Arak Amornsupasiri, nicknamed Pae , is a Thai musician and actor. He began his musical career as guitarist for the indie rock band Slur, before releasing his first album as a solo singer in 2010. He began acting in the 2007 film Body #19, and has starred in several films, including Best of Times (2009), Bangkok Assassins (2011), By the Time It Gets Dark (2016), Khun Pan (NYAFF 2018), and Doi Boy (2023). Arak began exploring storytelling from behind the camera and wrote the original story his directorial debut, The Stone, which he is presenting with co-director at NYAFF 2025

Artist, musician and auteur’s muse Tadanobu Asano made his screen debut at 16 and quickly rose to prominence with Shunji Iwai’s Fried Dragon Fish (1993) and Hirokazu Kore-eda’s acclaimed Maborosi (1995). Renowned for his fearless range and magnetic presence, Asano soon became the most in-demand Japanese actor, working with a who’s who of top-tier directors across Asia and Hollywood, earning cult status for his turns in boldly original works like Takashi Miike’s Ichi the Killer (2001), Sogo Ishii’s Electric Dragon 80,000 Volts (2001), Pen-Ek Ratanaruang’s Last Life in the Universe (2003), for which he received the Best Actor award at the Venice Film Festival, Takeshi Kitano’s Zatoichi (2003), Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Bright Future (2003), and Shinya Tsukamoto’s Vital (2004). He also earned critical opprobrium for such auteur-driven arthouse titles as Nagisa Oshima’s Gohatto (1999), Sergei Bodorov’s Best International Feature-nominated Mongol (2008), for which Asano learned Mongolian; Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Journey to the Shore (2016), for which he received the Asian Film Award for Best Actor; Martin Scorsese’s Silence (2016), Koji Fukada’s Harmonium (2017), for which he received the Asian Film Award for Best Actor; and Takeshi Kitano’s Kubi (2023). In 2024, Asano reunited with his noise-punk bandmate in Mach 1.67, Gakuryu Ishii, for Box Man, and won a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the global hit series Shogun. He joins us at NYAFF 2025 with Ravens, delivering a tour-de-force performance as the film’s tormented lead.

George Au gained notoriety as a member of the Cantopop boy group P1X3L, which came together in 2019 through the reality talent show “Kingmaker I.” After supporting roles on various TV shows, George starred in ViuTV’s drama-thriller series “Left on Read,” about high schoolers forced to target each other in a game of kill or be killed. After a guest role in the romance film Blossoms under Somewhere (2024), George landed a starring role as a troubled young man in the dark drama Valley of the Shadow of Death (2025).

TikTok sensation Fauzi has become a household name, spreading smiles and joy across the lives of many Singaporeans. He has also put on his acting hat in web series such as Average Guys and Neighbourhood Watch Task Force. He plays Danial — an immaculate charismatic leader with a troubled past. He sometimes confuses more than he helps, but you can always count on him to provide the most unexpected way out!

Baatar Batsukh is a Mongolian cinematographer celebrated for his bold, innovative use of color and composition. Over the past decade, he has lensed 21 films, each marked by his signature visual style, which has become a hallmark of modern Mongolian cinema. His work on _The Steed _played a key role in the film being selected as Mongolia's official Oscar entry in 2019, and earned him recognition from the American Society of Cinematographers. His directorial debut, Aberrance (2022), premiered at the Oldenburg International Film Festival, where it won the Audacity in Cinema Award. It made its North American premiere at SXSW, leading to international distribution. His most recent film, Travesty, premiered at the 2024 Busan International Film Festival.

Juror: Best Short Film Competition. Joseph Carranza is a NYC-based creative and cultural producer committed to amplifying underrepresented voices through film and public programming. He serves as the Creative Director for the Philadelphia Asian American Film Foundation, where he curates films, events, and exhibitions that spotlight Asian American and Pacific Islander storytelling. He also collaborates with film festivals and cultural institutions to support talent relations and develop thoughtful, industry-facing programs that bridge artists with audiences. With a background in producing cultural and entertainment activations for diverse communities and major brands, Joseph continues to create inclusive platforms that connect storytelling with impact.

Chan Kwong-wing has scored more than 80 movies, including the legendary Chinese series _Infernal Affairs I–III _and box office hit Initial D. During his journey in the movie industry, he has received numerous awards and nominations. His distinguished achievements include the Crystal Simorgh for the Best Music for the Iranian film The Kingdom of Solomon; the Golden Deer Award for Best Film Music at the Changchun Film Festival for The Founding of the Army; and the Best Music Award at the 34th China Golden Rooster Awards for Chinese Doctor. Chan is also a three-time winner for the Best Original Music at the Hong Kong Film Awards, with Stormriders, Bodyguards and Assassins, and Wuxia.

Oliver Chan Siu-kuen holds a Master of Fine Arts in Film, Television and Digital Media from Hong Kong Baptist University. In 2019, she won Best New Director at the 13th Asian Film Awards and 38th Hong Kong Film Awards, as well as the Golden Mulberry Audience and Black Dragon Critics Awards at the 21st Far East Film Festival in Udine with her first feature film Still Human (NYAFF 2019). Her sophomore feature, Montages of a Modern Motherhood, premiered at the 2024 Busan International Film Festival.

After graduating from National Taiwan University, Chen Mei-Juin moved to Los Angeles where she earned her master's degree in visual anthropology at the University of Southern California. In 1993, she founded Lotus Film Productions and produced a series of documentaries exploring iconic figures in both American and Chinese culture, including Hollywood Hotel (1994), which chronicles the eccentric tenants of a resident hotel on Hollywood Boulevard, and The Worlds of Mei Lanfang (2000), about the Peking opera legend. She is also known for a slew of martial arts documentaries including the PBS production The Black Kung Fu Experience, which spotlights several African American trailblazers such as Ron Van Clief. The Gangster's Daughter, her first narrative feature, played at NYAFF 2017. She is at NYAFF 2025 with Lucy Lu Plays Herself.

