If you love cinema, Dallas is the place to be this July. The Asian Film Festival of Dallas returns from 23 July to 26 July at the Angelika Film Center Dallas in Mockingbird Station. Marking a quarter-century of bringing cinema from Asia and the Asian diaspora to North Texas, this year’s line-up brings 27 films to the big screen, including 19 features and eight short films across seven countries.
Co-Executive Director David Chong shares a deep connection with the event. “Celebrating AFFD’s 25th anniversary is especially meaningful to me because my journey with the festival began as a fan in the audience, then as a volunteer, board member, and now Co-Executive Director,” Chong said. “Since 2002, AFFD has showcased more than 600 films from across Asia and the Asian diaspora, connecting filmmakers, artists, and audiences through the power of storytelling.”
You can catch major premieres throughout the four-day event. The line-up includes the world premiere of Japan’s Gamaland, North American premieres for China’s Now I Met Her and Japan’s Diary of the Ghost, plus the U.S. premiere of Japan’s AnyMart.
Read more: Diamond Diplomacy: How Baseball Became a Bridge Between America and Japan
The festival opens on Thursday night with the South Korean film Colony. On Saturday, you can watch the centerpiece screening, Never After Dark, hailing from Japan.
To mark the 25th milestone, organizers are bringing back landmark classic screenings. You can rewatch Takashi Miike’s cult thriller Ichi the Killer, which screened during the festival’s very first year in 2002. You can also celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Korean zombie hit Train to Busan, which serves as the closing night film on Sunday.
Diverse Stories and Filmmaker Discussions
The schedule highlights important social themes across the region. You can screen 3670, a South Korean drama following a gay North Korean defector establishing a new life in South Korea while seeking acceptance.
You also get the chance to interact directly with creators. Q&A sessions will follow screenings for the documentaries Year of the Cat and Diamond Diplomacy, as well as the narrative shorts programme You Could’ve Been a Nurse.
Chong emphasizes that the milestone reflects a long-standing community effort. “This milestone honors the creative voices and passionate community that have defined the festival over the past quarter century, while reaffirming our commitment to championing bold stories and ensuring Asian and Asian American cinema continues to thrive for generations to come.”
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Parties and Ticket Details
Your festival experience goes beyond the cinema auditoriums. You can attend the Opening Night Party on Thursday from 9.00 p.m. at AKAI, a speakeasy inside Musume. On Saturday, head over to the Angelika Film Center Cafe at 8.00 p.m. for the Centerpiece Reception. Wrap up your weekend at The Highland for the Closing Night Party on Sunday at 9.00 p.m.
Single tickets cost $15 for standard screenings and $20 for opening, centerpiece, and closing films. Full festival badges cost $250 and give you complete access to all screenings and social events. You can buy tickets and view full schedule details online at asianfilmdallas.com.
