25th New York Asian Film Festival Opens in Grand Style: Joan Chen Receives Lifetime Achievement Honor, Gianna Jun and Sara Minami Recognized as Asian Cinema Stars

More Than 50 Filmmakers Gather in New York to Celebrate the Diversity and Global Impact of Asian Cinema

LAPost/New York | By Richard Ren | July 11, 2026 — The 25th New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF) officially opened Saturday evening with a spectacular red carpet and Opening Night Gala at Lincoln Center, marking the beginning of one of North America’s most influential celebrations of Asian cinema. Distinguished guests from the worlds of film, art, fashion, architecture, philanthropy, and culture gathered in New York to celebrate the festival’s landmark 25th anniversary.

（Photo by: Huanjie Yuan/Associate Board member of NYAFF)

During the ceremony, acclaimed Chinese actress and filmmaker Joan Chen received one of the festival’s highest honors, the Star Asia Lifetime Achievement Award. Korean superstar Gianna Jun (Jun Ji-hyun) was presented with the Extraordinary Star Asia Award, while rising Japanese actress Sara Minami received the Screen International Rising Star Asia Award.

Joan Chen received the Star Asia Lifetime Achievement Award, one of the festival’s highest honors. The award was presented by director Wang Xiangsheng, who recently collaborated with Chen on 弟弟 (Dìdi), and acclaimed filmmaker Andrew Ahn, director of The Wedding Banquet, recognizing Chen’s extraordinary contributions to Asian and international cinema. （Photo by: Huanjie Yuan/Associate Board member of NYAFF)

The red carpet welcomed an impressive lineup of international guests, including renowned Hong Kong director Andrew Lau, acclaimed Korean filmmaker Yeon Sang-ho, newly appointed Yale School of Drama Dean Evan Yionoulis, Tony Award-winning Broadway lighting designer Donald Holder, Sandi Pei, co-founder of PEI Architects and son of legendary architect I. M. Pei, and internationally celebrated supermodel Carol Alt, along with numerous leaders from the worlds of film, fashion, and the arts.

Andrew Lau and Gianna Jun reunite at NYAFF （Photo by: Huanjie Yuan/Associate Board member of NYAFF)

One of the evening’s most memorable moments came when director Andrew Lau reunited with Gianna Jun, twenty years after the two collaborated on the 2006 romantic drama Daisy. Their reunion quickly became a highlight of the red carpet and attracted significant media attention.

Carol Alt （Photo by: Huanjie Yuan/Associate Board member of NYAFF)

Another surprise appearance came from international supermodel Carol Alt, whose arrival immediately drew a crowd of photographers. One of the most recognizable fashion icons of the 1980s and 1990s, Alt continues to enjoy worldwide popularity, making her appearance one of the evening’s most talked-about moments.

A Milestone Edition Showcasing the Best of Asian Cinema

Running from July 10 through July 26, the 25th New York Asian Film Festival is one of North America’s oldest and largest festivals dedicated to Asian cinema. Screenings will take place at Film at Lincoln Center, SVA Theatre, IFC Center, Anthology Film Archives, and the Korean Cultural Center New York.

This year’s festival presents an expansive lineup of films from across Asia and welcomes more than 50 filmmakers, actors, and industry professionals for post-screening Q&A sessions, master classes, and special appearances, highlighting the creativity and diversity of contemporary Asian filmmaking.

The festival program spans action, drama, comedy, crime, coming-of-age stories, family films, documentaries, and arthouse cinema. It also features the special Chinese cinema showcase “China Currents: Open Skies and Endless Dreams,” presenting a selection of new Chinese productions that reflect the evolving voices and artistic vitality of today’s Chinese filmmakers.

Yeon Sang-ho’s Colony Opens the Festival

The festival officially kicked off with the North American Premiere of Korean director Yeon Sang-ho’s box-office hit Colony.

Gianna Jun （Photo by: Huanjie Yuan/Associate Board member of NYAFF)

The film stars Gianna Jun, who traveled to New York to attend the Opening Night Gala and receive the Extraordinary Star Asia Award. One of Korea’s most beloved international stars, Jun has captivated audiences for more than two decades with iconic performances in My Sassy Girl, The Thieves, and My Love from the Star.

To celebrate her remarkable career, NYAFF is also presenting a newly restored 4K screening of My Sassy Girl, bringing the beloved Korean romantic comedy back to the big screen for a new generation of audiences.

Chinese Director Lan Hongchun’s Dear You to Close the Festival

The festival will conclude on July 26 with the North American Premiere of Chinese director Lan Hongchun’s Dear You (Letters to Grandma), which has been selected as the festival’s Closing Night Film.

The deeply moving family drama, told in the Chaoshan (Teochew) dialect, explores themes of family, migration, and memory through the tradition of Qiaopi—the handwritten letters exchanged between overseas Chinese families across generations.

Director Lan Hongchun and members of the cast will attend the Closing Night screening at SVA Theatre for a post-screening discussion with audiences.

Star-Studded Lineup Continues Throughout the Festival

Beyond the opening and closing films, this year’s NYAFF features an impressive roster of acclaimed Asian filmmakers and actors.

Hong Kong actor, director, and producer Daniel Wu will appear on July 21 for a special screening of Cold War 1994, where he will receive the festival’s Best from the East Award. The film marks Wu’s highly anticipated return to Hong Kong cinema after a six-year absence and is regarded as one of the territory’s most ambitious recent productions.

Thai superstar Mario Maurer will appear on July 14 to present his latest film 4 Tigers. Known internationally for The Love of Siam and Pee Mak, Maurer remains one of Thailand’s biggest screen stars and is expected to be among the festival’s most popular celebrity guests.

Taiwanese actor Joseph Chang will receive the Screen International Star Asia Award while presenting his new film Deep Quiet Room. Additional guests include Filipino actor Piolo Pascual, Japanese actor Tasuku Emoto, and Thai actor James Jirayu Tangsrisuk, among many others.

Festival audiences will also enjoy the North American Premiere of A Dance with Rainbows, winner of the Golden Horse Award for Best Action Choreography, as well as the first-ever theatrical public screening of the documentary BTS: The Return, with director Bao Nguyen attending for a special Q&A session.

This year’s Uncaged Award competition showcases some of Asia’s most exciting emerging filmmakers, featuring titles including Hong Kong’s dark comedy Dog Day Evening, crime comedy Unidentified Murder, Japan’s historical drama Samurai Vengeance, and Thailand’s world-premiere thriller Someone Special.

Celebrating its landmark 25th anniversary, the New York Asian Film Festival continues to serve as one of the most important platforms connecting Asian cinema with North American audiences. Through screenings, filmmaker exchanges, and cross-cultural dialogue, NYAFF reinforces New York’s role as a global meeting place for Asian storytelling. Over the next two weeks, audiences will experience a vibrant showcase of films that bridge cultures, generations, and cinematic traditions from across Asia.

From: NYAFF