Juror: Best Short Film Competition. Patrick Chen is a Chinese American director based in New York. He serves as a jury member for the Asian American/Asian Research Institute student film festival at CUNY and is a former board member of the Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival. His films have been showcased on notable platforms including Xfinity, the Museum of Chinese in America, and Sinovision. His latest project, A Father’s Son, is an adaptation of Henry Chang’s Detective Jack Yu crime novel series, featuring Tzi Ma, Ronny Chieng, Perry Yung, and Wai Ching Ho.

Cheng Chai Hong is a Singaporean director and screenwriter. He started out in the film industry by creating the popular indie comedy web series Average Guys, and subsequently Neighbourhood Watch Task Force, garnering a cult following of online fans of his work. His short film _The Day the Rhythm Went Away _won Best Director and Best Film at the Singapore National Youth Film Awards, before moving on to screen at various Southeast Asian Film Festivals. In 2022, he was invited to attend Fantastic Film School at the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival. We Can Save the World!!! is Chai Hong’s debut feature.

Iconic Hong Kong actor Ekin Cheng will receive the Star Asia Award at NYAFF 2025. The honor celebrates his remarkable 37-year career across film, music, and television. Coinciding with the North American premiere of Cheng’s newest feature, Last Song For You, a stirring expression of grief, memory, and midlife reflection, the festival is also hosting a special retrospective 35mm screening of one of his earliest hits, Andrew Lau’s Young and Dangerous (1996), marking its 30th anniversary. Cheng made his acting debut in the film as a teenager, and it shot him to film stardom, as well as launching a franchise. He went on to star in more than 60 films, including fantasy epics The Storm Riders (1998) and A Man Called Hero (1999), romantic comedies like My Wife Is 18 (2002),_ _and dark thrillers like Rule Number One (2008), for which he won Best Actor at Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, and blockbuster Golden Job (2018, $22.7M China opening), which reunited the cast from the Young and Dangerous series. Cheng’s storied career spans genre-defining films even as he’s continued performing in sold-out concert tours around the world.

Hsueh-Bin Chieh has participated in many commercials, TV programs, films and documentaries. In 2018, the TV movie Ping Pong, which he directed, was nominated for Best Miniseries or Television Film Award at the 53rd Golden Bell Awards, and also selected into The 10th Annual Cross-Strait Film Exhibition and Montreal World Film Festival. In 2020, Candy Online was nominated for Best Miniseries or Television Film of the 55th Golden Bell Awards. In the same year, he also released his first feature film, Do You Love Me as I Love You?, which became the box office champion of the summer. He is presenting his latest film, Organ Child, at NYAFF 2025.

Panelist: Vietnam On Screen: Generations In Dialogue. Kiều Chinh is a Vietnamese-American actress, producer, humanitarian, lecturer and philanthropist.

Trevor Choi graduated from the university of Waterloo in Canada, and returned to Hong Kong in 2018 in order to attend a directing masterclass held by the Hong Kong Film Directors' Guild. Having directed a number of short films, his work Ouroboros (2018) was selected for official competition by many international film festivals. In 2021, he co-founded the film-centered YouTube channel "16by9" and wrote and directed the miniseries An Actor Prepares to Starve, as well as a number of other film-related variety shows. Fresh off Markham, his debut feature film, which he co-directed and produced, had its premiere at the 48th Hong Kong International Film Festival and was nominated for a Firebirds Award. Smashing Frank marks Choi's first feature film as a solo director.

Chong Keat Aun is a multi-award-winning Malaysian writer-director. His first short, Cemetery of Courtesy (2017), was shortlisted for the 22nd Busan International Film Festival. His directorial debut, The Story of Southern Islet (2020), earned him the award for Best New Director and the FIPRESCI Prize and NETPAC Prize at the Taipei Golden Horse Awards. His sophomore feature, Snow in Midsummer, premiered at the 2023 Venice International Film Festival and received the Uncaged Award for Best Feature Film at last year's NYAFF. Pavane for an Infant is his third feature film.

Chun Sun-young majored in Chinese Language and Literature at Kyung Hee University, earned an MA in Film Production from Northern Film School in the UK, and received an MFA from the Korea National University of Arts. She is currently lecturing on filmmaking at the School of Film, TV & Multimedia in the Korea National University of Arts. Her short films Good Night (2003) and Encounter (2004) were award winning. She served as the assistant director on Night and Day, by auteur Hong Sangsoo. A Girl with Closed Eyes marks her feature debut.

Công Dương is a Vietnamese actor and singer known for his compelling performances across film and television. He gained international recognition in the Thai drama “Hidden Agenda” and recently captivated audiences on the hit music game show “Anh Trai Say Hi.” Showcasing his versatility, he delivered a standout performance in “Mùa Hè Đẹp Nhất” (That Summer, Will Be Back), earning the prestigious Best Supporting Actor award at the Cánh Diều Vàng (Golden Kite Awards). In 2024, he was named Best Face of the Year by Men’s Folio Vietnam.

Lawrence ‘Law’ Fajardo is a film and television director, editor, and producer who focuses on translating real-life situations and experiences on screen. Among his prominent works is Amok (2011), a finalist in the New Breed Category of the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival which also won Best Sound and Editing in the Gawad Urian in 2012. Posas (2012) won Best Film in the Director's Showcase Category at Cinemalaya and traveled to many international festivals, winning Best Film at the Hanoi International Film Festival. In 2015, Imbisibol swept seven awards at the inaugural Sinag Maynila, including Best Director, Best Picture and Best Screenplay, before traveling overseas. His most recent films include A Hard Day (2022 Metro Manila Film Festival) and The Hearing (Best Actor winner at the 2024 Cinemalaya), which he is presenting at NYAFF 2025.

Chinese independent filmmaker Geng Jun directed many short films before gaining international attention with the comedy Free and Easy (2016), which won the World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award at Sundance Film Festival and received four major nominations at Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival, including Best Film and Best Director. His 2021 film Manchurian Tiger won the top distinction of Golden Goblet Award for Best Feature Film at the 24th Shanghai International Film Festival. He will present his latest film, Bel Ami, winner of the Best Leading Actor Award at the Golden Horse Film Festival, at NYAFF 2025.

