The NY Asian Film Festival Brings The Crazy To The Big Apple, June 19 - July 5

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You might not be prepared, but the New York Asian Film Festival doesn’t give a shit. Each year since 2002, the fest has been bringing the most eccentric and outstanding Asian cinema has to offer to our shores, and this year promises to be no different. If you’re a fan of outside-the-box gonzo cinema and are curious to see what lies beyond the Blockbuster shelves stocked with J-horror, chop socky retreads and somber domestic dramas, it’s hard not to get excited about another stellar NYAFF lineup.

Among the highlights are “The Clone Returns Home,” Kanji Nakajima’s science fiction Sundance hit about a man who dies in orbit, and the clone that replaces him at home, though several have made “Solaris” comparisons due to the film’s trippy metaphysical issues and glacial pace. Also debuting at the festival is Sino Sion’s (“Suicide Club”) “Love Exposure.” Described as a four hour epic about pornography, Catholocism, families, fathers, true love, cross dressing, kung fu, cults and mental illness, it’s only showing once at the fest, and with Sino Sion in attendance, you may get a chance to ask one of what are likely many questions. Rotterdam top award winner “Breathless” from South Korea will also screen, as will “Dream,” the latest from Kim ki-duk (“3-Iron”). More importantly, don’t miss “Tokyo Gore Night,” where Yoshihiro Nishimura, director of last year’s festival hit “Tokyo Gore Police,” introduces a series of shorts made by the special effects team responsible for that gore opus as well as this year’s “Love Exposure” and “Samurai Princess.” This will apparently lead into a on-stage presentation by the blood-loving fx people. Bring a raincoat. Not for that, you pervert.

The full line-up includes…
THE EQUATION OF LOVE AND DEATH (China, 2008, Cao Baoping, New York Premiere)
IF YOU ARE THE ONE (China, 2008, Feng Xiaogang, North American Premiere)
OLD FISH (China, 2007, Gao Qunshu, North American Premiere)
AN EMPRESS AND THE WARRIORS (Hong Kong, 2008, Ching Siu-tung, North American Premiere)
FIVE DEADLY VENOMS (Hong Kong, 1978, Chang Cheh)
IP MAN (Hong Kong, 2008, WIlson Yip, US premiere)
THE FORBIDDEN DOOR (Indonesia, 2009, Joko Anwar, North American Premiere)
RAINBOW TROOPS (Indonesia, 2008, Riri Riza, New York Premiere)
20TH CENTURY BOYS (Japan, 2008, Yukihiko Tsutsumi, New York Premiere)
20TH CENTURY BOYS: CHAPTER TWO – THE LAST HOPE (Japan, 2009, Yukihiko Tsutsumi, North American Premiere)
ALL AROUND US (Japan, 2008, Ryosuke Hashiguchi, New York Premiere)
BE A MAN! SAMURAI SCHOOL (Japan, 2008, Tak Sakaguchi, North American Premiere)
CHILDREN OF THE DARK (Japan, 2008, Junji Sakamoto, North American Premiere)
CLIMBER’S HIGH (Japan, 2008, Masato Harada, North American Premiere)
THE CLONE RETURNS HOME (Japan, 2008, Kanji Nakajima, New York Premiere)
FISH STORY (Japan, 2009, Yoshihiro Nakamura, North American Premiere)
HOUSE (Japan, 1977, Nobuhiko Obayashi)
K-20: LEGEND OF THE MASK (Japan, 2008, Shimako Sato, North American Premiere)
LOVE EXPOSURE (Japan, 2008, Sion Sono, North American Premiere)
THE MAGIC HOUR (Japan, 2008, Koki Mitani, North American Premiere)
MONSTER X STRIKES BACK: ATTACK THE G8 SUMMIT (Japan, 2008, Minoru Kawasaki, North American Premiere)
SAMURAI PRINCESS (Japan, 2009, Kengo Kaji, International Premiere)
SNAKES AND EARRINGS (Japan, 2008, Yukio Ninagawa, North American Premiere)
VACATION (Japan, 2008, Hajime Kadoi, US Premiere)
YOROI SAMURAI ZOMBIE (2008, Japan, Tak Sakaguchi, North American Premiere)
WHEN THE FULL MOON RISES (Malaysia, 2008, Mamat Khalid, North American Premiere)
ANTIQUE (South Korea, 2008, Min Gyu-Dong, North American premiere)
BREATHLESS (South Korea, 2009, Lee Hwan & Yang Ik-june, North American Premiere)
DACHIMAWA LEE (South Korea, 2008, Ryu Seung-wan, North American Premiere)
DREAM (South Korea, 2008, Kim Ki-duk, North American Premiere)
GO GO 70’s (South Korea, 2008, Ho Choi, North American Premiere)
ROUGH CUT (South Korea, 2008, Jang Hun, North American Premiere)
CAPE NO. 7 (Taiwan, 2008, Wei Te-sheng, New York Premiere)

For more information (they’re still adding films!) go to www.subwaycinema.com. The festival runs from June 19th to July 5th.