman Mahal Kita, Beksman Philippines Percival Intalan North American Premiere
2022 Marry My Dead Body 關於我和鬼變成家人的那件事 Taiwan Cheng Wei-hao East Coast Premiere
2023 Rebound 리바운드 South Korea Jang Hang-jun New York Premiere
Diasporic Discoveries
2023 A-Town Boyz USA Eunice Lau World Premiere
2023 The Effects of Lying United Kingdom Isher Sahota North American Premiere
2023 Shaky Shivers USA Sung Kang East Coast Premiere
Frontlines
2022 12 Weeks Philippines Anna Isabelle Matutina Estein International Premiere
2022 December 赦し Japan Anshul Chauhan North American Premiere
2023 Eye of the Storm 疫起 Taiwan Lin Chun-Yang International Premiere
2022 Glorious Ashes Tro Tàn Rực Rỡ Vietnam Bui Thac Chuyên North American Premiere
2023 In Broad Daylight 白日之下 Hong Kong Lawrence Kan North American Premiere
2023 Vital Signs 送院途中 Hong Kong Cheuk Wan-chi North American Premiere
Genre Masters
2023 #Manhole #マンホール Japan Kazuyoshi Kumakiri East Coast Premiere
2022 Geylang 芽籠 Singapore Boi Kwong North American Premiere
2023 Kitty the Killer อีหนูอันตราย Thailand Lee Thongkham International Premiere
2023 Mad Fate 命案 Hong Kong Cheang Pou-soi North American Premiere
2023 Miss Shampoo 請問，還有哪裡需要加強 Taiwan Giddens Ko North American Premiere
2023 The White Storm 3: Heaven or Hell 掃毒3人在天涯 Hong Kong Herman Yau North American Premiere
Narrative Shorts Showcase - Animation
2022 What We Leave Behind South Korea Kang Nam-jin International Premiere
2022 Borderline South Korea Kong Son-hee World Premiere
2023 Confusion of the Afternoon 午後的迷茫 Taiwan Yung-Chieh Lee East Coast Premiere
2023 Goose Mountain 鹅鹅鹅 China Hu Rui, Chen Liaoyu
2022 Handwritten USA Jaime Sunwoo New York Premiere
2023 Hidari HIDARI Japan Iku Ogawa, Masashi Kawamura
Narrative Shorts Showcase - Live Action
2022 All Your Fault, PD 피디님이 책임지세요 South Korea Kim Sun-yeun North American Premiere
2022 Fix Anything Vietnam Lê Lâm Viên North American Premiere
2022 Infant (Perzent) Kyrgyzstan Karash Zhanyshov U. S. Premiere
2023 Kumbang (Bugs) Malaysia Gwai Lou World Premiere
2023 Neo Portraits Japan Gazebo International Premiere
2023 Pufferfish Iran Mohamad Kamal Alavi World Premiere
2022 Resellers 대리구매 South Korea Lee Seung-ju International Premiere
2023 A Roadside Banquet 鸡毛掸子 United States, China Peiqi Peng East Coast Premiere
2023 Sweet Refuge United States Maryam Mir East Coast Premiere
2022 Will You Look At Me 当我望向你的时候 China Shuli Huang
Next/Now
2022 Bad Education 黑的教育 Taiwan Kai Ko North American Premiere
2022 The Cord of Life 脐带 China Qiao Sixue New York Premiere
2023 Extreme Festival 익스트림 페스티벌 South Korea Kim Hong-ki International Premiere
2022 Hail to Hell 지옥만세 South Korea Lim Oh-jeong North American Premiere
2022 A Light Never Goes Out 燈火闌珊 Hong Kong Anastasia Tsang U.S. Premiere
2022 Mayhem Girls メイヘムガールズ Shinichi Fujita Japan International Premiere
2023 You & Me & Me เธอกับฉันกับฉัน Thailand Wanweaw and Weawwan Hongvivatana North American Premiere
Standouts
2023 Art College 1994 艺术学院 China Liu Jian North American Premiere
2023 Egoist エゴイスト Japan Daishi Matsunaga, Daishi Matsunaga New York Premiere
2022 A Hundred Flowers 百花 Japan Genki Kawamura New York Premiere
2022 Motherhood 母性 Japan Ryuichi Hiroki U.S. Premiere
2023 Phantom 유령 South Korea Lee Hae-young North American Premiere
2022 A Woman 孔秀 China Wang Chao North American Premiere
Vanguards
2023 Everyphone Everywhere 全個世界都有電話 Hong Kong Amos Why North American Premiere
2022 In Her Room ひとりぼっちじゃない Japan Chihiro Ito North American Premiere
1982 Nomad (Director's Cut) 烈火青春（導演版） Hong Kong Patrick Tam East Coast Premiere
2023 Okiku and the World せかいのおきく Japan Junji Sakamoto North American Premiere
2023 Where Is The Lie? Marupok AF Philippines Quark Henares North American Premiere