British director Mark Gill started his artistic journey at 18 with a recording contract at Warner Music. Returning to film and photography after 15 years as a musician, he garnered acclaim as a writer-director, earning both Oscar and BAFTA nominations for the short film The Voorman Problem (2011). His Morrissey portrait England Is Mine (2017) was nominated for the Michael Powell Award for Best New British Feature at the BAFTA awards and was globally released. Ravens had its Asian premiere at the Tokyo International Film Festival in 2024, and won the Audience Award upon its premiere at the Austin Film Festival.

Heo Sung-tae's acting career began in 2011 after he entered SBS's talent show "Miraculous Audition.” He gained national prominence in the period thriller The Age of Shadows (2016), before earning international recognition for his role in the first season of Squid Game (2021). He has also appeared in such films as The Fortress (2017), Rampant (2018), Hitman: Agent Jun (NYAFF 2020), Hunt (2022) and The Boys (2022). He is presenting The Informant at NYAFF 2025.

Hong Kong actress Natalie Hsu will receive the Screen International Rising Star Award at NYAFF 2025 for her brief but astonishing career, which immediately established her as a talent to watch. Natalie made her film debut in the musical comedy The Day We Lit Up the Sky in 2021, and went on to appear in such commercially and critically acclaimed titles as Sasha Chuk’s Fly Me to the Moon (NYAFF 2024), the Andy Lau-starring _Cesium Fallou_t, Nick Cheung’s Peg O’ My Heart, and Dante Lam’s Bursting Point. She will present two very special new films at NYAFF 2025: Chong Keat Aun’s Pavane for an Infant and Jill Leung’s Last Song for You, for which she received a Best Actress nomination at the Hong Kong Film Awards. She will reunite with Chong Keat Aun for the upcoming drama Mother Bhumi, which stars Fan Bingbing.

Lilly Hu was born in southern China and studied filmmaking at the National Taiwan University of the Arts. Her first film was a short documentary about the living conditions of female artists in Chengdu, made for the International Chinese Women’s Film Festival in 2017. Her award-winning American Film Institute thesis film Cold Wall (2021), continues this exploration of female issues: centering around the desperate acts of a young Chinese woman experiencing an unplanned pregnancy while studying abroad alone in Los Angeles. Her debut feature 1 Girl Infinite (2024) is a Chinese queer drama with Academy Award-winning screenwriter Eric Roth serving as executive producer.

"Seua" Pichaya Jarusboonpracha is a Thai director, screenwriter and founder of Secret Weapon Film. In high school, he received the 11th Thai Milky Way Award from the Thai Film Foundation for a short film. He later studied at Rangsit University's Institute of Film and Video. He co-directed and wrote “Hormones: Season 2” (2014), “Hormones: The Final Season” (2015), and a segment in “Project S The Series: Spike!” (2017). He made his feature film directorial debut with 404 Run Run (2024).

Singaporean director, screenwriter, and producer Ler Jiyuan is known for his expertise in cross-media storytelling across television series, feature films, commercials, and music videos. His short film The Drum (2017) was selected for the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival in France. In 2019, he directed the HBO Asia original series “Invisible Stories: Lian,” which premiered at the Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival and was named by Variety as one of the year’s Top 15 International TV Series. He is presenting episodes 1 -2 of his new series, Islanders, at NYAFF 2025.

Jo Bok-rae is a South Korean actor. He studied in the Department of Theater at Seoul Institute of the Arts. His career spans theater, film, television series and singing. His acting career began in the 2010 play My Love DMZ and he made his first film appearance in the 2013 movie Hope. He went on to appear in the thriller Monster (2014), the smash-hit Roaring Currents (2014), Man on High Heels (2015), and We Are Brothers (2015). He played legendary folk singer Song Chang-Sik in C’est Si Bon (2015), and appeared in Coin Locker Girl (2015), The Queen of Crime (2016), Door Lock (2018) and Josee (2020). He is at NYAFF 2025 with The Informant.

Kim Seok graduated from the Department of Theater at Seoul Institute of the Arts in 2005. He directed the short films Humanitus in 2008, followed by There Is a Bug in 2009. NYAFF's Opening Film, The Informant, is his feature debut.

Kim Sung-yoon majored in Film at Hongik University in Seoul, and contributed as the assistant director on films such as The Vanished , Kim Ji-Young: Born 1982 which played at NYAFF 2020, and Bring Me Home, which was invited to the Toronto International Film e Festival in the Discovery section and the Rotterdam International Film Festival in the Voices section. The Fragment is his directorial debut which he is presenting at NYAFF 2025.

A Los Angeles-based director, producer and writer, Ty Kim has earned six Emmys, the National Edward R. Murrow Award, nine Golden Mikes, the Associated Press award for California, and other awards. He worked for years at CBS News with Mike Wallace and Ed Bradley on the famed television news magazine "60 Minutes.” He earned his MBA from Harvard Business School and launched a successful consultancy and production company developing feature films, scripted television shows, documentaries, and media ventures. He is presenting the documentary Earl. at NYAFF 2025.

Thavary Krouch is a cultural strategist and film advocate with over a decade of experience supporting independent filmmakers and local film industries. She began her career managing the distribution label at Facets Multimedia, a long-time institution in the world of cinema once dubbed a “temple of great cinema” by Roger Ebert. She later joined the Chicago Film Office, a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, where she helped shape initiatives such as the Chicago Independent Producers Lab to support emerging and diverse voices in film. Thavary currently serves as Deputy Director of Film at the NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, where she supports both studio and independent productions across New York City. She holds an MFA in Writing and Directing from Columbia College Chicago and brings a filmmaker’s eye to her work at the intersection of storytelling, public policy and community engagement.

Jack Lai is a rising director from Hong Kong. Since entering the industry in 2006, he has held various roles in film production, including producer, script supervisor, assistant director, executive director, and actor. In 2024, he made his feature debut with Possession Street, which he is presenting at NYAFF 2025. Lai has already directed two more films, Stinky Tofu and Back to the Past, which are awaiting release.

Lincoln Lai is the group founder and CEO of GRANDI Group, as well as an entrepreneur, investor, and producer with a strong footprint in the film and television industry across Asia. With a sharp eye for compelling storytelling and a deep passion for entertainment, he champions the power of visual narratives to shape culture and spark new conversations. While GRANDI Group’s portfolio includes only a select number of titles, each one has made a significant impact—achieving both critical acclaim and commercial success, and consistently leading in viewership and box office performance. Notable works include: Woman in Taipei (a Golden Bell Award-winning series starring Gwei Lun-mei), The Nipple Talk (an edgy original drama that broke new ground in storytelling), and Lovesick (the top-grossing Taiwanese film of 2025), which he is presenting at NYAFF 2025.

