By Mabel Pais

New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF) Returns for 20th Year

“…..one of the city’s most valuable events.” – The New York Times.

“After our special focus on women in front of and behind the camera at the 2020 NYAFF, we’re honored to continue championing female-forward films this year.” – Claire Marty, NYAFF Associate Director

“We’re especially excited about all the stars aligning so we can host the outdoor screening of the Hong Kong uber-classic, “Dragon Inn AKA New Dragon Gate Inn.” This marks the 10th anniversary of the film’s restoration by NYAFF, and the 29th anniversary of the film, which stars two of Asia’s greatest actresses of all time, Maggie Cheung and Brigitte Lin, as well as Donnie Yen in supervillain mode. What better way is there to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the festival?”

– Samuel Jamier, Exec. Dir.- NYAFF & President – New York Asian Film Foundation

The New York Asian Film Festival’s (NYAFF) 20th Edition is co-presented by The New York Asian Film Foundation and Film at Lincoln Center (FLC). This is a hybrid event with NYAFF’s largest film lineup to date. The Festival will screen over 60 films, both virtually and in person, to audiences in New York and across the country. It takes place August 6–22, 2021: In person, August 6-8 at FLC’s Walter Reade Theater (165 West 65th Street), August 7-22 in FLC Virtual Cinema, and August 9–22 at SVA Theatre (333 West 23rd Street).

NYAFF’s 2021 lineup covers Premieres, Restorations, Nationwide Virtual Screenings and Return to Theaters. It includes two world premieres, six international premieres, 29 North American premieres, eight U.S. premieres, and nine New York premieres, showcasing the most exciting action, comedy, drama, thriller, romance, horror, and art-house films from East Asia.

Following an unprecedented year in which COVID-19 and increased violence against the Asian community in the United States presented enormous challenges, NYAFF is more committed than ever to increasing exposure of Asian representation on screen, and to providing opportunities for audiences of all communities to experience the diversity and brilliance of Asian cinema.

Following a fully virtual 19th edition, NYAFF is delighted to present almost half of this year’s 60+ titles in person. To celebrate, as well as to mark its 20th year, the Festival will be co-hosting, with the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York and Film at Lincoln Center, a free outdoor screening in Damrosch Park of Raymond Lee’s wuxia classic “Dragon Inn” AKA “New Dragon Gate Inn” on August 11. The all-star remake of King Hu’s iconic “Dragon Inn” is one of the wildest and most epic films ever produced by Tsui Hark.

The Festival has established exciting new sections for its 20th edition. Films are grouped thematically, in the following sections: Beyond Borders, Crowd Pleasers, Frontlines, Genre Masters, Next/Now, Standouts, and Vanguards (see descriptions below).

LINEUP (60+ films) — more titles to be announced in the coming days. The program is subject to change.

SPECIAL 20TH ANNIVERSARY CLASSIC SCREENING IN DAMROSCH PARK

Dragon Inn AKA New Dragon Gate Inn | dir. Raymond Lee, Hong Hong 1992 | In-person Only

CROWD 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. Wan Chi-Man, Hong Kong 2021 | North American Premiere. In-person Only

GENRE MASTERS

Innovative new work that tweaks and twists genre conventions

– 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

– Sweetie, You Won’t Believe It | dir. Yernar Nurgaliyev, Kazakhstan 2020 | North American Premiere. Virtual Only

NEXT/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. Virtual Only

– Shadows | dir. Glenn Chan, Hong Kong 2020 | North American Premiere. Virtual 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

– Nasi Lemak 1.0 | dir. Namewee, Malaysia 2021 | International Premiere. TBD

– A Song for You | dir. Dukar Tserang, China 2020 | North American Premiere. In-person Only

FRONTLINES

 

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 Only

STANDOUTS

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

– 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 Only

VANGUARDS

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 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 2021 | U.S. Premiere. Virtual Only

– Zokki | dir. Naoto Takenaka, Takayuki Yamada, Takumi Saitoh, Japan 2021 | North American Premiere. Virtual Only

NYAFF 2021 IN-PERSON VENUES/VIRTUAL PLATFORM

In-person venues:

Film at Lincoln Center (FLC), August 6 – 8, 2021

Walter Reade Theater, 165 West 65th Street

SVA Theatre: August 9 – 22, 2021

333 West 23rd Street

Virtual platform:

Film at Lincoln Center (FLC) Virtual Cinema, August 7 – 22, 2021

NYAFF TICKET PRICING AND INFORMATION:

Tickets for the 20th New York Asian Film Festival go on sale Friday, July 23 at noon.

For additional information, updates and ticket prices for virtual and in-person access, individual tickets and All-Access Passes, visit Film at Lincoln Center at filmlinc.org, New York Asian Film Festival at nyaff.org, and on social media @filmlinc and @nyaff.

NEW YORK ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL (NYAFF)

Now in its 20th year, the New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF) is North America’s leading festival of popular Asian cinema, which The Village Voice has called “the best film festival in New York,” and The New York Times has called “one of the city’s most valuable events.” Launched in 2002, the festival selects only the best, strangest, and most entertaining movies to screen for New York audiences, 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. Since 2010, it has been produced in collaboration with Film at Lincoln Center.

For more information, visit

nyaff.org

instagram.com/newyorkasianfilmfestival

facebook.com/NYAFF

twitter.com/NYAFF

www.#nyaff2021

THE NEW YORK ASIAN FILM FOUNDATION

The New York Asian Film Foundation Inc. is America’s premier 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 (filmlinc.org) since 2010. Now entering its 20th year, NYAFF is North America’s leading festival of Asian cinema. The Festival is supported by several Asian organizations in New York. To learn more, visit nyaff.org

(Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, Spirituality, and Health & Wellness.)