The Stars and the Moon Are Holes in the Sky (2025) by Haruhiko Arai Film Review
Haruhiko Arai’s latest film, “The Stars and the Moon Are Holes in the Sky,” opened internationally at the Hong Kong International Film Festival after its December 2025 Japanese release. The 122‑minute black‑and‑white drama channels the Japanese New Wave of the late‑1960s, both visually and thematically, while following a misogynistic writer navigating complex relationships with three women. Critics commend the performances—especially Rena Tanaka’s—but criticize the protagonist’s dated attitudes and the film’s leisurely pacing. Arai, a veteran screenwriter turned director, continues his arthouse trajectory, blending pink‑eiga roots with experimental storytelling.
Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong (2015) by Emily Ting Film Review
Emily Ting’s 2015 indie romance "Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong" follows Chinese‑American toy designer Ruby (Jamie Chung) and American banker Josh (Bryan Greenberg) as they wander the neon‑lit streets, forging a fleeting connection that resurfaces a year later on the...
The Calf Doll (2026) by Ankur Hooda Documentary Review
Ankur Hooda’s 2026 documentary *The Calf Doll* follows a grieving Haryana farmer who taxidermies his dead calf to confront loss, intertwining rural hardship with surreal performance. The film blends observational footage, improvised TikTok interludes, and staged scenes, creating a hybrid...
Film Review: Pieta (2026) by Adolfo Alix Jr.
Filipino director Adolfo Alix Jr.’s new drama‑crime hybrid Pieta, starring Nora Aunor, Gina Alajar, Bembol Roco, Jaclyn Jose, Angeli Bayani and Alfred Vargas, opened in a limited Manila run after premiering at the Moscow International Film Festival. The film follows...
Salmokji: Whispering Water (2026) by Lee Sang-Min Film Review
Lee Sang-min’s feature debut, “Salmokji: Whispering Water,” centers on a haunted South Korean reservoir and premiered in North American theatres through JBG Pictures USA. The horror film leverages atmospheric sound design and inventive use of night‑vision gear to build dread,...
Film Review: The Silent Game (2025) by Tan Hoang Thong
Tan Hoang Thong’s first feature, "The Silent Game," arrives via Skyline as an 80‑minute horror‑slasher that struggles with pacing, under‑developed characters, and low‑budget production values. The film’s tarot‑themed premise and commentary on body‑shaming and social media add occasional depth, but...
HKIFF50 Announces Winners of Firebird Awards and Fipresci Prize
The 12‑day HKIFF50 festival wrapped up with a slate of Firebird Awards across its Young Cinema, Documentary and Short Film competitions, and a FIPRESCI prize. Kangdrun’s "Linka Linka" captured Best Film in the Chinese‑language youth category, while Tan Si You...
Taiwan on Screen: TIDF Presents Taiwan Spectrum | War Memories, Shifting Identities and Reel Taiwan | The Late 1980s on Film
The 15th Taiwan International Documentary Festival (May 1‑10) presents the Taiwan Spectrum program, featuring 12 restored and archival films that trace Taiwan’s history from Japanese colonial propaganda to contemporary documentary practice. The Reel Taiwan segment debuts four digitally restored 16 mm works...
How to Catch a Butterfly (2026) by Kiriko Mechanicus Short Film Review
Kiriko Mechanicus’s new short documentary “How to Catch a Butterfly” confronts the 2021 Atlanta spa shootings by intertwining personal letters to the killer with a critique of Asian fetishization. The film juxtaposes a red‑lit opening that evokes “Madame Butterfly” with...
The Sin Trade by Cheng Si-Yi Trailer
The Sin Trade, directed by Cheng Si‑Yi, dropped its trailer on April 10, 2026. The gritty crime thriller follows a lone cop who abandons protocol to chase a missing college student, only to be caught between a human‑trafficking ring and a...
Film Review: Queue (2026) by Adolfo Alix Jr.
Filipino director Adolfo Alix Jr. debuts "Queue" at the Moscow International Film Festival, a one‑shot drama starring Gina Pareno that follows 75‑year‑old Regina navigating a never‑ending government health queue. The film uses a Kafkaesque lens to expose systemic corruption and...
Statues Rule the Waves (2024) by Noah Berhitu Short Film Review
Dutch‑Moluccan filmmaker Noah Berhitu’s short documentary “Statues Rule the Waves” premiered at the 2026 CinemAsia Festival in Amsterdam. The 35‑minute film juxtaposes the statues of Anne Frank and Indonesian heroine Martha Christina Tiahahu to explore post‑colonial heritage and the filmmaker’s...