Jeffrey Lam Sen is an emerging director from Hong Kong. He studied at the School of Creative Media, City University of Hong Kong, and studied Screenwriting in the School of Film and Television, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. His short films were selected to compete in the Fresh Wave International Short Film Festival. He was also nominated for Best New Performer at the Hong Kong Film Awards in 2019 with G Affairs (NYAFF 2019). He co-directed his feature debut, Valley of the Shadow of Death with Antonio Tam.

Lee Dong-hwi made his film debut in 2012 with Run to the South, and gained recognition through his role in the critically acclaimed television series Reply 1988 (2015-2016). He went on to appear in the hit action-comedies Veteran (2015) and Extreme Job (2019), the second highest-grossing film in South Korean history. He also appeared in the 2024 follow-up, The Roundup: Punishment. Lee is a member of South Korean supergroup MSG Wannabe. He is presenting Method Acting, which he produced and stars in, at NYAFF 2025.

Lee Il-ha was born in Korea and has lived in Japan since 2000, working with Japanese and Korean broadcasters such as NHK and MBC. His first feature documentary as director, Crying Boxers, was the opening film of the 2014 DMZ International Documentary Festival. Counters was screened at NYAFF 2017 and I Am More, his third feature, screened at NYAFF 2022.

Lee Jong-suk is a Korean filmmaker who worked as an AD on numerous films, including Ode to My Father (2014). He made his directorial debut in 2018 with the film The Negotiation. His second feature Forbidden Fairytale is a comedy that follows a government official responsible for cracking down on adult content but dreams of becoming a children's book author and ends up transforming into an R-rated web novel writer. Through this film, Director Lee sought to humorously portray the conflict between reality and dreams faced by the younger generation, while delivering a warm and heartfelt message.

Lee Ki-hyuk, born in 1985, graduated from the Division of Theatre at Dongguk University. His short film_ Immigration Screening (_2019) was invited to the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, followed by _Method Acting (2020), which was screened at both the Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival and the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival. His third short film as director, Rose _(2021), was invited to the Hawaii International Film Festival. Method Acting (2024), based on his short film of the same title, marks his feature directorial debut and will have its international premiere at NYAFF 2025.

Xu Lei made his feature film debut with Summer Detective, which won the screenplay award at the 2018 FIRST Int’l Film Festival. In 2022, he directed the short film The Great Director starring two of China’s most famous directors: Ning Hao, renowned for commercial cinema, and Jia Zhangke, celebrated for his art-house films. In 2024, with Ning Hao, Xu Lei co-directed the comedy Hutong Cowboy starring Ge You. His sophomore feature, Green Wave, premiered at the 2024 Pingyao International Film Festival, winning the Best Actor and Jury Awards.

Jill Leung is a Hong Kong screenwriter and emerging filmmaker. He has worked as a screenwriter on renowned franchise sequels such as Soi Cheang’s _SPL II: A Time for Consequences (aka Kill Zone 2,_ 2015) and Ip Man 3 (2015), and has worked for several years alongside Wilson Yip. Last Song for You, which he is presenting at NYAFF 2025, is his first feature as a director.

Jun Li studied journalism at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and then took a master’s degree in gender studies at the University of Cambridge. His directorial feature debut, Tracey (2018), premiered at the Tokyo International Film Festival while his second feature, Drifting (2021), premiered at the International Film Festival of Rotterdam. His third feature, Queerpanorama, premiered at the 2025 Berlin International Film Festival. He is also a producer, and was at NYAFF 2024 with Fly Me to the Moon (2023), which he produced and cowrote with Sasha Chuk. His films focus on the reality of sexual minorities and people suffering from substance abuse.

Li Yongyi is a veteran Chinese editor and director with over 20 years of experience in the industry. He is currently a director of the China Cinema Editors Association, a member of the China Film Association, and a mentor at several film festivals. Since 2007, he has collaborated with numerous renowned Chinese directors as the editing director. Notable works include _The Dead End _directed by Cao Baoping, which was nominated for Best Editing at the 31st Golden Rooster Awards, Cock and Bull and other films. Since 2019, he has worked closely with director Zhang Yimou, and edited Cliff Walkers, which won the Best Editing Award at the 15th Asian Film Awards, Sniper, which received a Best Editing nomination at the 35th Golden Rooster Awards, Full River Red, and Article 20, as well as working on One Second. Deep in the Mountain marks Li Yongyi’s feature debut as director.

Jessica Liu a filmmaker raised between Shanghai & the Bay Area with a playful and refreshing storytelling style. She explores desire and longing in repressed characters. Her films have been selected at Academy qualifying film festivals - Cinequest, San Francisco Independent Film Festival, Dances with Films, and streaming on Amazon Prime and Oscar supported platform OTV. She was selected for the 2024 Alliance of Women Directors’ Rising Director Fellowship, a member of Gold House Creator network, a 2024 Satellite Collective Fellow, a 2023 Frieze LA Fellow with Endeavor Content, Ghetto Film School, Fifth Season and was highlighted as a Comedic Creator to follow in Whohaha 2022 Comedy Call Out.

Juror: Best Short Film Competition. Aimee was raised in Paris, Beijing and San Francisco; after studying mathematics, she decided to dedicate herself to directing films by attending the UCLA film school. In 2016 she founded the production company Kings Road Pictures with the aim of developing and producing feature films with a socially useful message. After directing several short films, she made her feature debut with A Shot Through the Wall (NYAFF 2021).

