25th New York Asian Film Festival Highlights Unveiled
The 25th New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF) announced its highlights, running July 10–26 across five New York venues, featuring the North American premiere of *Colony* by Yeon Sang-ho and honoring Joan Chen with the Star Asia Lifetime Achievement Award. The festival will showcase over 50 filmmakers, including premieres, award recipients, and special screenings like *The King’s Warden*, while celebrating 25 years of Asian cinema in the U.S.
The New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF) will celebrate its 25th anniversary from July 10 to July 26, presenting screenings across five venues in New York, including Film at Lincoln Center, SVA Theatre, IFC Center, Anthology Film Archives, and the Korean Cultural Center New York. The festival marks a return to Anthology Film Archives, where it began in 2002, and IFC Center, its home for four earlier editions. Tickets for Film at Lincoln Center screenings go on sale June 18 at 2:00 pm ET, with early access for members starting at 12:00 pm ET. Opening Night on July 10 at Film at Lincoln Center will feature the North American premiere of *Colony*, Yeon Sang-ho’s Korean box-office hit, which premiered at Cannes’ Midnight Screenings. The film stars Jun Ji-hyun as a biotech professor navigating a virus outbreak in a Seoul high-rise, with Yeon Sang-ho attending the screening ahead of its August 28 theatrical release. NYAFF will also present *The King’s Warden*, now the highest-grossing Korean film of all time, starring Yoo Hae-jin and Park Ji-hoon. The festival’s Opening Weekend Gala on July 11 will honor Joan Chen with the Star Asia Lifetime Achievement Award for her four-decade career spanning *The Last Emperor*, *Twin Peaks*, and recent works like *Dìdi* and *Montréal, Ma Belle*. Directors Sean Wang and Andrew Ahn will present the award, followed by the New York premiere of *Montréal, Ma Belle* on July 12. The festival will also include an Opening Night Market with live music and Asian street food at Film at Lincoln Center. Over 50 filmmakers, from established veterans to emerging talents, will participate in post-screening Q&As and special appearances, highlighting both major hits and lesser-known works from Asian cinema. Yeon Sang-ho’s new Netflix series, *Human Vapor*, a sci-fi reimagining of Toho’s 1960 classic, premieres globally on July 2, while NYAFF will showcase his zombie universe, including *Seoul Station*. The festival balances blockbuster appeal with discoveries, reinforcing its mission to showcase diverse Asian filmmaking in New York.
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