2022 Asian Film Festival

The 19th edition of the Asian Film Festival, the prestigious showcase for the best auteur cinema from East Asian countries, is back.

This year, on the program, 30 feature films from 8 countries of the Far East - China, South Korea, Philippines, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand - ranging from arthouse and genre products, with particular attention to debut and young directors, proposed in the rich Newcomers section.

Japan presents a series of noteworthy films. Among these, The Mule Song Final and The Great Yokai Wars: Guardians (sequel to The Great Yokai War, 2005), both signed by the master Takashi Miike, and Moonlight Shadows, based on the novel of the same name by Banana Yoshimoto and directed by the multi-award-winning Edmund Yeo, focused on the elaboration of mourning.

Around this theme, Tsuyukusa, the new film by director Hideyuki Hirayama. The Famous director Takahisa Zeze will be present with In the Wake, in the crime genre. Great expectations for Hokusai, directed by Hajime Yashimoto, based on the life of the most famous Japanese painter in the world, known mainly for his works in the ukiyo-e style.

From the Philippines comes On the Job: The Missing 8, a thriller directed by Erik Matti. Brillante Mendoza, one of the most influential and awarded Filipino directors, presents two new features entitled Gensan Punch; the true and painful story of a boxer with a physical disability; and Rasbak, a tale of violence and revenge of a young thief against his ruthless boss.

From Thailand come The Edge of Daybreak, a family drama by Taiki Sakpisit, The Medium, by Banjong Phisantankun, Come Here, a mystery drama by Anocha Suwichankong and, in particular, Anatomy of Time, by Jachavral Nilthamrong, divided between past and present, with memory as the only bridge between these two times.

The program is completed by works of debutant directors such as the Chinese You Zhou, with The way back in the mirror, Tang-yu Quiang with The Wheat, a drama, Yunbo Li with Ms. Pearl, and Qi Rui, with The Day Is Over. From South Korea comes Lee Ran-hee with his first work, A Leave. From the Philippines comes Daniel Palacio, who presents The Brokers, his second work.

Among the guests, the director Brillante Mendoza and the actor Vince Rillon.