20 years of CinemAsia Film Festival A celebration of Asian representation
by Giovanna Chen, Head of PR & Community at CinemAsia Film Festival
This year’s 16th edition of CinemAsia marked the festival’s 20th anniversary. CinemAsia’s mission to promote diversity and Asian representation remains as relevant as it was 20 years ago. The festival, founded by Doris Yeung, has become one of the largest and longest-running Asian film festivals in Europe.
Twenty years ago, Asian culture and entertainment offerings in the Netherlands were very scarce. There was no YouTube or Netflix, and Asian films were limited to the arthouse sphere. Asia was often seen as a mysterious, distant place, and Asians in the media were mostly portrayed exotically and stereotypically.
In 2004, I attended the opening film of the very first festival edition of CinemAsia: Better Luck Tomorrow (USA 2003) by Justin Lin, a portrait about Asian-American teenagers who excelled in academic and extracurricular subjects but committed crimes out of boredom. The film placed Asian-American actors in complex and profound characters, which was rare at the time. After the film, there was a meeting with the director and cast. Justin Lin later directed the Fast and Furious series and Star Trek: Beyond. Actors Sung-Ho Kang and John Cho have since become big names in Hollywood. CinemAsia has seen many Asian filmmakers grow from the beginning of their impressive careers.
New generation of lovers of Asian cinema
The anniversary edition showed a 20% increase in visitors compared to last year. In recent years we have seen a significant influx of a new generation of film lovers who know how to find their way to CinemAsia. This group, young and culturally diverse, shows a growing appreciation for the authenticity and diversity of Asian stories. There is also a need for a platform for more diverse representation. The festival reflects the rapid changes in Asian cinema, both in Asia and in the diaspora. Recent Oscar-winning films such as Parasite, Everything Everywhere All At Once and Squid Game contribute to a wider acceptance of Asian cinema worldwide.
Versatile programming
After the main festival in March in Amsterdam, CinemAsia went ‘On Tour’ across the country in May and June. The varied program offered films from both established and a new guard of filmmakers of diverse genres. Q&As, industry panels, Queer Nongkrong workshops, the annual karaoke and Asian Food Market provided ample opportunity for meeting and deepening.
CinemAsia Prize Winners
The CinemAsia 2024 Jury Award went to A Song Sung Blue 小白船 (China 2023) by female director Geng Zihan and was presented by Wei Shujun, a rising star in Chinese cinema. His latest film Only The River Flows 河边的错误 (China 2023) had its Dutch premiere at CinemAsia and is now playing in cinemas across the country. The Audience Award went to Abang Adik 富都青年 (Malaysia, Taiwan, Singapore 2023) by Jin Ong.
Asian Diaspora cinema
An important part of CinemAsia is its focus on diaspora cinema. These films offer a unique perspective on the experiences of Asian communities outside their homeland or that of their parents. On view were classics such as Jacky (NL 2000) by Fow Pyng Hu and Chin.Ind Life Behind the Pass-Through. (NL 2001) by Yan Ting Yuen. CinemAsia’s opening film this year was the NTR Telefilm Happy Palace乐宫(NL 2024) in collaboration with Doxy Fixy, on which CinemAsia also collaborated. CinemAsia also has its own FilmLAB in which more than 40 short films by Asian-Dutch filmmakers have been produced. This entire palette of diasporic stories contributes to a broader and more nuanced representation of Asian experiences here in the Netherlands.
In the summer, CinemAsia is also always active during Pride Amsterdam and once again comes with the Asian Pride Boat on the Canal Parade, film screenings and community activities.
For more info, visit www.cinemasia.nl.
