22nd New York Asian Film Festival

Jul 14-30, 2023

FilmsGuestsTalks & EventsSchedule & Tickets

The Southeast Asian Filmmaking Space: Panel Talk

Southeast Asia may not be the last frontier of filmmaking but it has certainly birthed some of the most exciting and innovative cinema of the last couple decades or so. NYAFF has been shining a light on this region's visual storytelling panache arguably more than anyone else in recent years. Seize this rare opportunity to hear seasoned filmmakers share their own tales of artistic triumph and folly from the production trenches about why and how they have executed such arresting visions. Lee Thongkham (Thailand | Kitty the Killer), Boi Kwong (Singapore | Geylang), and Quark Henares (Philippines | Where Is the Lie?) will get up close and personal to discuss their filmmaking raison d'etre.

This talk is FREE for all 2023 NY Asian Film Festival ticket and pass holders. Present your ticket at the box office beginning up to an hour before the talk begins for entry, first-come, first-served.

Moderator: Thavary Krouch (Moderator)
Guests: Quark Henares, Boi Kwong, Lee Thongkham

Sunday July 23, 3:00pm
Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center

FREE for all ticket/pass holders! Present ticket at box office up to an hour before talk for entry. First-come, first-served.

Boi Kwong
子君

Boi Kwong is a Singaporean film producer/director and seasoned educator with more than 15 years of experience. A graduate of the Curtin University of Technology, Australia, he received the Special Jury Prize at the Singapore Film Festival’s Silver Screen Awards for his debut short film Wait (2000). After a stint teaching full-time, he made his feature directorial debut with The Days (2008), which was nominated for the New Asian Talent Award at the Shanghai International Film Festival, Asian Tigers at the CPH:PIX Copenhagen International Film Festival and Best Cinematography at the Singapore International Film Festival. It was also the highest grossing independent film of 2008 in Singapore. Geylang is Boi’s second feature film and was nominated at the 59th Golden Horse Awards for Best Action Choreography, and selected for the International Film Festival of Rotterdam and the Singapore International Film Festival. As a producer, Boi’s credits include We Not Naughty (2012), Zombiepura (NYAFF 2019) and Number 1 (2020).

Daniel A. Craft Award For Excellence In Action Cinema
Lee Thongkham
ลี ทองคำ

NYAFF’s 2023 Daniel A. Craft Award for Excellence in Action Cinema will go to wunderkind Thai filmmaker Lee Thongkham for his outrageous action movie sendup, Kitty the Killer. After earning his bachelor’s degree in film production from Florida’s Full Sail University, Lee stayed in the Sunshine State, where he cut his teeth making commercial fare ranging from music videos to a feature film. Back in Thailand he established Thongkham Films during the throes of the pandemic and directed its inaugural feature, The Maid (2020). This gonzo horror movie became the first Thai Netflix Original Film. Next up was the Thai-Chinese kaiju movie, The Lake (2022), also directed by Lee. He then donned his producer’s hat for the insane slasher satire Night of the Killer Bears (2023). Thongkham Films has already proven a production powerhouse with several more ambitious projects in the pipeline.

Quark Henares

Quark Henares is an award-winning writer-director known for such feature films as Kaka (2003) and Rakenrol (2011). He is also a musician, fictionist, journalist, actor, DJ, host, professor and entrepreneur. As the head of Globe Studios, he has executive-produced films such as Lav Diaz’s Season of The Devil (2018), Erik Matti’s On The Job (NYAFF 2013) and Independent Spirit Award nominee Leonor Will Never Die (2022, Martika Ramirez Escobar). He is currently Head of Originals, Philippines, for Amazon Studios.