Panelist: The Art & Commerce of Asian American Cinema. Mynette Louie is a Spirit Award-winning, Emmy and Critics Choice-nominated producer. Her credits include Eric Lin's Tribeca and Locarno 2025 selection ROSEMEAD starring Lucy Liu, Heidi Ewing’s Sundance-winning, Spirit/Ariel/GLAAD-nominated I CARRY YOU WITH ME (Sony Pictures Classics), Carlo Mirabella-Davis’ Tribeca-winning, Gotham/Critics Choice-nominated SWALLOW (IFC Films & Mubi), Jennifer Fox’s Golden Globe/Emmy/Critics Choice/Spirit/Gotham-nominated THE TALE (Sundance / HBO), Aaron Katz's GEMINI (SXSW / NEON), Karyn Kusama’s THE INVITATION (SXSW / Drafthouse & Netflix), Martha Stephens & Aaron Katz's Spirit Award-winning LAND HO! (Sundance / Sony Pictures Classics), and many more. Louie serves on The Academy’s Producers Branch Executive Committee and Film Independent’s Board of Directors, and is a member of Producers United. She was named one of Business Insider’s “12 Movie Producers at the Top of Their Game to Watch in 2020 and Beyond,” Ted Hope’s “21 Brave Thinkers of Truly Free Film,” and Indiewire’s “100 Filmmakers to Follow on Twitter.” Louie is also a professor and co-head of Creative Producing at Columbia University’s graduate film school. A native New Yorker, she graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Harvard University, where she studied Chinese literature and film.

Legendary Chinese American actress and cultural icon Lisa Lu was born in Beijing and came to the US in 1947. From her early days as a Kunqu opera performer to her indelible impact on film and television in the U.S., Hong Kong, and mainland China, Lu has become a bridge between cultures, traditions, and generations. After moving to Los Angeles, she began her professional acting career in 1958 at the Pasadena Playhouse. Lu's screen debut came during the golden era of American television, and in 1960, she starred opposite Jimmy Stewart in The Mountain Road. Lu rose to prominence in the 1970s through Hong Kong cinema, winning three Golden Horse Awards, including Best Actress for The Arch (1970) and The Empress Dowager (1975), and Best Supporting Actress for The 14 Amazons (1972). She starred in The Last Emperor (1987), The Joy Luck Club (1993), Crazy Rich Asians (2018), American Born Chinese (2023) and Death and Other Details (2024). On May 5, 2025, Lisa Lu became the oldest person ever to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame—an honor befitting her status as a living legend of world cinema. She will be honored with two awards — the AANHPI Vanguard Award and the Star Asia Lifetime Achievement Award — in recognition of a groundbreaking career spanning seven decades that has left an indelible mark on film history, not only entertaining and inspiring audiences but also elevating the cultural and artistic profile of Asian cinema on the world stage.

Juror: Uncaged Competition For Best Feature Film. Tzi Ma is a veteran actor whose more than four-decade career has helped redefine Asian American representation in Hollywood. Known for Mulan, The Farewell, and Meditation Park, he’s worked across genres in film, TV, and theater. A vocal advocate for authentic representation, Ma has refused stereotypical roles since his early days in New York theater. He’s starred in Arrival, Rush Hour, Kung Fu (The CW), and Tigertail, and recently appeared in _Interior Chinatown _and Five Blind Dates. Ma is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Science.

Juror: Uncaged Competition For Best Feature Film. MASUMI is a Japanese-American artist making waves across film, TV, and gaming. Raised between Tokyo and the U.S., she brings bilingual fluency and cultural depth to her roles. She broke out in Yakuza Princess (Warner Bros.), performing her own stunts, followed by roles on NCIS: Hawai’i and Apple TV+’s upcoming sci-fi series. In 2025, she stars as the first Japanese female protagonist in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, earning critical acclaim. She also stars in The Weight of the Darkness and presented at the 2025 BAFTA Games Awards.

Ash Mayfair was born in Vietnam and educated in the UK and the US. She received a BA from Oxford University for English Literature, a post-grad degree from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London for theater directing and graduated with an MFA in filmmaking from NYU Tisch School of the Arts. She has directed numerous plays and short films in the UK and the US, working at the National Theatre in London as an assistant director and in off-Broadway productions in New York as a director. Her short films traveled to multiple international festivals. Her feature debut, The Third Wife, premiered at Toronto International Film Festival in 2018 and went on to win numerous international awards. Skin of Youth is her sophomore feature.

Namkoong Sun studied architecture before attending the School of Film, TV and Multimedia at Korean National University of Arts. She received attention for the many short films she directed, and made her feature debut with Ten Months, for which she received a special mention in the Uncaged Award competition at NYAFF 2021.

Ramazan Nanayev is a New York City-based award-winning filmmaker, entrepreneur and strategist with over 10 years experience in driving social impact through film, media and technology. Of Circassian descent, his early years influenced his passion towards advocacy in human rights and environmental preservation. He is the Founder of Beacon Revolt, a production company developing content to generate impact by driving increased awareness and action related to the environment and social issues. His latest award-winning film, ‘Roads to Olympia’, is a drama that sheds light on discrimination due to gender, sexual orientation, and classism. It has been released on HBO in over 25 countries. Ikigai is his new release.

Catherine T. Nguyen is an award-winning director/producer based in California. Her passion for storytelling drew her to the NYU Tisch School of Arts, where she graduated cum laude with a B.F.A in Film and Television and a minor in Business of Entertainment, Media and Technology at Stern. Leveraging her diverse suite of skills, Catherine served as a producer for Chicken, which world premiered at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival. White Butterfly is her directorial debut which has screened at festivals around the world, including the Hawai’i International Film Festival, CAAMFest (AT&T InspirASIAN Undergraduate Winner), Yale Student Film Festival (Best Director Winner), among others. She is currently a producer at EST Media bridging East and West stories.

Mipo O's first feature-length screenplay, The Sakai's Happiness, won the Sundance/NHK International Filmmaker Award, and the following year she directed her first feature-length film, The Sakai's Happiness, based on this screenplay, which premiered at the the Busan International Film Festival. In 2010, she wrote and directed Here Comes the Bride, My Mom!, which screened at the Busan International Film Festival and won the Grand Prize at the Kaneto Shindo Awards in Japan. In 2014, The Light Shines Only There won the Best Director Award at the Montreal World Film Festival and became Japan's submission for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Film. The 2015 Being Good received the NETPAC Award at the Moscow International Film Festival. In 2024, Living in Two Worlds was nominated for the Golden Goblet Award at the Shanghai International Film Festival. She teamed up again with the producer and screenwriter of _The Light Shines Only There for How Dare You?_

Pan Ke-Yin is a director, scriptwriter, editor and voiceover artist. He graduated from the Mass Communication Department of Tamkang University in Taipei. He was nominated for a Golden Bell Award for Best Editing for his work on the short Hit and Run, an episode of the series Til Death Do Us Part. His first short film, My Sister (2021), received a production grant from the Taiwanese Ministry of Culture. He expands on that short film, reuniting the same cast, for his 2025 feature debut, Family Matters.

