New York Asian Film Festival Celebrates 25th Edition With North American Premiere of Yeon Sang-Ho’s Colony
The New York Asian Film Festival will celebrate its 25th edition from July 10‑26, 2026, opening with the North American premiere of Yeon Sang‑ho’s thriller “Colony.” The festival, which attracts over 20,000 attendees and reaches 4 million people through media, will also showcase a 4K restoration of “Train to Busan” for its 10th anniversary. Both titles are slated for theatrical release by Well Go USA later this summer, with “Train to Busan” on August 14 and “Colony” on August 28. The event underscores NYAFF’s growth into North America’s premier showcase for Asian cinema.
Michelle Yeoh to EP ‘Nak Muay’ as UK Global Screen Fund Backs Disruptive Element Films’ Thailand Slate
Disruptive Element Films secured funding from the UK Global Screen Fund to launch a four‑film slate produced in Thailand, beginning with the martial‑arts drama "Nak Muay." The project is executive produced by Oscar‑winner Michelle Yeoh and two‑time BAFTA‑winning financier Colin...
30th BIFAN Announces Program Section Revamp and 46 Korean Short Film Finalists
The 30th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN) will run July 2‑12, 2026, and unveils a sweeping overhaul of its program sections. The competition tier is now branded “Bucheon Choice,” split into World, Korean, and AI categories, while non‑competition blocks...
Koji Fukada Interview: The Paradox of Life, That We Are All Born Alone and Die Alone Is Something I Am...
Koji Fukada’s eleventh feature, “Nagi Notes,” is in competition for the Palme d’Or at Cannes, joining works by Hirokazu Kore‑eda and Ryusuke Hamaguchi. The film reimagines a play originally set in a Tokyo museum, relocating the story to the remote village...
Shanghai International Film and TV Festival Announces 2026 Dates, Jury Presidents and Expanded Industry Program
The 28th Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) runs June 12‑21, followed by the 31st Shanghai TV Festival (STVF) June 22‑26, under the themes “Lights, Camera, Stories” and “Blooming Futures.” SIFF set a record with roughly 4,100 submissions from 125 countries,...
Queer As Punk (2025) by Yihwen Chen Film Review
Queer As Punk, a 2025 documentary directed by Yihwen Chen, follows the Malaysian punk trio Shh…Diam as they navigate trans, Muslim, and queer identities under a conservative Islamic regime. The film interweaves concert footage, personal narratives, and protest activism, highlighting...
Thick & Sweet (2025) by Yinan Wang Cathayplay Film Review
Yinan Wang’s short film "Thick & Sweet" explores Chinese‑American identity through the lens of food, centering on the iconic General Tso’s chicken. The 15‑minute collage weaves archival clips, pop‑culture footage, and vintage cinema to portray the immigrant experience in Milwaukee’s...
Taipei Film Festival Announces 2026 International New Talent Competition Selection
The 28th Taipei Film Festival unveiled its International New Talent Competition lineup, selecting ten emerging works from 12 countries out of 430 submissions. The competition runs June 26‑July 11, with awards on June 30, and a jury chaired by Udine...
AnimEigo Announces Blu-Ray Release of Alien Nine
AnimEigo and its parent MediaOCD announced a Blu‑ray release of the cult OVA "Alien Nine" for June 9, 2026. The four‑episode set, running 113 minutes, will be the first high‑definition version, featuring an AstroRes restoration, upscale, and a suite of bonus...
A Welder (2025) by He Zeyu CathayPlay Film Review
Chinese director He Zeyu’s 20‑minute short “A Welder” premiered at the Jia Village Short Film Festival and is now streaming on CathayPlay. The film follows Yuyu, a solitary welder in a southern Chinese town, whose routine is disrupted when he...
Cosmo Corpus by Yokna Hasegawa Trailer
Yokna Hasegawa’s new sci‑fi short “Cosmo Corpus” debuted its trailer, revealing a future where Earth’s resources are depleted and humanity has split into space‑bound “Offshoot” and Earth‑bound “Remained”. The Offshoot thrive with advanced technology, while the Remained struggle for survival,...
The Fantasy of Deer Warrior (1961) by Zhang Ying Film Review
The restored 1961 Taiwanese fantasy "The Fantasy of Deer Warrior" is being screened at the 2026 Queer East Festival. The low‑budget film features adult actors in handmade animal costumes who reenact Aesop‑style fables and surreal, campy scenes. Its eclectic soundtrack...
