# 22nd 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. 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.
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; 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; and Lee Hanee a South Korean actress, model, classical musician, with Best from the East Award.
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. 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. 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."

## 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

* Film at Lincoln Center
* Walter Reade Theater
* Asia Society
* Barrymore Film Center, Fort Lee, New Jersey
* LOOK Dine-In Cinemas

## Films showcase

Sources:
| 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 | 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 | A-Town Boyz | USA | Eunice Lau | World Premiere |
| 2023 | The Effects of Lying | The Effects of Lying | United Kingdom | Isher Sahota | North American Premiere |
| 2023 | Shaky Shivers | Shaky Shivers | USA | Sung Kang | East Coast Premiere |
| Frontlines ||||||
| 2022 | 12 Weeks | 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 | What We Leave Behind | South Korea | Kang Nam-jin | International Premiere |
| 2022 | Borderline | 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 | 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:
| 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 | 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:
    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 |
| 2023 | Abang Adik | 富都青年 | Malaysia | Jin Ong |
| Special Mention ||||||
| 2022 | Greenhouse | 비닐하우스 | South Korea | Lee Sol-hui |
| 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 | |

### Daniel Craft Award for Excellence in Action Cinema

| Actor | Country | Film/s | Ref. |
| Lee Thongkham | Thailand | Kitty the Killer | |

### Star Asia Awards

| Image | Recipient | Country |
| Extraordinary Star Asia Award ||||
| | Louis Koo | Hong Kong |
| Screen International Star Asia Lifetime Achievement Award ||||
| | Junji Sakamoto | Japan |
| Screen International Rising Star Asia Award ||||
| | Ryohei Suzuki | Japan |
| Best from the East Award ||||
| | Lee Hanee | South Korea |