The 25th New York Asian Film Festival Takes Place at Five Theatres

NEW YORK. The New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF) and Film at Lincoln Center today unveil the second wave of programming for its landmark 25th edition, adding more than 40 films to an already wide-ranging lineup, with very special final titles still to come. Running from July 10 to July 26 across five New York venues, including Film at Lincoln Center, SVA Theatre, IFC Center, Anthology Film Archives, and the Korean Cultural Center New York, NYAFF 2026 marks a major milestone for North America’s leading festival of Asian cinema.

Since 2002, NYAFF has grown from a grassroots festival built by passionate fans of Asian cinema into an essential platform for Asian film culture in North America. Over the past 25 years, the festival has introduced audiences to filmmakers who would go on to become some of the industry’s most celebrated voices, while continuing to spotlight new talent and exciting discoveries from across the continent. The 25th edition celebrates a quarter century of NYAFF’s continued mission to bring Asian cinema and its artists to New York audiences with some spectacular announcements.

Following last week’s first wave announcement, this second reveal brings together the festival’s signature Uncaged Award for Best Feature Film competition, a new slate of feature titles from across the region, and an expanded roster of award honorees led by some of the biggest names in Asian cinema.

Korean icon Gianna Jun, whose star-making turns in film and television have made her one of Asia’s most beloved performers, will receive the Extraordinary Star Asia Award. Hong Kong actor, director, and producer Daniel Wu, a defining presence in Asian cinema whose influence extends across both Eastern and Western screens, will be honored with the Best from the East Award.

Gianna Jun will be on hand for the North American premiere of director Yeon Sang-ho’s Korean box-office hit and opening night film Colony. One of Asia’s most beloved and influential stars, Jun has captivated audiences for more than two decades through iconic roles in My Sassy Girl, The Thieves, and My Love from the Star. In celebration of her award, NYAFF will also present a new 4K restoration of the romantic-comedy classic My Sassy Girl, the film that launched Jun to international stardom and remains one of the most beloved Korean films of all time.

Hong Kong actor, director, and producer Daniel Wu will be honored with the Best from the East Award. One of the defining stars of modern Hong Kong cinema, Wu rose to prominence through acclaimed films including Gen-X Cops, New Police Story, and Protégé, building a career that has spanned action blockbusters, crime dramas, and beloved series such as Into the Badlands and American Born Chinese. At NYAFF, Wu returns to Hong Kong cinema after a six-year absence with Cold War 1994, one of the most ambitious and expensive Hong Kong productions in recent memory.

Joining them is Taiwanese actor Joseph Chang, recipient of the Screen International Star Asia Award. Known for acclaimed performances in films including Eternal Summer and Soul Mate, Chang has spent two decades building a career that has made him one of Taiwan’s most recognizable screen talents. He will attend NYAFF with his latest feature, Deep Quiet Room. Additional festival guest highlights include Filipino actor, singer, and producer Piolo Pascual (Manila’s Finest) and Thai actors Prapamonton Eiamchan (Human Resources), Mario Maurer (4 Tigers), and James Jirayu Tangsrisuk (Tha Rae: The Exorcist).

The latest wave of titles showcases some exciting voices of contemporary Asian cinema. Hong Kong’s next generation of filmmakers takes center stage with two distinctive comedies. Celebrated screenwriter Mak Tin Shu makes his feature directorial debut with the acclaimed dark comedy Dog Day Evening, while directors Kwok Ka-hei and Jack Lee bring their cult hit Unidentified Murder to NYAFF. Japan is represented by the international premiere of the period drama Samurai Vengeance, starring Tasuku Emoto, alongside the award-winning drama Fujiko, an Uncaged Award nominee. And from Thailand, NYAFF will present the world premiere of the genre-bending thriller Someone Special.

South Korea is represented by the North American premiere of Frosted Window, director Kim Jong-kwan’s poignant anthology drama set in Seoul’s Seochon neighborhood, with the filmmaker in attendance, as well as the international premiere of Lee Won-suk’s vertical drama Lovely Death. From Taiwan comes the North American premiere of the romance Kiss Me My Ghost Friend and the U.S. premiere of Last Night in Taipei, a warm ensemble drama following a group of friends as they spend one unforgettable night wandering through the city together.

This year’s edition also introduces the festival’s first-ever Spotlight on Vietnam, alongside returning sidebar programs including Queer Unbound, Horrorscope, and the popular Secret Screening at Anthology Film Archives. In honor of NYAFF’s 25th anniversary, the festival will launch 25th Anniversary Rediscoveries, a special series revisiting classic, iconic, and cult favorites from 2001, the year NYAFF began.

The Uncaged Award for Best Feature Film Competition is NYAFF’s signature section dedicated to bold new voices and filmmakers pushing cinema in unexpected directions. This year’s eight nominees span the region and include emerging talents, acclaimed auteurs, and feature directorial debuts: The 2026 Uncaged Award nominees are:

• A Dance with Rainbows — dir. Lee Yi-shan, Taiwan
• Deep Quiet Room — dir. Shen Ko-shang, Taiwan
• Fujiko — dir. Taichi Kimura, Japan
• Girlfriends — dir. Tracy Choi, Macao/Taiwan/Hong Kong/Thailand
• Hallan — dir. Ha Myung-mi, South Korea
• Wild Nights, Tamed Beasts — dir. Wang Tong, China
• Dog Day Evening — dir. Mak Tin Shu, Hong Kong
• Turgaud — dir. Adilkhan Yerzhanov, Kazakhstan

All competition directors are expected to attend for Q&As, and the winner will be announced at the festival’s Closing Night Awards Ceremony on July 26.

The festival is presented with major support from the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York (HKETONY), The Ministry of Culture of Thailand and the Department of Cultural Promotion, Fundstrat Global Advisors, BitMine, Cathay Pacific, Taipei Cultural Center of TECO in New York, Korean Cultural Center New York (KCCNY), and Korean Film Council (KOFIC), whose partnership amplifies Asian cinema’s most vital voices.