Green Lake (2025) by Zhu Linwei Short Film Review
Chinese filmmaker Zhu Linwei’s 29‑minute short "Green Lake" serves as his Beijing Film Academy MFA graduation project and delves into a decaying Yunnan fertilizer factory haunted by personal trauma. The film earned a Best Live‑Action Short nomination at the 62nd...
Cinema Pairing: Japan X Malaysia Presents Two Double-Bill Screenings Exploring Cultural Exchange Through Cinema
The Japan Foundation, together with GSC International Screens, is hosting "Cinema Pairing: Japan × Malaysia" from May 15‑17, 2026 at GSC Mid Valley Megamall. The three‑day programme offers double‑bill screenings that pair classic Japanese titles with contemporary Malaysian films, each accompanied by filmmaker talks....
Viral Hit by Hideki Takeuchi Trailer
Netflix is debuting the Japanese live‑action series "Viral Hit" worldwide on June 11, 2026. The show adapts the popular webtoon by Taejun Park and Kim Junghyun and follows high‑schooler Kota Shimura, who turns to livestreamed street fights to escape bullying and poverty....
Yeong-Ja’s Heydays (1975) by Kim Ho-Sun Film Review
"Yeong‑ja’s Heydays" (1975) became a cultural phenomenon, drawing roughly 360,000 viewers and even surpassing the Hollywood hit "The Sting" at the Korean box office. The melodrama follows Yeong‑ja and Chang‑soo, whose lives are shattered by poverty, sexual violence, disability, and...
Polong by Zulkarnain Azhar Trailer
Indonesian director Zulkarnain Azhar released the trailer for his upcoming horror thriller "Polong", starring Mimi Lana, Fad Anuar and a supporting cast of regional talent. The story follows an investigative journalist who uncovers a shaman‑serial killer’s dark past and unintentionally...
2026 TCCF PITCHING Now Calls for Projects Worldwide
The Taiwan Creative Content Fest (TCCF) has opened its 2026 PITCHING program to global submissions, running through July 6. The event, which helped launch the Cannes‑selected film *Nagi Notes*, showcases a new award model that gives each of the four project...
Out of Nowhere (2024) by Julian Yuchiao Lee Film Review
Julian Yuchiao Lee returns to feature filmmaking after a 24‑year gap with “Out of Nowhere,” a 98‑minute Taiwanese comedy released on September 6, 2024. The film follows a time‑traveling courier who is hired to direct a low‑budget, livestreamed production for a quirky...
Projection (2025) by Ari Groobman Short Film Review
Ari Groobman's short horror film "Projection" debuted at Screamfest, often dubbed the "Sundance of Horror," after reaching the quarterfinals of the Vail Screenplay Competition. The 12‑minute piece fuses family drama with visceral horror, drawing on influences like "The Evil Dead"...
Yoo Hae-Jin, Ryu Seung-Ryong, “No Other Choice” Among Major Winners at the 62nd Baeksang Arts Awards
The 62nd Baeksang Arts Awards were held on May 8 in Seoul, streamed live on JTBC and Naver, and highlighted veteran actors Yoo Hae‑jin and Ryu Seung‑ryong as Grand Prize winners in film and broadcast respectively. Park Chan‑wook’s "No Other Choice"...
A Quiet Storm (2025) by Benjamin Nicholas Documentary Short Review
“A Quiet Storm,” Benjamin Nicolas’s 2025 documentary short, returns him to nonfiction after a varied career in photography, advertising and narrative film. The film follows 14‑year‑old Maïto, a Tokyo teenager who channels his yearning for maternal attention into Krump dance,...
Hotori: Simply Wishing for Hope (2005) by Takashi Anno Anime Review
Hotori: Simply Wishing for Hope, a 2005 OVA by Takashi Anno, blends sci‑fi and psychological drama through a robot boy, Suzu, and a memory‑impaired girl, Hotori. The story examines grief, identity, and the limits of artificial memory as the characters...