Park Sang-min majored in film direction in college and produced many short black comedies before starting his career as an assistant director. Having a deep affection and interest in live-format genre films, he co-wrote_ Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum (2018), a film that achieved exceptional box office success in the horror genre with its innovative ideas and fresh structure. His directorial debut I Haven’t Done Anything _was invited to multiple film festivals after the world premiere at NYAFF 2022.

Heaven Peralejo came to prominence in 2016 through the reality show “Pinoy Big Brother: Lucky 7.” Following supporting roles in several TV series and films, she received wider recognition for her performance in the 2022 film Nanahimik ang Gabi. Her accolades include a Luna Award and an Asian Academy Creative Award, as well as nominations from the FAMAS Awards, Metro Manila Film Festival, The EDDYS, PMPC Star Awards for Television and PMPC Star Awards for Movies. She won her first Best Actress award at the 39th Luna Awards. In 2024, she starred in the Philippine adaptation of the South Korean movie Sunny. She will present her latest film, Lilim, at NYAFF 2025.

Juror: Uncaged Competition For Best Feature Film. Banjong Pisanthanakun is a Thai filmmaker and screenwriter. He saw early success with his first two films, Shutter (2004) and Alone (2007), both horror films that he co-directed and co-wrote with Parkpoom Wongpoom. Both films were box-office hits in Asia and went on to be remade several times. Banjong also directed the 2013 comedy-horror romance film Pee Mak, which became Thailand's highest-grossing film of all time, the first Thai film to be screened in every Southeast Asian country. He went on to direct the 2021 Thai-South Korean coproduction The Medium. In addition to horror films, he also directed the romance films Hello Stranger (2010), One Day (2016), and produced the coming-of-age film You & Me & Me (NYAFF 2023). He is presenting Red Envelope, which he produced, at NYAFF 2025.

Panelist: The Art & Commerce of Asian American Cinema. Poh Si Teng is an award-winning director and producer (Academy Award-nominated St. Louis Superman), former creative executive, and industry leader with a portfolio spanning four continents. She is currently directing a political, medical thriller, and producing a series that she developed. She is the producer of the award-winning Oscar-qualified doc Blood on Our Side from Mexico, and BAFTA-qualified doc Dead Woman’s Pass from Peru. Most recently, she was a creative exec for ABC/Disney, and the lead executive producer of the hit disability rom com documentary Patrice: The Movie, and the unscripted series Muslim Matchmaker for Hulu/Disney. She is the senior commissioning producer overseeing the Americas for Witness, Al Jazeera English's flagship observational documentary strand.

Tarisa Preechatangkit, nickname Stang, is a former member of Thai pop BNK48 2nd Generation, Team NV, and member of project group INDY CAMP. She played in GMM 25 / Netflix Thai series The Underclass is a 2020 Thai drama and Attack 13 is her acting debut in a feature film.

Paween Purijitpanya (Golf) is a Thai director, editor and screenwriter. He graduated from the Faculty of Communication Arts from Chulalongkorn University. He is known for his directorial debut Body (2007), 4bia (2008), Phobia 2 (2009) and Netflix original film Ghost Lab, as well as episodes of the Netflix series Girl From Nowhere. In 2024, he partnered with Jungka Studio, directing the four-part dystopian anthology series _Tomorrow and I _that examines the intersection of technology and tradition in future Thailand. He is the producer of The Stone, screening at NYAFF 2025.

Ramita Rattanapakdee, nickname UL, is an upcoming actress whose past works include Komintorn the Brave, Seven-Colored Sword, Seven Lights Jewel and Laksangwong.

Mikhail Red began making short films when he was 15 years old, and six years later directed his microbudget feature debut, Rekorder, about a once-professional cinematographer who compulsively records everything, only to capture a murder. It won five international awards including Best New Director at the 2014 Vancouver International Film Festival. His radically different second feature, Birdshot, a slow-burning ecological thriller, won the Best Asian Feature Film Award at the 2016 Tokyo International Film Festival. Together with Birdshot producer Pamela L. Reyes, Red developed Lost Dahlias, about a young housemaid faced with the twin horrors of martial law and her American employer. His third feature, Neomanila, was a mother-and-son tale about the Metro Manila death squads. Dead Kids (2019) was the first Netflix original film from the Philippines. Deleter (2022), broke box office records and won seven awards at the 2022 Metro Manila Film Festival including Best Picture and Best Director. His latest work is the dark horror film Lilim.

Veronica Reyes-How is a graduate of the University of Michigan with a Mathematics/Finance degree. After working as a technology consultant, Veronica switched careers, landing a role in the national tour of RENT. Acting credits include Blue Bloods, The Blacklist and Person of Interest. She was a 2022 Sesame Street Writing Fellow, previously working as a head writer / Executive Producer, developing kids’ TV content focusing on making math fun. She recently created, wrote and executive produced the comedy/drama Mother, May I Have a Kidney? - which premiered at the 2025 Tribeca Festival.

Fernando Ruiz is a cinematographer with a focus on narrative, character-driven work. Passionate about storytelling from an early age, he began making movies in his teens and earned early recognition for his work. In 2005, he studied film in London, where he continues to reside. He will be at NYAFF 2025 with his most recent project, Ravens (Mark Gill, 2024), a magical realist biopic on the life of Japanese photographer Masahisa Fukase.

Seo Min-ju was pursuing a graduate degree when she entered and won the Miss Korea beauty pageant in 2013. This altered her career path and she segued into acting. She has appeared in K-dramas and supporting film roles including Keys to the Heart (2018), Pawn (2020), the action comedy Mission: Possible (2021), and in a notable emotionally charged turn in Firefighters (2024). She joins NYAFF to present her performance as a bad-ass cop in The Informant.