Films by country or region

Source:[14]

Year Title Original Title Director Premiere status
Hong Kong Panorama
2023 Back Home 七月返歸 Nate Ki World Premiere
2023 Everyphone Everywhere 全個世界都有電話 Amos Why North American Premiere
2023 In Broad Daylight 白日之下 Lawrence Kan North American Premiere
2022 A Light Never Goes Out 燈火闌珊 Anastasia Tsang U.S. Premiere
2023 Mad Fate 命案 Cheang Pou-soi North American Premiere
1982 Nomad (Director's Cut) 烈火青春（導演版） Patrick Tam East Coast Premiere
2022 The Sunny Side of the Street 白日青春 Lau Kok-rui New York Premiere
2023 The White Storm 3: Heaven or Hell 掃毒3人在天涯 Herman Yau North American Premiere
2023 Vital Signs 送院途中 Cheuk Wan-chi North American Premiere
New Cinema from Japan
2023 #Manhole #マンホール Kazuyoshi Kumakiri East Coast Premiere
2022 December 赦し Anshul Chauhan North American Premiere
2023 Egoist エゴイスト Daishi Matsunaga, Daishi Matsunaga New York Premiere
2023 Home Sweet Home スイート・マイホーム Takumi Saitoh North American Premiere
2022 A Hundred Flowers 百花 Genki Kawamura New York Premiere
2022 In Her Room ひとりぼっちじゃない Chihiro Ito North American Premiere
2022 Mayhem Girls メイヘムガールズ Shinichi Fujita International Premiere
2022 Motherhood 母性 Ryuichi Hiroki U.S. Premiere
2022 Mountain Woman 山女 Takeshi Fukunaga North American Premiere
2023 Okiku and the World せかいのおきく Junji Sakamoto North American Premiere
South Korea at the Forefront
2023 Bear Man 웅남이 Park Sung-kwang North American Premiere
2023 Dream 드림 Lee Byeong-heon International Premiere
2023 Extreme Festival 익스트림 페스티벌 Kim Hong-ki International Premiere
2022 Greenhouse 비닐하우스 Lee Sol-hui North American Premiere
2022 Hail to Hell 지옥만세 Lim Oh-jeong North American Premiere
2006 The Host 괴물 Bong Joon Ho Special Screening
2023 Killing Romance 킬링 로맨스 Lee Won-suk North American Premiere
2023 Phantom 유령 Lee Hae-young North American Premiere
2023 Rebound 리바운드 Jang Hang-jun New York Premiere
2022 A Tour Guide 믿을 수 있는 사람 Kwak Eun-mi North American Premiere
Taiwan Transcendent
2022 The Abandoned 查無此心 Tseng Ying-ting North American Premiere
2022 Bad Education 黑的教育 Kai Ko North American Premiere
2023 Eye of the Storm 疫起 Lin Chun-Yang International Premiere
2022 Gaga 웅남이 Laha Mebow East Coast Premiere
2022 Marry My Dead Body 關於我和鬼變成家人的那件事 Cheng Wei-hao East Coast Premiere
2023 Miss Shampoo 請問，還有哪裡需要加強 Giddens Ko North American Premiere
Year Title Original Title Country Director Premiere status
Southeast Asia On the Rise
2022 12 Weeks Philippines Anna Isabelle Matutina Estein International Premiere
2023 Abang Adik 富都青年 Malaysia Jin Ong North American Premiere
2023 Faces of Anne แอน Thailand Rasiguet Sookkarn, Kongdej Jaturanrasmee North American Premiere
2022 Geylang 芽籠 Singapore Boi Kwong North American Premiere
2022 Glorious Ashes Tro Tàn Rực Rỡ Vietnam Bui Thac Chuyên North American Premiere
2022 I Love You, Beksman Mahal Kita, Beksman Philippines Percival Intalan North American Premiere
2023 Kitty the Killer อีหนูอันตราย Thailand Lee Thongkham International Premiere
2023 Where Is the Lie? Marupok AF Philippines Quark Henares North American Premiere
2023 You & Me & Me เธอกับฉันกับฉัน Thailand Wanweaw and Weawwan Hongvivatana North American Premiere

Uncaged Award for Best Feature Film Competition

Source: [15]

