Welcome to the 22nd Annual Asian Film Festival of Dallas

The Asian Film Festival of Dallas (AFFD) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to celebrating and supporting emerging and established Asian and Asian-American filmmakers and sharing the rich diversity of Asian culture through the medium of cinema.

Over the last twenty-two years, the festival has provided opportunities for over 400 Asian and Asian American filmmakers and documentarians to share their vision, often providing the only venue for their films to be shown in Dallas.

The films have also allowed festival goers a chance to experience other lives and cultures without leaving their seats.

Schedule :

July 13, 2023

2023 Showcase Films

7:15 Pm : The Night Owl

Lineup

12:30 PM : Student Shorts

Immerse yourself in the vibrant world of emerging cinema at the Asian Film Festival of Dallas with our specially curated Student Shorts Block!

This selection showcases the ingenuity and creativity of young filmmakers from across the metroplex and the world.

Whether it's a poignant drama, an electrifying animation, or a thought-provoking documentary, these short films reflect the diverse voices and stories that enrich the cinematic landscape.

2:45 PM : Seven Winters In Tehran

DIRECTOR: Steffi Niederzoll | LANGUAGE: Persian

In 2007, a 19-year-old named Reyhaneh Jabbari is condemned to death in Iran for killing a man in self-defense during an attempted rape. The endeavors made by her family and advocates to save her not only shed light on Reyhaneh's case but also unveil the widespread subjugation and muzzling of women in Iran. Furthermore, the case highlights the perilous lengths to which individuals go in their pursuit to defend and stand in solidarity with these women.

5:00pm : Night Of The Assassin

DIRECTOR: Kwak Jeong-deok | LANGUAGE: Korean

After a deadly, long-dormant health condition surfaces during a mission, Joseon’s most lethal assassin goes into hiding to seek a cure without revealing his identity. But upon witnessing a ruthless campaign of terror against local villagers, the region’s deadliest killer comes out of retirement in order to exact his own brutal brand of vigilante justice.

7:15 PM : The Night Owl

DIRECTOR: Tae-Jin Ahn | LANGUAGE: Korean

Kyung-soo, despite being blind, possesses remarkable acupuncture skills. His talents earn him recognition from Lee Hyung-ik, and he is subsequently admitted into the royal palace. During this period, Crown Prince Sohyeon, who had been held captive by the Qing Dynasty, returns to Korea after eight long years. King Injo, although elated by his son’s return, is also gripped by an inexplicable sense of unease.

One fateful night, Kyung-soo, whose vision is slightly enhanced in darkness, becomes an unwitting witness to the death of Crown Prince Sohyeon. As he endeavors to unveil the truth, he finds himself entangled in a web of even greater secrets and intrigues, endangering his own life. In the aftermath of his son’s demise, King Injo’s apprehensions morph into madness, and he becomes unhinged. Amidst this chaos, Kyung-soo bravely persists in his quest to expose the truth behind the tragic death of the crown prince.

July 14, 2023

2023 Showcase Films

6:30 Pm : Next Sohee + A Dawn At Minato City (Short)

Lineup

12PM : Children Of The Mist

DIRECTOR: Ha La Diem | LANGUAGE: Hmong / Vietnamese

In a village hidden in the mist-shrouded Northwest Vietnamese mountains resides an indigenous Hmong community, home to 12-year-old Di, part of the first generation of her people with access to formal education. A free spirit, Di recounts her experiences to Vietnamese filmmaker Di?m Hà L?, who planted herself within Di's family over the course of three years to document this unique coming of age as she faces the local custom of "bride kidnapping."

2 PM: Absence + 100 Dragonflies (Short Film)

DIRECTOR: Lang Wu | LANGUAGE: Mandarin

Han Jiangyu, who has been away from his hometown for ten years, returns to his hometown, trying to regain his old love with his former lover Su Hong. Han's old friend Chen Kai participated in the house purchase plan, so Han Jiangyu and Su Hong had to face their own problems and face the difficulties of life together.

