# 23rd New York Asian Film Festival

The 23rd New York Asian Film Festival was held in New York on 12 July with World Premiere of South Korean film Victory by Park Beom-su, who attended the screening in person. In the 23rd edition 94 titles were screened in person. The film selection featured both contemporary and timeless titles from various Asian countries, as well as beyond, showcasing nine world premieres, 12 international premieres, and 38 North American premieres. Films from various genres from China, South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, Mongolia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and beyond were screened.
In Star Asia Awards category, Asian stars were honoured with various awards such as: Nicholas Tse a Hong Kong actor, singer, songwriter, entrepreneur and TV chef with Screen International Star Asia Award; Zhang Jianian (Tai Bo), Hong Kong and Taiwan film actor, with Screen International Star Asia Lifetime Achievement Award; Lee Hye-ri, a South Korean actress, singer, and television personality, with Screen International Rising Star Asia Award; and Kento Yamazaki a Japanese actor and model, with Best from the East Award.
The festival was closed on 28 July with Hong Kong director Soi Cheang's film Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In. A Malaysian co-production film Snow in Midsummer by Chong Keat Aun won the Uncaged Award for best feature film. It revolves around Ah Eng, a young woman, and her mother who lose contact with the father and brother of the former amid political riots. The Audience Award was awarded to Thailand film How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies by Pat Boonnitipat. , which follows M, a university dropout low on money and luck, volunteers to take care of his terminally ill grandmother in the hopes for an inheritance. In his closing speech the NYAFF Executive Director and President of the New York Asian Film Foundation Samuel Jamier said, "this year’s edition had "shattered expectations, we’ve witnessed an unprecedented 33% growth in both attendance and box office revenue, and one-third of our screenings sold out within days." He further said, "This year’s festival also showcased a broader range of narratives, from intimate personal dramas to epic historical sagas, reflecting the rich tapestry of Asian storytelling."

## Jury

Jury is composed of:
* Tony Bui: Vietnamese-born American independent film director in the United States
* Shao-yi Chen: producer, Screenworks Asia
* Shaina Magdayao: Filipino actress
* Felix Tsang: Sales & Acquisitions Manager, Golden Scene
* Chanon Santinatornkul: Thai actor
* Aliza Ma: Head of Programming, the Criterion Channel

## Screening venues

* Film at Lincoln Center
* Walter Reade Theater
* SVA Theatre
* Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center, 144 West 65th Street
* LOOK Cinemas W57
* Korean Cultural Center New York