Amie Song is a New York-based filmmaker. Splitting her time between the US and China, she explores how people reconcile living between cultures, traditions, genders, sexualities, etc. Her passion lies in pushing the boundaries of narrative, reimagining how films can question our perception of reality. She is currently an MFA Film Directing/Screenwriting candidate at Columbia University. Her short film THREE will premiere at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival as La Cinef Official Selection. Her previous short films screened at the Video Art & Experimental Film Festival, New Filmmakers NY, New York Shorts International Film Festival, DC Asian Pacific American Film Festival, etc.

Vuthipong Sukhanindr is a director and producer with extensive experience in music videos, advertising, and motion graphics. He has built a distinctive visual style and proven track record in the industry. He has collaborated with Arak Amornsupasiri in various capacities, in a creative partnership that eventually led to them co-directing their first feature film, The Stone. Their collaborative approach brings together decades of friendship, creative synergy, and professional expertise from their respective fields.

Vivan Sung is the NYAFF 2025 recipient of the Best from the East Award for Outstanding Performance, for her beguiling role in the thriller The Secret House. After appearing in short films and music videos, Vivian Sung made her feature debut as the lead in Café. Waiting. Love (2014), written and produced by Taiwan wunderkind Giddens Ko. Next she starred in the huge box office hit Our Times (2015), which earned her a Golden Horse Award nomination for Best Actress. She has been a staple of Taiwanese film and television ever since, with many notable works including Taste of Love (2015), Take Me to the Moon (2017), Nina Wu (2019), and the starring role in Giddens Ko’s Miss Shampoo (NYAFF 2023). Sung has worked internationally as well, with a part in the French film For My Country (2022) and now Park Sang-min's Korean-Taiwanese co-production The Secret House.

Mouly Surya is considered one of the most promising female filmmakers in Indonesia. After graduating from Swinburne University, Melbourne, with a BA in Media and Literature, she obtained an MA in Film and Television from Bond University, Queensland. Her debut film, Fiksi (2008), won numerous awards, including Best Director at JIFFEST 2008. It premiered internationally at the 13th Busan International Film Festival. Her second feature, What They Don't Talk About When They Talk About Love (2013), opened in competition at Sundance and was later screened at festivals such as Hawaii FF and Karlovy Vary FF. The film received the NETPAC Award at the International Film Festival Rotterdam. Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts (2017) marked Surya’s first international co-production, and premiered at Cannes Directors' Fortnight. It went on to receive 10 Citra Awards (Indonesia’s equivalent of the Oscars), including Best Film, Best Director, Best Script, and Best Leading Actress. It also won Best Cinematography and Best Sound at the Asian Academy Creative Awards. In 2019, it was selected as Indonesia’s official entry for Best Foreign Language Film at the 91st Academy Awards. In 2023, Surya received the Kurosawa Akira Award at the Tokyo International Film Festival, which honors auteurs with a lasting legacy and influence. In 2024, her American film debut, Trigger Warning, starring Jessica Alba, was released by Netflix. Her latest film, Perang Kota This City Is a Battlefield, is her first adaptation, her first history-based film, and her first feature with a lead male protagonist.

After graduating from the Film & Media Department at Tohoku University of Art and Design, Ryuya Suzuki initially aspired to become a live-action film director, but after teaching himself animation during the Covid-19 epidemic, he created two acclaimed independent, animated shorts—Mahoroba and Lawless Love—which received numerous awards at Japanese festivals. In 2022, his omnibus collection Ryuya Suzuki Short Films: Three Men was released theatrically. His feature-length animation debut, Jinsei, was entirely hand-drawn by Suzuki and funded through crowdfunding, and premiered at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival. It is in competition for the NYAFF 2025 Uncaged Award.

Fatrick Tabada’s first full-length screenplay, Jesus is Dead (directed by Victor Villanueva), premiered at the 2016 QCinema International Film Festival. Along with co-writer Moira Lang, Tabada was awarded Indie Movie Screenwriter of the Year at the 33rd PMPC Star Awards. In 2017, Chedeng and Apple, a dark comedy starring veteran actresses Gloria Diaz and Elizabeth Oropesa, which he co-directed with Rae Red, earned him a FAMAS (Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences) nomination for best screenplay. He will present his solo directorial debut, Flower Girl, at NYAFF 2025.

Antonio Tam graduated from the Hong Kong Academy for the Performing Arts. His first short film was selected to compete in the Fresh Wave International Short Film Festival in 2022. With Jeffrey Lam Sen, he co-directed Valley of the Shadow of Death, his feature debut.

Hedwig Tam made her film debut in Weeds on Fire (2016), receiving a nomination for Best New Performer at the 36th Hong Kong Film Awards. She went on to star in The First Girl I Loved (NYAFF 2021) and Hong Kong Family (2022), among other films. In 2025, she won Best Actress at the 31st Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards and received a nomination for Best Actress at the 43rd Hong Kong Film Awards for her performance in Montages of a Modern Motherhood (2024). In 2025, she starred in Smashing Frank.

Juror: Best Short Film Competition. Kirsten Tan is a New York-based Singaporean filmmaker whose debut feature Pop Aye won the Special Jury Prize at Sundance 2017 and was invited to represent Singapore at the Oscars. A Sundance Institute and Cannes Cinéfondation Fellow, she is developing her second feature film, Higher, with Ari Aster’s Square Peg production banner, and her third feature film Crocodile Rock, with Momo Films, earning accolades from the Berlinale and Busan’s project markets.

Veerinsara Tangkitsuvanich ("Perth") is a Thai model and actress known for her roles on popular television shows like "Love Mechanics" (2022) and "VIP" (2023) She makes her film debut in Attack 13 (2025).

Juror: Best Short Film Competition. Bradley Tangonan is a Filipino filmmaker born in Hawaiʻi and based in New York City. He creates powerful visual narratives that explore the intersection between the everyday and the subconscious. His award-winning films have been featured at Tribeca, Portland Film Festival, Hawai’i International Film Festival, The Smithsonian, Directors Notes, Nowness, One Club for Creativity, The Atlantic, and National Geographic.

