NYAFF’s 20th edition will kick off at Film at Lincoln Center on August 6 with the in-person international premiere of Ryoo Seung-wan’s tense action thriller "Escape from Mogadishu," starring Kim Yoon-seok (NYAFF Star Asia winner 2018) and Zo In-sung. The film is dramatically constructed based on real events that took place in 1991 at the onset of the Somali Civil War, and depicts the perilous escape attempted by North and South Korean embassy workers who were stranded during the conflict. (Well Go USA is releasing the film in the United States and Canada.)
Legendary filmmaker Ann Hui will be the recipient of the Variety Star Asia Lifetime Achievement Award. One of the most critically acclaimed Hong Kong New Wave filmmakers for four decades, Hui has created work of great sensitivity, focusing on themes of cultural displacement, family conflict, and female perspectives. In her honor, NYAFF will be showcasing her early masterwork, "The Story of Woo Viet," starring Chow Yun-fat and marking the film’s 40th anniversary, as well as Man Lim Chung’s insightful, delightful portrait of the inimitable Hui, "Keep Rolling."
Screenings were held from August 6–22, 2021 at SVA Theater.
Asian American Focus:
"Americanish." (USA) Iman K. Zawahry, Director. New York Premiere.
"A Shot Through the Wall." (USA) Aimee Long, Director. New York Premiere
"Snakehead." (USA) Evan Jackson Long, Director. Special Premiere
Beyond Borders:
"The Asian Angel." (Japan. South Korea) Yuha Ishii, Director. North American Premiere.
"Barbarian Invasion." (Malaysia) Tan Chui Mui, Director. North American Premiere.
"Fighter." (South Korea) Jero Yun, Director. North American Premiere.
"A Song For You." (China). Dukar Tserang, Director. North American Premiere.
Centerpiece Presentation.
"Raging Fire." (Hong Kong, China) Benny Chan, Director. International Premiere
China on the Move:
"Anima." (China) Cao Jinling, Director. North American Premiere
"The Old Town Girls." (China) Shen Yu, Director. North American Premiere.
"Tough Out." (China) Xu Hui-jing, Director. North American Premiere.
"Sinkhole." (South Korea) Kim Ji-hoon, Director. North American Premiere.
Crowd Pleasers:
"All U Need is Love." (Hong Kong) Vincent Kok, Director. North American Premiere.
"Breakout Barriers." (Hong Kong) Mak Ho Pong, Director. North American Premiere.
"The Con-Heartist." (Thailand) Mez Tharatorn, Director. North American Premiere.
"From Today, It's My Turn." (Japan) Yuichi Fukuda, Director. US Premiere.
"Hold Me Back." (Japan) Akiko Okhu, Director. US Premiere.
"jigoku-no-hanazono: Office Royale." (Japan) Kazuaki Seki, Director. North American Premiere.
"My Missing Valentine." (Taiwan) Chen Yu-hsun, Director New York Premiere.
"One Second Champion." (Hong Kong) Chiu Sin Hang, Director. North American Premiere.
"Tonkatsu DJ Agetaro." (Japan) Ken Ninomiya, Director. North American Premiere.
"Zero to Hero." Hong Kong. Jimmy Wan, Director. North American Premiere.
| Year | Title | Original Title | Country | Director | Premiere Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asian American Focus | |||||
| 2021 | Americanish | USA | Iman K. Zawahry | New York Premiere | |
| 2021 | A Shot Through the Wall | USA | Aimee Long | New York Premiere | |
| 2021 | Snakehead | USA | Evan Jackson Leong | Special Premiere | |
| Beyond Borders | |||||
| 2021 | The Asian Angel | アジアの天使 | Japan, South Korea | Yuya Ishii | North American Premiere |
| 2021 | Barbarian Invasion | 野蛮人入侵 | Malaysia | Tan Chui Mui | North American Premiere |
| 2021 | Fighter | 파이터 | South Korea | Jero Yun | North American Premiere |
| 2020 | A Song for You | 他与罗耶戴尔 | Chinese | Dukar Tserang | North American Premiere |
| Centerpiece Presentation | |||||
| 2021 | Raging Fire | 怒火 | Hong Kong, China | Benny Chan | International Premiere |
| China on the Move | |||||
| 2020 | Anima | 莫爾道嘎 | China | Cao Jinling | North American Premiere |
| 2020 | The Old Town Girls | 兔子暴力 | China | Shen Yu | North American Premiere |
| 2020 | Tough Out | 棒！少年 | China | Xu Hui-jing | North American Premiere |
| Closing film | |||||
| 2021 | Sinkhole | 싱크홀 | South Korea | Kim Ji-hoon | North American Premiere |
| Crowd Pleasers | |||||
| 2021 | All U Need Is Love | 總是有愛在隔離 | Hong Kong | Vincent Kok | North American Premiere |
| 2020 | Breakout Brothers | 逃獄兄弟 | Hong Kong | Mak Ho Pong | North American Premiere |
| 2020 | The Con-Heartist | อ้าย..คนหล่อลวง | Thailand | Mez Tharatorn | North American Premiere |
| 2020 | From Today, It's My Turn!! | 今日から俺は!!劇場版 | Japan | Yuichi Fukuda | US Premiere |
| 2020 | Hold Me Back | 私をくいとめて | Japan | Akiko Ohku | US Premiere |
| 2021 | jigoku-no-hanazono: Office Royale | 地獄の花園 | Japan | Kazuaki Seki | North American Premiere |
| 2020 | My Missing Valentine | 消失的情人節 | Taiwan | Chen Yu-hsun | New York Premiere |
| 2020 | One Second Champion | 一秒拳王 | Hong Kong | [Chiu Sin Hang]] | North American Premiere |
| 2020 | Tonkatsu DJ Agetaro | とんかつDJアゲ太郎 | Japan | Ken Ninomiya | North American Premiere |
| 2020 | Zero To Hero | 媽媽的神奇小子 | Hong Kong | Jimmy Wan | North American Premiere |