## Films showcase

Sources:
| Year | Title | Original Title | Country | Director | Premiere Status |
| Opening film ||||||
| 2024 | Victory | 빅토리 | South Korea | Park Beom-su | World Premiere |
| Beyond Borders ||||||
| 2024 | 18×2 Beyond Youthful Days | 青春18×2 君へと続く道 | Japan, Taiwan | Michihito Fujii | North American Premiere |
| 2024 | A Balloon's Landing | 我在這裡等你 | Taiwan, Hong Kong | Angel Teng | International Premiere |
| 2023 | Fly Me to the Moon | 但願人長久 | Hong Kong | Sasha Chuk | North American Premiere |
| 2023 | Salli | 莎莉 | Taiwan | Lien Chien-Hung | East Coast Premiere |
| 2023 | The Time of Huan Nan | 環南時候 | Taiwan | Leading Lee | International Premiere |
| Centerpiece Presentation ||||||
| 2024 | The Killers | 더 킬러스 | South Korea | Kim Jong-kwan, Roh Deok, Jang Hang-jun, Lee Myung-se | World Premiere |
| Closing film ||||||
| 2024 | Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In | 九龍城寨·圍城 | Hong Kong | Soi Cheang | North American Premiere |
| China On the Move ||||||
| 2023 | Brief History of a Family | 家庭简史 | China, France, Denmark, Qatar | Lin Jianjie | New York Premiere |
| 2023 | Carefree Days | 逍遥游 | China | Liang Ming | North American Premiere |
| 2023 | The Escaping Man | 绑架毛乎乎 | China | Wang Yichun | International Premiere |
| 2023 | Galaxy Writer | 银河写手 | China | Li Kuo, Shan Dandan | North American Premiere |
| 2023 | A Long Shot | 老枪 | China | Gao Peng | North American Premiere |
| 2023 | Snow Leopard | 雪豹, གངས་གཟིག | China (Tibet) | Pema Tseden | New York Premiere |
| 2023 | Wolf Hiding | 怒潮 | China | Marc Ma | North American Premiere |
| Crowd Pleasers ||||||
| 2024 | 90 Years Old – So What? | 九十歳。何がめでたい | Japan | Tetsu Maeda | North American Premiere |
| 2024 | Breaking and Re-entering | 還錢 | Taiwan | Leo Wang | North American Premiere |
| 2024 | Kingdom 4: Return of the Great General | キングダム 大将軍の帰還 | Japan | Shinsuke Sato | International Premiere |
| 2024 | Let's Go Karaoke! | カラオケ行こ | Japan | Nobuhiro Yamashita | International Premiere |
| 2024 | Love Lies | 我談的那場戀愛 | Hong Kong | Ho Miu-ki | North American Premiere |
| 2024 | The Yin Yang Master Zero | 陰陽師ゼロ | Japan | Shimako Satō | North American Premiere |
| Diasporic Discoveries ||||||
| 2024 | Dìdi | Dìdi | United States | Sean Wang | New York Premiere |
| 2015 | Front Cover | Front Cover | United States | Ray Yeung | Special Screening |
| NYAFF 2024 Restored Classics ||||||
| 1984 | Shanghai Blues | 上海之夜 | Hong Kong | Tsui Hark | Special Screening |
| 1999 | Three Seasons | Three Seasons | United States, Vietnam | Tony Bui | Special Screening |
| Prime Picks ||||||
| 2023 | 12.12: The Day | 서울의 봄 | South Korea | Kim Sung-su | Prime Picks |
| 2024 | Escape | 탈주 | South Korea | Lee Jong-pil | Prime Picks |
| 2024 | Exhuma | 파묘 | South Korea | Jang Jae-hyun | Prime Picks |
| 2024 | The Roundup: Punishment | 범죄도시4 | South Korea | Heo Myung-haeng | Prime Picks |
| LGBTQ+ Visions & Horizon: Queer Unbound at NYAFF ||||||
| 2024 | All Shall Be Well | 從今以後 | Hong Kong | Ray Yeung | East Coast Premiere |
| 2024 | A Balloon's Landing | 我在這裡等你 | Taiwan | Angel Teng | International Premiere |
| 2024 | Fish Boy | 魚仔 | Canada | Christopher Yip | New York Premiere |
| 2015 | Front Cover | Front Cover | United States | Ray Yeung | Special Screening |
| 2024 | Let | Let | United States | Alyssa Loh | East Coast Premiere |
| 2023 | The Missing | Iti Mapukpukaw | PhilippinesThailand | Carl Joseph E. Papa | East Coast Premiere |
| 2024 | Pushup | Pushup | South Korea | Ryu Ho-cheol | International Premiere |
| 2023 | Something Blue | 夏天和陈路 | China | Li Chen | World Premiere |
| 2023 | The Time of Huan Nan | 環南時候 | Taiwan | Leading Lee | International Premiere |
| 2019 | Twilight’s Kiss (Suk Suk) | 叔．叔 | Hong Kong | Ray Yeung | Special Screening |
| Standouts ||||||
| 2023 | Brief History of a Family | 家庭简史 | China, France, Denmark, Qatar | Lin Jianjie | New York Premiere |
| 2024 | Bushido | 碁盤斬り | Japan | Kazuya Shiraishi | North American Premiere |
| 2024 | Gold Boy | ゴールド・ボーイ | Japan | Shusuke Kaneko | North American Premiere |
| 2023 | Snow Leopard | 雪豹, གངས་གཟིག | China (Tibet) | Pema Tseden | New York Premiere |
| Vanguards ||||||
| 2023 | Be With Me | 車頂上的玄天上帝 | Taiwan | Hwarng Wern Ying | East Coast Premiere |
| 2023 | FAQ | 막걸리가 알려줄거야 | Kim Da-min | North American Premiere |
| 2023 | The Missing | Iti Mapukpukaw | PhilippinesThailand | Carl Joseph E. Papa | East Coast Premiere |
| 2024 | Reversi | Reversi | Malaysia | Adrian Teh | North American Premiere |
| 2023 | Supposed | สมมติ | Thailand | Thanakorn Pongsuwan | North American Premiere |
| 2023 | The Tenants | 세입자 | South Korea | Yoon Eun-Kyung | 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 ||||||
| 2023 | The Escaping Man | 绑架毛乎乎 | China | Wang Yichun | International Premiere |
| 2024 | Frankenstein Father | 프랑켄슈타인 아버지 | South Korea | Choi Jea-young | International Premiere |
| 2024 | How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies | หลานม่า | Thailand | Pat Boonnitipat | North American Premiere |
| 2023 | Ichiko | 市子 | Japan | Akihiro Toda | North American Premiere |
| 2023 | Snow in Midsummer | 五月雪 | Malaysia, Taiwan, Singapore | Chong Keat Aun | U.S. Premiere |
| 2024 | Suffocating Love | 愛的噩夢 | Taiwan | Liao Ming-yi | North American Premiere |
| 2023 | Trouble Girl | 小曉 | Taiwan | Chin Chia-Hua | North American Premiere |
| 2023 | Women from Rote Island | Perempuan Berkelamin Darah | Indonesia | Jeremias Nyangoen | North American Premiere |

