Co-presented by The Film Society of Lincoln Center and the Japan Society, the 2012 New York Asian Film Festival will run from June 29 to July 15,  2012. The event is the largest film festival in North America dedicated solely to popular Asian cinema. This year’s edition will be held at both Lincoln Center’s Walter Reade Theater and the Japan Society, with other sponsors including the New York branches of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, the Korean Cultural Service and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office.

 

Featured in two of the festival’s retrospective sections, Korean film will figure prominently at the festival this year. Firstly, Korean director CHUNG Chang-wha will be given a Lifetime Achievement Award. A protege of CHOI In-kyu (HURRAH FOR FREEDOM, 1946), colleague of SHIN Sang-ok, and mentor to IM Kwon-taek, Chung was crucial to the early development of Korean cinema, with films such as THE STORY OF JANG-HWA AND HONG-RYEON (1956). He is best known in West for his later work with Hong Kong’s Shaw Brothers studios as the director of FIVE FINGERS OF DEATH (1972), the Hong Kong action movie that stormed US box offices and helped begin the martial arts craze in America.

 

Additionally, the festival has invited one of contemporary Korea’s most prominent actors, CHOI Min-sik, to present his newest film, NAMELESS GANGSTER (2011). In honor of Choi’s visit some of his previous films will also be screened, including OLDBOY (2003) and CRYING FIST (2004).

 

Fresh from Cannes, YEUN Sang-ho’s hit Korean animation THE KING OF PIGS (2011) will also screen, as will the PARK Chan-wook/PARK Chan-kyeong co-directed short film NIGHT FISHING (2011). The festival will feature new films from Hong Kong director PAN Ho-cheung and Japanese director MIIKE Takashi as well as a special section dedicated to Taiwanese film of the late 1990’s and early 2000’s.

 

News and updates regarding the festival can be found on it’s Facebook page: facebook.com/NYAFF.