ACF 119: NYAFF 2008 and JAPAN CUTS are coming!

Well, it’s ten days and counting to what I consider to be the start of Asian Film Festival Frenzy, New York style. I’m referring, of course, to New York Asian Film Festival 2008. This, the 7th iteration of NYAFF, will run from June 20th to July 6th. As was the case in 2007, the end of NYAFF, which is presented by Subway Cinema, will dovetail with the beginning of Japan Society’s own series JAPAN CUTS, which will run from July 2nd through the 13th.

But, what’s this got to do with me, some of you who don’t live in New York or won’t be visiting during the festival may be wondering? Just this: many of the films that screen here will later have theatrical runs, perhaps where you live, and/or will be available on high-quality DVDs from prime U.S. distributors such as Dragon Dynasty or Viz Pictures.

Want examples from previous New York Asian Film Festivals? How about So Close, Azumi, Hero, Infernal Affairs, Juon, Funky Forest, Linda Linda Linda, and Ping Pong?

Last year’s NYAFF was the first I was able to cover in some depth and the films I saw were never disappointing and often fantastic. The films will again be shown at the IFC Center near Greenwich Village and New York University. This is a great venue and very convenient. Many screenings sold out last year, and I expect that will be true again this time around. For information about New York Asian Film Festival 2008, or to order tickets in advance, click here.

The Festival trailer can be found on YouTube by clicking here.

Sakuran is one of the films that will be part of the JAPAN CUTS festival
(Photo copyright 2007 SAKURAN Film Committee and Moyoco Anno/Kodansha)

JAPAN CUTS will again offer lots of the new Japanese cinema. The main attraction will be 18 feature length films. In commemoration of the death of Kon Ichikawa, the festival will present the first-ever screening with digital English subtitles of his classic mystery-thriller The Inugami Family (1976), the New York premiere of Murder of the Inugami Clan (2006), Ichikawa’s own remake of his original, and Filmful Life an affectionate documentary about him by director Shunji Iwai. The Short Cuts series will present over sixty short films (for free on a first-come-first-served basis!), and MEET Cuts will have special guest artists presenting their works.

JAPAN CUTS offerings will be shown at Japan Society at 333 East 47th Street, between 1st and 2nd avenues, near the U.N. For the complete schedule, to view JAPAN CUTS trailers, or to order tickets, click here.