Trashy Boy (2022) by Zheng Yifei CathayPlay Film Review
"Trashy Boy" is a Chinese indie documentary that tracks 20‑year‑old Zhang Haichao, nicknamed Big Sponge, a high‑school dropout battling obesity and chasing rap fame in the remote Gansu province. Director Zheng Yifei captures Haichao’s daily life, strained father‑son relationship, and...
We’Re Nothing At All (2026) by Herman Yau Bad Accent Review
Herman Yau’s new film “We’re Nothing At All” debuts in UK and Ireland cinemas via Trinity Cine Asia, blending a bus‑explosion thriller with a sprawling social drama. The Hong Kong‑set story follows a forensic investigation that spirals into a critique of...
Ciao UFO (2025) by Patrick Leung Pak-Kin Film Review
Patrick Leung Pak‑kin’s sci‑fi drama "Ciao UFO" swept the 44th Hong Kong Film Awards, taking Best Film, Director, Screenplay, Supporting Actress and Original Song. After premiering at the Hong Kong Asian Film Festival in 2019, the film finally opened theatrically...
Kagyu Samye Dzong London and Tibet Film Festival London Announce Tibetan Film Season
The Tibet Film Festival London is teaming up with Kagyu Samye Dzong London for a six‑week Tibetan Film Season from May 21 to June 11 in Bermondsey. Each weekly screening is themed and paired with guest speakers, Q&As and meditation...
Andie Ju and Jing Ai Ng Interview
Grace Han interviews Director Jing Ai Ning and actress Andi Ju about their feature debut “FORGE,” which will screen at CAAMFest this weekend. The film explores a women‑run art‑crime storyline with Asian‑American anti‑heroes, marking a rare genre blend in indie cinema. Production took...
The Girl Princes (2013) by Kim Hye-Jung Documentary Review
Kim Hye‑jung’s 2013 documentary The Girl Princes chronicles the all‑female Yeoseong Gukgeuk troupes that performed male folklore heroes in post‑war Korea. By blending archival material with contemporary interviews, the film reveals how these performers challenged gender norms and survived state...
BIFF Opens a Gateway to the Oscars for Asian Cinema
The Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) has been added to the Academy’s new eligibility pathway for the International Feature Film Oscar, allowing the winner of its Busan Award – Best Film to be submitted directly. This places BIFF alongside Cannes,...
Secret Flower (1971) by Koji Wakamatsu Film Review
Koji Wakamatsu’s 1971 pink film Secret Flower arrives at a career crossroads, marrying commercial eroticism with a bleak, existential tone. The narrative follows two women haunted by past suicides while a disillusioned former student activist contemplates death, exposing post‑1960s political...
Paikar (2026) by Dawood Hilmandi Documentary Review
"Paikar" (2026) is Dawood Hilmandi’s documentary that follows his quest to reconnect with a scattered family across Iraq, Afghanistan, and the West while confronting an emotionally distant, war‑scarred father. The film weaves personal travelogue moments with flashbacks to the Soviet‑Afghan...
Kurdistan International Independent Film Festival 2026 Unveils Its Vision and Official Poster
The Kurdistan International Independent Film Festival (KIIFF) has announced its 2026 edition along with an official poster, reaffirming its hybrid, curated approach to independent cinema. The festival will showcase a tightly selected slate of global films through online screenings, theatrical...
Montreal, My Beautiful (2025) by Xiaodan He Film Review
Xiaodan He’s new drama "Montreal, My Beautiful" debuted at the 2025 Festival du nouveau cinéma and later screened at the Queer East Festival. The film follows Feng Xia, a Chinese immigrant in Montreal, whose loveless marriage unravels after she falls...
Kim Ji-Hyun Interview
Kim Ji‑hyun’s debut feature Ideal and Weird Family premiered in the Korean Cinema section of the Jeonju International Film Festival. The queer family comedy mixes road‑movie energy with a bright visual style while tackling divorce, sperm‑donation and a fictional child‑exchange as...
Number One (2026) by Kim Tae-Yong Film Review
Kim Tae‑yong’s new film Number One debuted in competition at the 28th Far East Film Festival in Udine, Italy, adapting Sora Uwano’s novella about a son whose life count drops each time he eats his mother’s cooking. The story reunites...
Devastated (2024) by Ashish Avikunthak Film Review
Devastated, directed by Ashish Avikunthak, is a provocative feature that juxtaposes a reinterpretation of the Bhagavad Gita with a modern police interrogation to critique violence under Narendra Modi’s India. The film employs a confrontational style, having actors address the camera...