## Films by country or region

Sources:
| Year | Title | Original Title | Director | Premiere status |
| Hong Kong Panorama |||||
| 2024 | All Shall Be Well | 從今以後 | Ray Yeung | East Coast Premiere |
| 2023 | Customs Frontline | 海關戰線 | Herman Yau | North American Premiere |
| 2024 | Fight for Tomorrow | 拼命三郎 | Chan Tai-Lee | U.S. Premiere |
| 2022 | Finding Bliss: Fire and Ice | 尋找極致的喜悅：火與冰 | Dee Lam, Kim Chan | Spotlight on 852 Films |
| 2023 | Fly Me to the Moon | 但願人長久 | Sasha Chuk | North American Premiere |
| 2024 | For Alice | 給愛麗絲 | Chow Kam Wing | World Premiere |
| 2024 | Inexternal | 裡應外合 | Yuen Kim-Wai | World Premiere |
| 2024 | Love Lies | 我談的那場戀愛 | Ho Miu-ki | North American Premiere |
| 2023 | The Lyricist Wannabe | 填詞L | Norris Wong | New York Premiere |
| 1984 | Shanghai Blues | 上海之夜 | Tsui Hark | Special Screening |
| 2024 | Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In | 九龙城寨之围城 | Soi Cheang | North American Premiere |
| 2019 | Twilight’s Kiss (Suk Suk) | 叔．叔 | Ray Yeung | Special Screening |
| Korean Frontlines |||||
| 2023 | 12.12: The Day | 서울의 봄 | Kim Sung-su | Prime Picks |
| 2024 | Escape | 탈주 | Lee Jong-pil | Prime Picks |
| 2024 | Exhuma | 파묘 | Jang Jae-hyun | Prime Picks |
| 2023 | FAQ | 막걸리가 알려줄거야 | Kim Da-min | North American Premiere |
| 2024 | Frankenstein Father | 프랑켄슈타인 아버지 | Choi Jea-young | International Premiere |
| 2023 | The Guest | 301호 모텔 살인사건 | Yeon Je-gwang | North American Premiere |
| 2024 | The Killers | 더 킬러스 | Kim Jong-kwan, Roh Deok, Chang Hang-jun, Lee Myung-Se | World Premiere |
| 2024 | The Roundup: Punishment | 범죄도시4 | Heo Myung-haeng | Prime Picks |
| 2023 | The Sin | 씬 | Han Dong-seok | North American Premiere |
| 2023 | The Tenants | 세입자 | Yoon Eun-Kyung | North American Premiere |
| 2024 | Victory | 빅토리 | Park Beom-su | World Premiere |
| Taiwan Transcendent |||||
| 2024 | 18×2 Beyond Youthful Days | 青春18×2 君へと続く道 | Michihito Fujii | North American Premiere |
| 2024 | A Balloon's Landing | 我在這裡等你 | Angel Teng | International Premiere |
| 2023 | Be With Me | 車頂上的玄天上帝 | Hwarng Wern Ying | East Coast Premiere |
| 2024 | Breaking and Re-entering | 還錢 | Leo Wang | North American Premiere |
| 2023 | Old Fox | 老狐狸 | Hsiao Ya-chuan | East Coast Premiere |
| 2023 | Pierce | 刺心切骨 | Nelicia Low | North American Premiere |
| 2023 | Salli | 莎莉 | Lien Chien-Hung | East Coast Premiere |
| 2023 | Snow in Midsummer | 五月雪 | Chong Keat Aun | North American Premiere |
| 2024 | Suffocating Love | 愛的噩夢 | Liao Ming-yi | North American Premiere |
| 2023 | The Time of Huan Nan | 環南時候 | Leading Lee | International Premiere |
| 2023 | Trouble Girl | 小曉 | Chin Chia-Hua | North American Premiere |

## Awards and winners
### Uncaged Award for Best Feature Film

| Year | Title | Original Title | Country | Director/Actor |
| 2023 | Snow in Midsummer | 五月雪 | Malaysia, Taiwan, Singapore | Chong Keat Aun |
| Special Mention ||||||
| 2023 | Women from Rote Island | Perempuan Berkelamin Darah | Indonesia | Jeremias Nyangoen |

### Audience Award

| Year | Title | Original Title | Country | Director/Actor | Ref. |
| 2024 | How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies | หลานม่า | Thailand | Pat Boonnitipat | |

### Daniel Craft Award for Excellence in Action Cinema

| Actor | Country | Film/s | Ref. |
| Yugo Sakamoto | Japan | Baby Assassins: Nice Days | |

### Star Asia Awards

| Image | Recipient | Country |
| Screen International Star Asia Award ||||
| | Nicholas Tse | Hong Kong |
| Screen International Star Asia Lifetime Achievement Award ||||
| | Zhang Jianian (Tai Bo) [zh] | Hong Kong |
| Screen International Rising Star Asia Award ||||
| | Lee Hye-ri | South Korea |
| Best from the East Award ||||
| | Kento Yamazaki | Japan |