“Lilly” Nichalak Thongkham is a model and actress from Thailand who is best known for being a contestant on “The Face Thailand” Season 2 and for her role in the Thai series "The Gifted" (2018). She has also appeared in The Promise (2017) and Ready, Set, Love (2024). Her latest film is Attack 13.

Japanese auteur Toshiaki Toyoda takes the spotlight as NYAFF’s Filmmaker in Focus, and it’s sure to be a cinematic event like no other. A visionary auteur renowned for his punk spirit, hypnotic visuals, and fearless storytelling, Toyoda will appear in person for the North American premiere of Transcending Dimensions (2025), a genre-blending fever dream of sci-fi, gangster mythology, and metaphysical wonder. The retrospective will also feature a rare 35mm screening of his cult classic Blue Spring (2001), a landmark film that captured the raw alienation of Japan’s post-bubble youth; 9 Souls (2003), which hijacks the road movie in a surreal, anarchic journey fusing black comedy with quiet yearning.along with a special 20th anniversary presentation of Hanging Garden (2005), a haunting, stylized portrait of family secrets and unraveling façades. We’re also highlighting three of Toyoda’s most powerful short films—Wolf’s Calling (2019), The Day of Destruction (2020), and Go Seppuku Yourselves (2021)—poetic, politically charged works grappling with destruction, resistance, and rebirth. From his explosive debut Pornostar (1998) to mind-bending works like Monsters Club (2011) and Planetist (2018), Toyoda has carved out one of the most uncompromising careers in contemporary Japanese cinema. This retrospective is not just a celebration—it’s a journey into the soul of a true visionary.

Surawut Tungkarak is a Thai producer, director and editor known for editing Thai horror films such as Body (2007) and Phobia (4bia, 2008). He directed the experimental mini-series The Dreamer: Condo/ Barista/Architect (2016) and the episode Liberation of Girl From Nowhere Season 2 (2021). In 2024, Surawut produced the TV mini-series Tomorrow + I, a coming-of-age drama that showcased his ability to balance intimacy with innovation. Most recently, he served as producer for The Stone producing The Stone (NYAFF 2025).

Taweewat Wantha started out with an award-winning short film that he developed into his first feature, the action zom-com Sars Wars (2004). He has been working in the industry as a writer and director ever since. His big breakthrough was the box office horror smash Death Whisperer 1 & 2 (2023, 2014), which he followed up with an even more successful sequel. He is the CEO of the new production company 13 Studio, whose inaugural releases include his own girls high school ghost revenge movie Attack 13.

Juror: Uncaged Competition For Best Feature Film. Michael J. Werner is a long-time, multi-faceted film industry executive having served in a variety of roles including producer, executive producer, foreign sales agent, financier, and distributor. He has served on numerous industry and festival advisory bodies/boards in Asia including Hong Kong's HAF and Asian Film Awards, Screen Singapore, Busan, Singapore's MDA, and the Macau International Film Festival and Awards, and numerous Festival juries. He is a voting member of the Oscars (Executive Branch). Michael was one of the partners in the pioneering sales company Fortissimo Films until his departure in 2016. More recently he was a producer on Suk Suk and All Shall Be Well by Ray Yeung. He is also a strategic consultant to Bill Kong’s Edko Films and Josie Ho and Conroy Chan’s 852 Films, and he is an EP on Edko’s upcoming action/martial arts epic, The Furious.

Adam Wong is a writer and director whose works include The Way We Dance (2013) and She Remembers, He Forgets (NYAFF 2016), both of which were nominated at the Golden Horse Film Awards and received Hong Kong Film Awards. The sequel, The Way We Keep Dancing (NYAFF 2021) earned six nominations at the Taipei Golden Horse Film Award and was the closing film at the Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival. It also won the Best Film Score at the Asian Film Awards and the Film Critics Society's commendation for 2021. Wong will present his newest film, The Way We Talk, at NYAFF 2025.

Jirassaya Wongsutin is one Thailand’s fast-rising filmmakers. All three of her student short films won the Thai Short Film and Video Festival’s Best Student Short Film awards three years in a row. Her graduation film, _That Day of the Month (_2014) competed in numerous film festivals, won the Grand Prize at Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival, and received a Special Jury Mention from Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival. Wongsutin began her professional career as a screenwriter at GMM Tai Hub, one of the leading commercial film studios in Thailand. She co-wrote Sopon Sukdapisit’s The Swimmers (2014) and Parkpoom Wongpoom’s Homestay (2018). Most recently, she co-wrote and directed the series “One Year 365 Days, My House, Your Home” (2019), which established her as one of the most promising directors. She is presenting her first feature-length film, Flat Girls, at NYAFF 2025.

Writer-director based in Taipei, Taiwan. She graduated from the Film MFA program at the National Taiwan University of Arts. Founder of BLACK SQUARE Ltd.. Selected as a director participant in the 16th Golden Horse Film Academy. Currently, she is working on her directorial debut feature film, FLUID, which has been selected for the 2024 Sundance Asia Film Project Market. Her short film The Black Dog was nominated for the Wide Angle: Asian Short Film Competition at the 29th Busan International Film Festival. Another short film, Cupcakes, Lonely Cats, was selected for the 20th Osaka Asian Film Festival. Recently, she was selected for the 2026 Asian Cultural Council—New York Fellowship and will travel to the U.S. next year to deepen her artistic practice and foster cross-cultural dialogue through a six-month residency.

Juror: Uncaged Competition For Best Feature Film. Yao is an actor from Southeast Asia and the Bay Area, known for his award-winning work in both film and theater. He has led prominent Singaporean films including More, More, More! (dir. James Thoo), Tiong Bahru Social Club (dir. Tan Bee Thiam, NYAFF 2021), and #LookAtMe (dir. Ken Kwek), which earned him the Best Performance award at NYAFF 2022. His extensive work in the Singapore theater earned him three Best Actor nominations (2015, 2016), with a win in 2018. He earned an MFA from the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale (2023). In 2025, Yao made his Hollywood debut in Ryan Coogler's Sinners.

Writer and director Shawn Yu is known for Mazu Procession (2014) and Phanta City (2018). His first feature film, the NYAFF 2025 Uncaged Award-nominated Unexpected Courage, is based on his personal experience.