Kristo Immanuel Interview
Kristo Immanuel, a former Instagram comedian turned actor, debuted as a director in 2025 with the dark comedy “Better Off Dead.” The film swept the 54th Indonesian Film Festival, securing five awards from five nominations. It has launched an international...
Re/Member: The Last Night (2026) by Eiichiro Hasumi Film Review
Netflix’s new J‑horror sequel Re/Member: The Last Night expands the original’s time‑loop premise with a memory‑wipe twist and a new Red Stone objective. The film follows high‑school students trapped in an endless "Body Search" at an eerie amusement park, while...
The Invisible Half (2026) by Masaki Nishiyama Film Review
Masaki Nishiyama’s debut feature "The Invisible Half" reimagines classic J‑horror by trapping a malevolent entity within a teenager’s smartphone and headphones. The story follows mixed‑heritage student Elena, who endures bullying before confronting the digital spirit with her new friend Akari....
Manichithrathazhu (1993) by Fazil Film Review
Fazil’s 1993 Malayalam psychological horror Manichithrathazhu remains a benchmark for the genre, praised for its intricate blend of folklore, music, and psychiatric theory. The story follows Nakulan, Ganga and psychiatrist Dr. Sunny as they confront the vengeful spirit of dancer Nagavalli,...
Mudborn (2025) by Shieh Meng Ju Film Review
Taiwanese horror film Mudborn, adapted from a local nursery rhyme, has become the island’s highest‑grossing supernatural horror title. Director Hsieh, an award‑winning editor known for The Tag‑Along series, makes his directorial debut, weaving VR gaming, Taoist rituals and a cursed...
No Room for Love (2026) by Maria Luna Kamradt and Randal Kamradt Short Film Review
"No Room for Love" is a 90‑minute feature compiled from the Kamradts’ 2024 four‑episode TV series and premiered at the Cinequest Film & Creativity Festival in Mountain View. The story follows Filipino‑American cousins chasing show‑biz dreams in Los Angeles, highlighting...
Linka Linka (2025) by Kangdrun Film Review
Kangdrun’s debut feature "Linka Linka" is screening at the Hong Kong International Film Festival, marking the Tibetan director’s first full‑length entry after a successful short‑film run. The story follows Samgyi, a filmmaker who returns to Lhasa to confront childhood trauma...
Kasumisou Ni Yureru Kisha (1981) by Yoshimi Uchida Manga Review
Yoshimi Uchida’s 1981 manga collection "Kasumisou ni Yureru Kisha" blends shoujo storytelling with Pre‑Raphaelite visual influences, set against an idealized Galesburg, Illinois. The four short stories explore youthful ambition, sacrifice, and the loss of innocence through characters like Oscar, Leon,...
Reclaiming Dragons (2025) by Yeung Xiang Yu Short Film Review
“Reclaiming Dragons,” the directorial debut of Rotterdam‑based Yeung Xiang Yu, premiered at the Cinemasia festival. The short follows Ami, a Chinese‑Dutch office worker who retreats into a vivid AI‑generated virtual world that blurs with her real life. Through striking visual...
Sudah (2025) by Aldo Agaatsz Short Film Review
Aldo Agaatsz’s short film Sudah follows Senna, a Dutch‑born woman who travels to Manado to uncover her Indonesian roots, spotlighting a rare Christian community in a Muslim‑majority country. The story unfolds around a family dinner, using food and religious rituals...
Tommy Tom On Spare Queen, Bowling, And Women Who Refuse To Split
Director Tommy Tom debuted "Spare Queen" at the Hong Kong International Film Festival, a character‑driven bowling drama that uses the sport’s notorious seven‑and‑ten split as a metaphor for fleeting human connections. The film follows two women, played by Stephy Tang...
Sunshine Woman’s Choir (2025) by Gavin Lin Film Review
Sunshine Woman’s Choir, a Mandarin‑language drama directed by Gavin Lin, became Taiwan’s highest‑grossing local film, surpassing NT$545 million (≈$17 million) and eclipsing the long‑standing record set by Cape No. 7. The story follows inmate Hui‑zhen, who gives birth behind bars and forms a...
