Festivals: NYAFF Interviews
New York Asian 2019 Interview: Ryu Jun-yeol Talks the Seduction of MONEY
One of the most captivating actors in South Korea, Ryu Jun-yeol grabbed audiences’ attention in supporting roles in films like The King, A Taxi Driver, and Believer; so much so that the New York Asian Film Festival honoured Ryu with...
New York Asian 2019 Interview: Kim Yoon-seok Talks Directing Debut ANOTHER CHILD, Plus Latest Thriller DARK FIGURE OF CRIME
After receiving the New York Asian Film Festival’s Star Asia award last year, actor Kim Yoon-seok returns, this time as the director of his first feature, Another Child, the sensitive tale of two teenagers caught in a web of domestic...
New York Asian 2019 Interview: 5 MILLION DOLLAR LIFE Director Moon Sung-ho and Producer Endo Hiroshi on What a Life is Worth
In his feature debut, director Moon Sung-ho ponders the value of a human life. 5 Million Dollar Life is a unique road trip / coming-of-age story of one Japanese teenager’s bumpy journey toward self-discovery. At the New York Asian...
New York Asian 2019 Interview: Director Park Noo-ri on Taking the Reins and Making MONEY
After years of working in the trenches as the assistant director of blockbusters like The Unjust and The Berlin File, Park Noo-ri visited the New York Asian Film Festival with her directorial debut, Money. Director Park chatted exclusively with LMD...
New York Asian 2019 Interview: WUSHU ORPHAN Director Huang Huang on Mixing Martial Arts and Bullying
A movie a decade in the making, director Huang Huang’s Wushu Orphan, is a darkly comic tale of misfits in a martial arts academy. At the New York Asian Film Festival, director Huang sat exclusively with LMD to talk about...
New York Asian 2019 Interview: HAN DAN Star George Hu on Setting Fire to the Past
The career path of George Hu has been a serendipitous one: The native New Yorker was talent scouted whilst on a family visit to Taiwan, despite being unable to fluently speak Mandarin, or Taiwanese. That didn’t stop Hu from becoming...
New York Asian 2019 Interview: HAN DAN Director Huang Chao-liang On Sparking Rituals and Rivalries
A box office success in his native Taiwan with films like Summer Times, Love Is Sin, and Hanky Panky, director Huang Chao-liang turns his eye to the rituals of his rural hometown. At the New York Asian Film Festival, director...
New York Asian 2019: Komatsu Nana on the East-Meets-West of SAMURAI MARATHON
Debuting at the tender age of 18 in the darkly disturbing The World of Kanako, Komatsu Nana made it clear she was serious about her transition from teen supermodel to actress. An impressive array of films, including director Martin Scorsese’s...
New York Asian 2019 Interview: Han Ji-min on Challenging Society with MISS BAEK
Starting her show business career while still a teenager, Han Ji-min quickly became a familiar face in South Korean television dramas and films, beloved by audiences for her sweet, wholesome image. Han turns that image on its head with her...
New York Asian 2018 Interview: Director Jeon Go-woon and Actor Ahn Jae-hong Talk Love and Poverty in MICROHABITAT
Closing our New York Asian Film Festival 2018 coverage with the movie that won the Jury prize. Microhabitat tells a singular and excellently acted tale of a young Seoul woman being pushed out of society and off the grid by...
New York Asian 2018 Interview: Director Sunny Chan and Star Jennifer Yu Take the Plunge in MEN ON THE DRAGON
A Hong Kong tradition, dragon boat racing shines in the spotlight of screenwriter Sunny Chan’s directing debut, Men on the Dragon. Director Chan, and rising star, Jennifer Yu, spoke with LMD at the New York Asian Film Festival about bringing...
New York Asian 2018 Interview: Director Jang Joon-hwan on the Risks and Triumphs Behind 1987: WHEN THE DAY COMES
One of South Korea’s most intriguing filmmakers, we don’t hear from Director Jang Joon-hwan too often, but when we do, as in the cases of his films, Save the Green Planet, and Hwayi: A Monster Boy, it’s always worth our...
New York Asian 2018 Interview: Star Asia Winner Jiang Wu and Director Xin Yukun Talk WRATH OF SILENCE
From his early days in films like Zhang Yimou’s To Live, to titles like Shower, Let the Bullets Fly, and A Touch of Sin, Jiang Wu has risen to become one of China’s greatest actors. At the New York Asian...
New York Asian 2018 Interview: Hong Kong Star Stephy Tang On Letting Go With THE EMPTY HANDS
Starting her career in 2002, as part of a CantoPop girl group, Stephy Tang went on to become one of Hong Kong’s most popular singers. Acting followed in a host of light rom-coms and crowd pleasers. With The Empty...
New York Asian 2018 Interview: SEKIGAHARA Director Harada Masato on Filming History Through a Modern Eye
For someone whose filmmaking career began in the 1970s, including such amazing fare as Kamikaze Taxi, Bounce KO Gals, Kakekomi, and The Emperor in August, director Harada Masato is showing no signs of slowing down. At the New York...
New York Asian 2018 Interview: Breaking Taboos with DYNAMITE GRAFFITI's Director Tominaga Masanori and Star Emoto Tasuku
The New York Asian film Festival 2018 is underway, and its opening salvo is a dive into the porn mag industry of the 1970s and 80s. Director Tominaga Masanori and actor Emoto Tasuku spoke with LMD about DYNAMITE GRAFFITI, chronicling...
THE VILLAINESS Interview: Director Jung Byung-gil on the Stunts and Stars
With its mesmerising female protagonist and eye-popping analog action, The Villainess arrives on our shores after receiving a four-minute standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival. Closing this year’s New York Asian Film Festival, director Jung Byung-gil spoke with me...
New York Asian 2017 Interview: Superstar Gang Dong-won on VANISHING TIME, Upcoming JIN-ROH and 1987
At the moment, in Korea, there aren’t many stars that shine brighter or hotter than Gang Dong-won. The leading man of more than 20 features creates frenzies everywhere he goes, as proven by his appearance to receive the Star Asia...
New York Asian 2017 Interview: MAD WORLD Director Wong Chun Challenges Misconceptions of Mental Illness
For his first feature film, director Wong Chun decided to shine a spotlight on the serious topic of mental illness, and one Hong Kong family’s struggle to cope. The project generated such momentum that both of its stars, Shaun Yue,...
New York Asian 2017 Interview: Legend Eric Tsang on Giving Back and Revitalising Hong Kong Cinema
One of the true legends of Hong Kong cinema, Eric Tsang has made more than 250 films in a career spanning over 40 years that shows no sign of stopping. Tsang came to the New York Asian Film...