4: 30 PM : Stone Turtle

DIRECTOR: Ming Jin Woo | LANGUAGE: Malay

Zahara, a stateless refugee, lives on a small remote island in Malaysia, where she makes a living selling turtle eggs. One day, Samad, claiming to be a university researcher, visits the island, wanting to employ Zahara to show him around. As the day goes on, Zahara and Samad become entangled in a dangerous dance of duplicity and deception.

6:45 PM : Next Sohee + A Dawn At Minato City (Short Film)

DIRECTOR: July Jung | LANGUAGE: Korean

Young Sohee, portrayed by Kim Si-eun, is a spirited and determined high school student residing in the Korean countryside. She is characterized by her lively nature and a fierce disposition. Eager to secure a future, she opts for an education geared toward the labor market and enrolls in a paid employment program with a sense of optimism.

Her school encourages her to enter into a contract with a call center that exploits its trainees by enticing them with the allure of bonuses that never materialize. The trainees are pressured into employing highly unethical tactics to achieve their goals. Throughout her time at the call center, Sohee faces a barrage of verbal abuse, including being shouted at, threatened, and subjected to profanities.

However, the turning point arrives when her supervisor, who is overwhelmed by the workload and stress, tragically takes his own life. This event triggers a downward spiral in Sohee's mental state, ultimately leading her to commit an act that cannot be undone.

A Dawn At Minato City (Short Film)

DIRECTOR: Sergey Vlasov | LANGUAGE: Japanese

A usual morning for a usual married couple in a big city.

9:30 PM : The Childe

DIRECTOR: Park Hoon-jung | LANGUAGE: Korean

The Childe follows Marco, a boxer with a complicated past. He is of mixed descent, with a Korean father and a Filipino mother, and has been wandering around illegal stadiums in the Philippines. Marco lives with his sick mother in the Philippines. Marco then decides to travel to Korea in search of his estranged father to pay for his mother's surgery.

Upon his arrival in Korea, Marco quickly discovers that he is being relentlessly pursued by a dangerous group of individuals for reasons unknown. Among his pursuers is a mysterious and unidentified man known as the "nobleman," who creates chaos and severely restricts Marco's movements. In addition to the nobleman, Marco is also being pursued by Han Yi-sa, a wealthy heir seeking to claim his father's vast fortune, and Yoon-ju, a mysterious woman Marco unexpectedly reunites with in Korea. Marco finds himself caught up in a whirlwind of unpredictability and madness. Amid this chaos, Marco is forced to confront a shocking truth that will change everything he thought he knew about his past and present.

July 15, 2023

2023 Showcase Films

7 Pm : The Accidental Getaway Driver - Followed By A Q&A

Lineup

12PM : Aporia + Passenger Seat (Short Film)

DIRECTOR: Ju-hyoung Lee | LANGUAGE: Korean/Arabic

Escaping the civil war in Syria, Harim finds refuge in a camp in Korea. There, he is devastated to learn of his son's death. In a desperate bid to secure refugee status in Korea and provide a safe haven for the rest of his family, Harim renounces his religious beliefs and endures humiliating circumstances. The question remains: will his sacrifices and struggles ultimately lead to a better life for him and his family?

Passenger Seat (Short Film)

DIRECTOR: Neha Guatam | LANGUAGE: English

Passenger Seat shows the truth of being a cabbie in NYC: taking on predatory loans, struggling with deregulation, and competing with the rise of rideshare apps. But we wanted to humanize the complexities of financial struggle by centering tenderness in daughter-father Desi immigrant relationships.

2:45Pm : Nakodo -Matchmakers - (North American Premiere)

DIRECTOR: Naoki Maeda | LANGUAGE: Japanese

Akio Akabane, a middle-aged salesman at a prominent real estate firm, is melancholy. He nostalgically clings to his former triumphs as a star salesman, though his leadership approach is marred by intimidation, harassment, and sexism. Unexpectedly, he is reassigned to a matchmaking agency called "Toi et Moi," which Yui Tokita manages. Yui inherited the agency from her mother, who was a masterful matchmaker.

