By If you live in New York City, or any place within a reasonable travelling distance, you better clear your calenders for the next two weeks, because the New York Asian Film Festival has arrived. Starting July 1st (tomorrow) and running through the 14th, dozens of films from across Asia will be playing at the Film Society of Lincoln Center in the Walter Reade Theater, as well as some showings at the Japan Society from July 7th through the 10th. A number of them are North American premieres (awesome!), and many of them will also be attended by the directors, actors, or producers of the films (AWESOME!). Hosted by Subway Cinema (the self-proclaimed “Kings” of the NYAFF”), the festival is celebrating its tenth year, and it looks like it’s going to be a great one. It may sound like I’m spouting PR nonsense, but it’s because I am really excited to see some of these films.
Unfortunately, I’m only one guy, so I will not be able to see all of the films (or even most of them). I will see as many as possible, however, and, if everything works out, I will have a film review up every weekday for the next two weeks. I am trying to see films from a variety of countries and in a variety of genres, but I will only be scratching the surface. Will they all be great? No, probably not, but I would venture to guess that you will be seeing a lot of high review scores in the next two weeks. Bookmark this link, because it will bring you right to all things NYAFF as they are featured on Flixist.
The festival is open to the public, and I implore you to see as many of the films as you can. Asian cinema is awesome, and not nearly enough of it reaches American theaters. Tickets can be purchased from the source link, as well as more information about the festival as well as the films themselves. Go below for the full schedule of films.
[Via Subway Cinema]Fri, July 1
6:00 SELL OUT (110) – with director Yeo Joon Han and actor Peter Davis
9:00 MILOCRORZE: A LOVE STORY (90) – with director Yoshimasa Ishibashi and actor Takayuki Yamada; Yamada will receive the Star Asia Rising Star Award prior to the screening
11:00 Opening Night Reception — free admission for ticket-holders to 9:00 and 12:00 films
12:00 HORNY HOUSE OF HORROR (75) + DARK ON DARK (17)
Sat, July 2
12:15 BKO: BANGKOK KNOCKOUT (105)
2:30 PUNISHED (94)
4:30 13 ASSASSINS: DIRECTORS CUT (141) – with actor Takayuki Yamada
7:30 SHAOLIN (131)
10:15 MACHETE MAIDENS UNLEASHED! (84)
12:00 RAW FORCE (86)
Sun, July 3
12:30 A BOY AND HIS SAMURAI (109)
2:45 DUEL TO THE DEATH (83)
4:45 KARATE-ROBO ZABORGAR (101)
7:00 NINJA KIDS!!! (100)
9:10 BUDDHA MOUNTAIN (105)
Mon, July 4
1:00 ABRAXAS (113)
3:30 SELL OUT (110) — with director Yeo Joon Han and actor Peter Davis
6:30 A BOY AND HIS SAMURAI (109)
9:00 THE LAST DAYS OF THE WORLD (96)
Tue, July 5
1:30 BUDDHA MOUNTAIN (105)
3:45 THE RECIPE (107)
6:15 ABRAXAS (113)
8:45 KARATE-ROBO ZABORGAR (101)
Wed, July 6
1:00 FOXY FESTIVAL (110)
3:30 THE UNJUST (119)
6:15 HAUNTERS (114)
8:45 BEDEVILLED (115)
Thu, July 7
1:15 OCEAN HEAVEN (96)
3:30 B.T.S.: BETTER THAN SEX (92) – with director Su Chao-pin
6:15 THE MAN FROM NOWHERE (119)
8:45 SHAOLIN (131)
Japan Society:
6:45 OSAMU TEZUKA’S BUDDHA: THE GREAT DEPARTURE (111)
9:00 RINGING IN THEIR EARS (89)
Fri, July 8
1:15 THE LAST DAYS OF THE WORLD (96)
3:30 THE CABBIE (94) – with director Su Chao-pin
6:45 OCEAN HEAVEN (96)
9:00 FOXY FESTIVAL (110)
12:00 RIKI-OH: THE STORY OF RICKY (91)
Japan Society:
7:00 LOVE AND LOATHING AND LULU AND AYANO (105)
9:15 BATTLE ROYALE (114)
Sat, July 9
1:30 ZU: WARRIORS FROM MAGIC MOUNTAIN (94) – with director Tsui Hark
4:00 REIGN OF ASSASSINS (117) – with director Su Chao-pin
7:00 THE RECIPE (107)
9:30 HAUNTERS (114)
12:00 BKO: BANGKOK KNOCKOUT (105)
Japan Society:
12:30 GANTZ (130)
3:00 GANTZ: PERFECT ANSWER (150)
6:00 NINJA KIDS (100)
8:15 YAKUZA WEAPON (106) – with co-director / actor Tak Sakaguchi, co-director Yudai Yamaguchi, actor Arata Yamanaka, and producer Yoshinori Chiba, plus free admission to the after-party!
Sun, July 10
1:00 REIGN OF ASSASSINS (117) – with director Su Chao-pin
4:00 DRAGON INN (109) – with producer Tsui Hark
7:00 BEDEVILLED (115)
9:30 PUNISHED (94)
Japan Society:
12:30 OSAMU TEZUKA’S BUDDHA: THE GREAT DEPARTURE (111)
2:45 HEAVENS STORY (278) – includes a ten-minute intermission
8:00 MILOCRORZE: A LOVE STORY (90) – with director Yoshimasa Ishibashi
Mon, July 11
1:30 RINGING IN THEIR EARS (89)
3:30 LOVE AND LOATHING AND LULU AND AYANO (105)
6:00 THE BLADE (100) – with director Tsui Hark
8:30 DETECTIVE DEE AND THE MYSTERY OF THE PHANTOM FLAME (122) – with director Tsui Hark
Tue, July 12
12:30 MISE-EN-SCENE SHORT FILMS: PROGRAM #1 (92)
2:30 TROUBLESHOOTER (99) – with director Kwok Hyeok-jae and producer Ryoo Seung-wan
5:00 VERSUS (119) – with actor Tak Sakaguchi and writer Yudai Yamaguchi
7:45 YAKUZA WEAPON (106) – with co-director / actor Tak Sakaguchi, co-director Yudai Yamaguchi, actor Arata Yamanaka, and producer Yoshinori Chiba
10:15 HORNY HOUSE OF HORROR (75) + DARK ON DARK (17)
Wed, July 13
1:00 MISE-EN-SCENE SHORT FILMS: PROGRAM #2 (92) – with director Yoon Hye-ryeom
3:30 CITY OF VIOLENCE (92) – with director Ryoo Seung-wan
6:15 BATTLEFIELD HEROES (118) – with director Lee Joon-ik
9:00 THE UNJUST (119) – with director Ryoo Seung-wan
Thu, July 14
12:30 BATTLEFIELD HEROES (118) – with director Lee Joon-ik
3:15 THE CHASER (125) – with director Na Hong-jin
6:15 TROUBLESHOOTER (99) – with director Kwok Hyeok-jae and producer Ryoo Seung-wan
9:00 THE YELLOW SEA (156) – with director Na Hong-jin