Here’s something that really kicks ass, the unveiling – in part at least – of this year’s The New York Asian Film Festival.
This year the NYAFF runs June 25 - July 8 and will be co-presented for the first time with The Film Society of Lincoln Center. Screenings will be held at the Walter Reade Theater with additional screenings July 1 - 4 at the Japan Society and special midnight shows at the IFC Center.
Here’s how the great guys at NYAFF describe themselves: “Like Vandals storming the gates of Rome, the New York Asian Film Festival rampages through the Film Society¹s Walter Reade Theater, unleashing an orgy of the latest and greatest pop masterpieces Asian cinema has to offer. For nine years, the NYAFF has been North America¹s leading festival of popular Asian cinema but now it¹s teamed up with the Film Society of Lincoln Center to also become North America¹s fanciest! America’s art-house theaters normally show an anemic sliver of what Asian cinema has to offer but the NYAFF¹s 2010 line-up is a brawny slab of 35 blockbusters and break-out hits that audiences in Thailand, China, Korea, Hong Kong and Japan actually buy tickets to watch. The full line-up will be announced in May, but this year¹s festival will have three major events, so mark them on your flesh now!”
The three events are: The Star Asia Awards to highlight actors Western audiences should know more about like two of my favs, Simon Yam and Sammo Hung. And both celebs are scheduled to attend! Amazing! There will also be a showcase on The New Old School: Hong Kong’s New Martial Arts Cinema including Jackie Chan’s new film “Little Big Soldier” and the hit “Bodyguards and Assassins.” And the third featured event is Up From the Japanese Underground featuring films such as “800 Miles” and “Live Tape.”
Every year the festival has the best showcase of pop Asian Cinema and they make no apologies for their choices no matter how extreme they may be. I love their attitude and their willingness to showcase works that many festivals dismiss as pop entertainment. I can’t wait to see their full line up. Check them out at the NYAFF website.