Initially, Akabane arrogantly believes that matchmaking is no different from selling properties. However, he quickly finds himself overwhelmed by the distinctive quirks and preferences of the clients, such as an individual who never makes it past a third date or another who is resolved to marry by a particular deadline regardless of the partner.

On the other hand, Yui is devoted to her work but struggles with self-doubt. Their contrasting values and approaches initially cause friction. Yet, as they complement and compensate for one another's weaknesses, they orchestrate a series of small wonders.

5 PM : The Cord Of Life

DIRECTOR: Sixue Qiao | LANGUAGE: Mongolian / Mandarin

Alus, an electronic musician from Mongolia, is grappling with uncertainty regarding his life’s direction. He is deeply distressed by the sight of his mother, who is battling Alzheimer’s, living confined in his brother’s urban apartment.

Driven by her longing for the grasslands, he resolves to take her back in search of the home she so desperately misses. As her condition deteriorates, Alus takes the drastic measure of using a rope to tether himself to his mother in a bid to prevent her from wandering off. This rope symbolizes a reborn connection, akin to an umbilical cord, linking him not only to his mother’s fading memories but also to the land of his origins and the rich tapestry of his cultural heritage.

7:15 PM : The Accidental Getaway Driver + Q&A

DIRECTOR: Sing J. Lee | LANGUAGE: English/Vietnamese

Long, a Vietnamese driver in Southern California, answers a late-night call for a ride. Already in his pajamas, he reluctantly accepts, picking up a man, Tây, and his two companions. But the men, recently escaped convicts from an Orange County jail, take Long hostage at gunpoint, thrusting him into their getaway plan. When complications arise, the fugitives and their hostage hole up at a motel, and a tense waiting game unfolds.

10PM : Limbo

DIRECTOR: Soi Cheang | LANGUAGE: Cantonese / Japanese / Chinese

Rookie police officer Will Yam is a recent graduate of the police academy. Due to a wave of serial killings, Will is partnered with veteran officer Cham Lau, who was recently reinstated on the force. However, the duo cannot solve the cases and instead causes a series of incidents. Later, Cham re-encounters a drug-addicted street urchin, Wong To (Cya Liu), who ran over his wife and daughter in the past, and his anger makes him spiral out of control and continuously abuse her. Will clumsily loses his pistol, which the serial killer finds. With the killer lurking in the city, a crisis grows closer.

July 16, 2023

2023 Showcase Films

7:30 Pm : Drive + Please Hold The Line (Short)

Lineup

12 PM : Peafowl + Ey You! (Short Film)

Shin, (played by Hae-jun), is an exceptionally skilled dancer specializing in waacking – a dance style akin to voguing that emphasizes striking poses. She is gearing up for a dance battle final, which holds enormous significance for her. The prize money would be sufficient to fund her gender-affirming surgery if she was victorious.

However, Shin's life takes a turn when her estranged father passes away. Being the only child, she must perform a traditional dance ritual at his memorial service. This necessitates an uneasy return to the rural community she left behind.

Intriguingly, Shin is not alone on this journey; she is guided by a mystical peacock that serves as her spirit guide. With a mix of defiance, poise, and self-assuredness, she confronts the challenges ahead. Along the way, she remains true to her identity while softening some of her guarded exterior.

DIRECTOR: Sung Bin Byun | LANGUAGE: Korean

Ey You !

Based on my personal experience, ???! follows an interracial couple’s encounter with a harasser who won't leave them alone - featuring Isabella Wei from Netflix original series 1899.

DIRECTOR: Nicola Fan | LANGUAGE: English / Cantonese

2:30 PM : Waiting For The Light To Change

Over the course of a week-long beach side getaway, Amy, having recently undergone dramatic weigh loss, finds herself wrestling between loyalty to her best friend Kim and her attraction to Kim's new boyfriend.