The 27th JEONJU IFF·The 18th JEONJU Project Award Winners Announced
The 27th Jeonju International Film Festival announced its award winners on May 5, capping a program that showcased 236 films from 54 countries. A total of 37 prizes were handed out across International, Korean and Short competition sections, with Argentina’s...
Before Spring (1980) by Hojin Hashiura Film Analysis
"Before Spring," a 1980 Japanese drama written and directed by Hojin Hashiura, premiered on September 20 under the Art Theatre Guild (ATG) banner. It was the first film produced after Shiro Sasaki became ATG’s second president, marking a leadership transition for...
The Butcher’s Blade (2026) by Liu Wenpu Film Review
Liu Wenpu’s wuxia crime drama “The Butcher’s Blade” debuts digitally on May 12, 2026 via Well Go USA Entertainment. The film follows constable Xue Buyi, framed for missing disaster‑relief funds, as he infiltrates a secret squad to clear his name. Critics praise its high‑energy...
Fate/Strange Fake (2026) by Shun Enkido and Takahino Shakazume Anime Review
Fate/strange Fake, adapted from Ryohgo Narita’s light novel, premiered its full first season in 2026 after a 2023 special. Set in Snowfield, Nevada, the series presents a “fake” Holy Grail War with unstable rules and a sprawling cast of Masters...
Members of the Problematic Family (2026) by Ramalingam Gowtham Film Review
Ramalingam Gowtham’s debut feature "Members of the Problematic Family" premiered at the Berlin Film Festival 2026, offering a fragmented, discomfort‑laden portrait of a Tamil family coping with a nephew’s death. The film interweaves a chaotic funeral timeline with flashbacks that...
When Twilight Draws Near (1969) by Akio Jissoji Short Film Review
Akio Jissoji’s 1969 short, "When Twilight Draws Near," dramatizes four bored university students who turn a gas leak into a deadly endurance game. Produced by Danso and the Art Theatre Guild, the screenplay was penned by provocateur Nagisa Oshima. The...
Kamu Harus Mati by Tema Patrosza Trailer
Tema Patrosza’s new horror film “Kamu Harus Mati” follows Meta, a grieving young woman haunted by hallucinations after her boyfriend’s fatal accident. The trailer reveals a blend of psychological terror and puzzle‑solving as she confronts a presumed spirit while her...
Tokyo Burst by Eiji Uchida Trailer
The trailer for "Tokyo Burst" introduces rookie detective Shiro Aiba, a former bosozoku gang member, who partners with Korean officer Choi Si‑woo to dismantle an international crime ring in Shinjuku. Their uneasy alliance escalates as a gang robbery ignites a...
The 27th JEONJU IFF Kicks Off: Global Cinema Icons Converge in Jeonju
The 27th Jeonju International Film Festival opened on April 29 with a ceremony attended by roughly 2,000 guests, including director Kent Jones and actress Greta Lee who presented the opening film *Late Fame*. Festival co‑directors Min Sungwook and Jung Junho...
Fan Bingbing Interview
Fan Bingbing, a veteran of Chinese cinema, announced her upcoming film “Mother Bhumi,” slated for a 2027 release. In a candid interview she describes herself as an “Italian living in London” on paper, yet her roots are firmly planted in...
Badut Gendong by Charles Gozali Trailer
The trailer for "Badut Gendong" introduces a supernatural revenge story where a cursed clown mask haunts a village after a sacred sugarcane wedding turns deadly. Directed by Charles Gozali, the film is a joint effort of Magma Entertainment, Komet Productions,...
Blood of Rebirth (2009) by Toshiaki Toyoda Film Review
After a four‑year hiatus following his 2005 arrest, Japanese director Toshiaki Toyoda returned in 2009 with “Blood of Rebirth,” a low‑budget feature shot in just ten days. The film reimagines the classic joruri tale of Oguri Hangan as a punk‑infused,...
Red Wedding Dress (2025) by Xu Jun and Liu Ming Liang Film Review
Red Wedding Dress (2025), co‑written and co‑directed by Xu Jun and Liu Ming Liang, is a period horror set in Republican‑era southern China. The plot follows a haunted mansion where a feng shui master and an exorcist confront a vengeful spirit...