Jinsei (2025) by Suzuki Ryuya Animation Review
Jinsei is Suzuki Ryuya’s debut feature, a fully hand‑drawn animation completed over 18 months and funded entirely through crowdfunding. The film premiered at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and is now screening at Cinemasia in the Netherlands. Its desaturated,...
Baby Fat (2025) by Margarita Mina Short Film Review
"Baby Fat," a 2025 short film by Margarita Mina, follows Sitti, a Filipino‑American teen grappling with cultural expectations and body image. The narrative centers on a heirloom skirt stained by junk food, becoming a visual metaphor for the protagonist’s sense...
A Very Slow Breakfast (2003) by Edwin Short Film Review
Edwin’s 2003 short “A Very Slow Breakfast” is being screened at CinemAsia 2026, offering a four‑minute, dialogue‑free glimpse into a cramped family morning. The film uses slow‑motion and visual details to contrast a passive patriarch with active women, underscoring routine,...
Void: No. Nine Vol. 1 (2024) by Shima Shinya Manga Review
Void: No. Nine Vol. 1, by Shima Shinya, is a new seinen manga set in a dystopian Reclamation City where scavengers explore underground ruins. The narrative follows three protagonists—Asa, Ira, and Kumo—each carrying distinct trauma, exposing themes of economic stagnation, gender...
Nighttime Sounds: Zhang Zhongchen On Magic, Memory And The Changing Chinese Countryside
Chinese director Zhang Zhongchen premiered his new magical‑realist drama “Nighttime Sounds” at the Hong Kong International Film Festival. Drawing on his own rural upbringing, the film uses handheld camerawork and layered sound design to portray a ghost girl symbolising left‑behind...
The Chatterboxes (2025) by Ken Kawai Film Review
Ken Kawai’s third feature, The Chatterboxes, premiered at the 2025 Tokyo International Film Festival and follows a deaf Japanese family whose lives intersect with a Kurdish immigrant household. The film uses delayed and omitted subtitles to force viewers into the same uncertainty...
Boxing Is Like Life: Lee Yi-Shan On A Dance with Rainbows
Taiwanese filmmaker Lee Yi‑shan debuted "A Dance with Rainbows" at the Hong Kong International Film Festival, a boxing drama that mirrors everyday struggles. The film’s realistic fight scenes stem from six months of intensive training for a largely inexperienced cast....
Pinch (2025) by Uttera Singh Film Review
Uttera Singh’s feature debut "Pinch" tackles sexual assault and patriarchal oppression through sharp humor and restrained storytelling. The Indian‑American director, also a USC adjunct professor, follows Maitri, a travel‑blogging hopeful who is assaulted on a bus and fights community denial....
10s Across the Borders (2025) by Chan Sze-Wei Film Review
Singapore‑based documentarian Chan Sze‑Wei’s new film “10s Across the Borders” offers an intimate look at the burgeoning ballroom culture of Southeast Asia through three trailblazing performers from Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand. The 90‑minute documentary, shot over seven years, weaves...
The Period of Her (2025) Linda Andriyani, Praditha Blifa, Sarah Adilah and Erlina Rakhmawati Film Review
"The Period of Her" is an Indonesian omnibus of four short films directed by Linda Andriyani, Praditha Blifa, Sarah Adilah, and Erlina Rakhmawati, screened at Cinemasia. Each segment tackles a distinct facet of women’s lives—from infidelity and infertility to menstruation...
From Screenings to Conversations: A Week of Asian Cinema in Hong Kong
The 19th Asian Film Awards Featured Programme, co‑presented with Broadway Cinematheque, wrapped up a week‑long Asian Cinerama in Hong Kong featuring 11 screenings that were nearly sold out. Prominent filmmakers and actors such as HWANG Dong‑hyuk, JUNG Kyung‑ho, and JO...
Xiao Hao on Number 23, Underground Desire, and an Industry in Crisis
Chinese director Xiao Hao debuted his new film “Number 23” at the Hong Kong International Film Festival, weaving personal memories of an absent father with a 2008 police‑raid news story about a phone‑sex hotline. The movie contrasts cool, handheld above‑ground...
Better Off Dead (2025) by Kristo Immanuel Film Review
Kristo Immanuel’s feature debut “Better Off Dead” opened theatrically on August 14, 2025 and drew 184,960 admissions in Indonesia. The film swept five honors—including Best Film and Best Directing—at the Indonesian Screen Awards during the 20th Jogja‑NETPAC Asian Film Festival....