DIRECTOR: Linh Tran | LANGUAGE: English

4:50 PM : Siren In The Shadows

In the wilderness of the Kanto region, a striking beauty and Geisha named Gokuraku Tayu (played by Yuki Amami) emerges. She was once the most trusted and cherished sniper under the service of Nobunaga Oda.

Meanwhile, a group known as the Kanto Skulls, led by the enigmatic Tenmaoh (played by Arata Furuta), who conceals his face with a skull mask, constructs the impenetrable Skull Castle. The Kanto Skulls assert their dominance over the Kanto region to hinder Hideyoshi Toyotomi's unification efforts.

Tayu rescues Sagiri (played by Kurumi Shimizu), a young girl from the Kumaki clan who the Skulls are pursuing. With assistance from Hyogo (played by Seiji Fukushi), leader of the Kanto Daredavils clan, they make their way to Mukai village, a bustling hub frequented by travelers, commoners, and individuals from various walks of life. The village is overseen by the highly sought-after Geisha, Yumesaburo (played by Ryo Ryusei).

In the village, a wanderer named Jiroemon Mamiana (played by Akira Yamamoto) approaches Tayu with a mission to assassinate Tenmaoh. It is revealed that Jiroemon is actually Ieyasu Tokugawa, who had shared a close relationship with Tayu through Nobunaga. As Hideyoshi amasses an army to defeat Tenmaoh, Tayu plans to take him down before a large-scale conflict erupts in Kanto. As part of this plan, Tayu sends Sagiri to a gunsmith, Gantetsusai, and his apprentice Kantetsu (played by Hiroki Miyake), to collect a specially-crafted gun capable of penetrating impenetrable armor.

Upon learning of Tayu's assassination plot, Tenmaoh confronts her and reveals his true face by removing his mask – he is none other than Nobunaga Oda. As Tayu aims her gun at him, Tenmaoh divulges a startling revelation.

The narrative unfolds as a tale of a woman who walks a warrior's path and a man with ambitions of creating his own empire. Their intertwined past resurfaces, setting in motion a series of gripping and poignant events.

DIRECTOR: Hidenori Inoue | LANGUAGE: Japanese

7:30 PM : Drive + Please Hold The Line (Short Film)

Renowned YouTube personality Yuna is notorious for belittling others. During a social gathering, she consumes a few alcoholic shots and falls asleep after calling a designated driver. To her horror, upon waking up, Yuna discovers that she is confined in the trunk of her own car.

The abductor demands a ransom that includes not just money but also insists that she live-stream the kidnapping and plead with her viewers for financial assistance. However, everyone believes this is just another one of her staged antics.

DIRECTOR: PARK ****-hee | LANGUAGE: Korean

Please Hold The Line (Short Film)

A young scam call operator is thrust into a moral dilemma as she frantically hustles for money to afford an abortion.

DIRECTOR: Tan Ce Ding | LANGUAGE: Cantonese

9:45 PM : New Religion

Miyabi, a woman grappling with the grief of losing her daughter, finds solace in working as a call girl following her divorce. Her life takes an unusual turn when she encounters an eccentric client interested in photographing her spine. In a subsequent appointment, he insists on photographing her feet.

As Miyabi continues to permit her body parts to be photographed, she makes a startling discovery: each photograph taken brings her deceased daughter's spirit nearer to her. As the series of photos near its culmination with only her eyes left to be captured, unforeseen consequences ensue. The entire society spirals into chaos in this audacious, imaginative, and unparalleled fantasy narrative.

DIRECTOR: Keishi Kondo | LANGUAGE: Japanese

Buy Tickets

Date : July 13, 2023 - July 16, 2023

Location :

Angelika Film Center

5321 East Mockingbird Lane,

Dallas, TX 75206

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