Highlighted title indicates the Uncaged Award for best feature film winner.
Year Title Original Title Country Director Premiere Status
The Uncaged Award nominees
2022 The Abandoned 查無此心 Taiwan Tseng Ying-ting North American Premiere
2023 Abang Adik 富都青年 Malaysia Jin Ong North American Premiere
2023 Back Home 七月返歸 Hong Kong Nate Ki World Premiere
2023 Faces of Anne แอน Thailand Rasiguet Sookkarn, Kongdej Jaturanrasmee North American Premiere
2023 Flaming Cloud 三贵情史 China Liu Siyi World Premiere
2022 Greenhouse 비닐하우스 South Korea Lee Sol-hui North American Premiere
2023 Home Sweet Home スイート・マイホーム Japan Takumi Saitoh North American Premiere
2022 Mountain Onion Gornyi Luk Kazakhstan Eldar Shibanov North American Premiere
2023 Redemption with Life 兄弟 China Zhang Wei World Premiere

Awards and winners

Uncaged Award for Best Feature Film

Year Title Original Title Country Director/Actor Ref.
2023 Abang Adik 富都青年 Malaysia Jin Ong [7]
Special Mention
2022 Greenhouse 비닐하우스 South Korea Lee Sol-hui [8]
2023 Flaming Cloud 三贵情史 China Liu Siyi

Audience Award

Year Title Original Title Country Director/Actor Ref.
2022 Marry My Dead Body 關於我和鬼變成家人的那件事 Taiwan Cheng Wei-hao [8]

Daniel Craft Award for Excellence in Action Cinema

Actor Country Film/s Ref.
Lee Thongkham Thailand Thailand Kitty the Killer [16][2]

Star Asia Awards

Image Recipient Country Ref.
Extraordinary Star Asia Award
 Louis Koo  Hong Kong [4]
Screen International Star Asia Lifetime Achievement Award
 Junji Sakamoto  Japan [2]
Screen International Rising Star Asia Award
 Ryohei Suzuki  Japan [5]
Best from the East Award
 Lee Hanee  South Korea [17][2]

References

  1. ^ Michael Rosser (July 15, 2023). "How New York Asian Film Festival is broadening horizons and showcasing Asia's stars". Screen Daily. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e "NYAFF 2023 Unveils Special Guests, Award Honorees and Second Wave of Films". NYAFF. July 1, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  3. ^ Rogers, Jamie (June 23, 2023). "New York Asian Film Festival: Watch The Action-Packed Trailer For The 22nd NYAFF Edition [Exclusive]". The Playlist. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Michael Rosser (June 8, 2023). "Louis Koo to receive Screen's Extraordinary Star Asia Award at NYAFF". Screen Daily. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
  5. ^ a b Michael Rosser (June 16, 2023). "New York Asian Film Festival 2023 reveals first titles, Ryohei Suzuki named Rising Star". Screen Daily. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
  6. ^ Michael Rosser (July 19, 2023). "NYAFF sets 'The Monkey King' as closing film in first collaboration with Netflix". Screen Daily. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  7. ^ a b Michael Rosser (July 31, 2023). "Malaysia's 'Abang Adik' wins top prize at New York Asian Film Festival". Screen Daily. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
  8. ^ a b c "22nd New York Asian Film Festival Announces Audience And Uncaged Award Winners Following Record-Breaking 17-Day Run". NYAFF. August 1, 2023. Retrieved August 26, 2022.
  9. ^ "New York Asian Film Festival 2023". Film at Lincoln Center. June 23, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  10. ^ "New York Asian Film Festival 2023". Barrymore Film Center. June 23, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  11. ^ Alex Yarde (July 25, 2023). "The New York Asian Film foundation and look dine-in cinemas unveil special screenings for 22nd edition of the New York Asian Film Festival!". Good Men Project. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
  12. ^ "22nd New York Asian Film Festival: All films". NYAFF. July 1, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
  13. ^ "New York Asian Film Festival 2023". Film at Lincoln Center. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  14. ^ Frater, Patrick (June 21, 2023). "Hong Kong Action Film 'White Storm 3' Sets North American Premiere, Revised China Release". Variety. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  15. ^ Michael Rosser (June 23, 2023). "New York Asian Film Festival 2023 unveils competition titles, Junji Sakamoto to receive award". Screen Daily. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
  16. ^ Nobuhiro Hosoki (June 23, 2023). "New York Asian Film Festival Announces Second Wave of 2023 Titles, Award Honorees and Guests". Cinema Daily US. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  17. ^ Kim Seon-woo (July 31, 2023). "이하늬, 22회 뉴욕 아시안 영화제 최우수 연기상 수상" [Lee Ha-nui won the Best Acting Award at the 22nd New York Asian Film Festival]. JTBC (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 1, 2023.