Shen Ko-Shang On Deep Quiet Room: Sorrow, Secrets, And The Shadows Of Home
Taiwanese director Shen Ko‑Shang debuted his narrative feature “Deep Quiet Room” at the Hong Kong International Film Festival, adapting Lin Hsiu‑ho’s novel after more than a decade of documentary‑style research on family violence. The film follows husband Ming as he...
Re:Mind a Film Festival on Healing to Open in London on May 7
The Re:Mind Film Festival opens in London on May 7, presenting a curated slate of Asian and Asian‑diaspora films that explore trauma, healing, and social justice. Backed by King’s College London’s Film Studies Department, the event combines UK premieres, filmmaker Q&As,...
Yoo Jae-In On En Route To And The Quiet Turmoil Of Growing Up
Korean director Yoo Jae‑in debuted her feature "En Route To" at the Hong Kong International Film Festival after premiering at Busan. The film follows two teenage girls navigating pregnancy, abortion, and the fallout of an inappropriate teacher relationship, highlighting contrasting...
Han Chang-Lok On Funky Freaky Freaks And A Generation On Edge
Korean director Han Chang‑lok premiered “Funky Freaky Freaks” at the Hong Kong International Film Festival, delivering a stark portrait of teenage violence, loneliness, and societal fractures. He frames the story as a symptom of a deep generational divide, where today’s...
Film Submissions Open For The 39th Tokyo International Film Festival
The 39th Tokyo International Film Festival will run from October 26 to November 4, 2026, with film submissions open April 7 through July 7. The festival’s International Competition welcomes unreleased global features, documentaries and animation, while the Asian Future section highlights early‑career directors from...
Japanese Godfather: Ambition (1977) by Sadao Nakajima Film Review
Japanese Godfather: Ambition (1977), directed by Sadao Nakajima, continues the saga of Kazumasa Sakura as the Nakajima syndicate pushes into Japan’s political and economic heartland. The sequel deepens the link between organized crime and public institutions, portraying power plays that...
Death Whisperer 3 (2025) by Narit Yuvaboon Film Review
Netflix’s Thai horror franchise returns with “Death Whisperer 3,” the third film in three years, starring Nadech Kugimiya as the region’s Ash‑Williams. The sequel maintains the series’ signature over‑the‑top gore and jump‑scares but suffers from a thin plot, repetitive dialogue,...
Head to Head (2023) by Malik Nejer Film Review
Saudi Arabia’s cultural liberalization is fueling a surge in homegrown cinema, and Malik Nejer’s live‑action debut, “Head to Head,” exemplifies this shift. The black‑comedy thriller follows a delusional chauffeur and his mechanic friend through a neon‑lit, neo‑noir town, blending slapstick,...
Funky Freaky Freaks (2025) by Han Chang-Lok Film Review
Han Chang‑lok’s "Funky Freaky Freaks" captured the Special Jury Award at Busan before debuting internationally at the Hong Kong International Film Festival. The Korean indie drama follows three high‑school outcasts navigating bullying, anorexia, catfishing and violent masculinity. Its raw, punk‑infused...
The Witch and the Beast (2016) by Kousuke Satake Manga Review
Kousuke Satake’s debut manga "The Witch and the Beast" explores a dark fantasy world where witches are vilified and magic intertwines with bureaucracy. The series entered hiatus in 2023 because of the author’s health, but a 2024 anime adaptation has...
Entertainlens 5 Predictions for the Global Content Market in 2026: Trends, Box Office, and the “East-to-West” Shift
EntertainLens forecasts a reshaped global content market in 2026, highlighted by the rise of $30‑70 million "middle‑tier" blockbusters that could capture roughly 22 % of international box‑office revenue. Pan‑Asian theatrical and SVOD earnings are projected to approach $10 billion annually in Western markets,...
The Last Dance (1993) by Juzo Itami Film Review
Juzo Itami’s 1993 film "The Last Dance" is a semi‑autobiographical comedy‑drama that follows aging director Buhei Mukai, diagnosed with terminal stomach cancer, as he confronts Japan’s opaque healthcare system. The narrative blends dark humor with surreal visuals to expose costly...
Alai Payuthey (2000) by Mani Ratnam Film Review
Mani Ratnam’s 2000 Tamil romance Alai Payuthey marked his return to intimate, urban storytelling after the epic Dil Se.., focusing on the evolution from courtship to married life. The film launched R. Madhavan and Shalini as leading actors and featured an A.R. Rahman...