Panu Aree embarked on his cinematic journey in 1995 as a sound recordist for Thai film productions. Over time, he ventured into directing, crafting several insightful short and documentary films. The films he co-directed with Kong Rithdee were selected for the prestigious Yamagata Documentary Film Festival, Busan International film Festival, Vancouver International Film Festival, and many others. He’s now an executive at Neramitnung, one of Thailand’s upcoming film studios.

Putthipong “Billkin” Assaratanakul is a Thai actor and pop singer who works primarily in television. He graduated from Thammasat Business School, and moved from modeling to acting in supporting roles, beginning with the teen TV horror series Please... Siang Riak Winyan (2017) and the hit romcom Brother of the Year (2018). In 2019, he starred in My Ambulance, followed by his breakthrough performance in 2020, when he played the lead in the critically acclaimed BL series, I Told Sunset About You. It launched him into international stardom and won him numerous acting awards. Billkin is also a renowned singer and has released numerous singles and albums.

A veteran stage actress in Hong Kong, Patra Au has appeared in a rich variety of roles in numerous productions with different theater troupes. She was also awarded Best Actress by the Hong Kong Federation of Drama Societies three times for her work in Shirley Valentine (1994), Sentimental Journey (2000) and Oscar et la Dame Rose (2008). Sentimental Journey broke Hong Kong records with its 100-performance run, and was remounted for a six-week revival in 2005. She received Best Supporting Actress awards and nominations for her role as Ching in Ray Yeung's Twilight’s Kiss (Suk Suk, 2019), and stars in his 2024 Berlin Teddy Award winner All Shall Be Well. She continues to be active on the theater scene.

Pat Boonnitipat is a Thai film director working primarily in television and documentary series, specializing in teenage stories. He began his career as a photographer/cameraman for the hit TV series Hormones in 2014, and went on to co-direct Diary of Tootsies Season 1 (2016). His breakthrough came in 2020, when he was tapped to adapt and remake the global hit Thai film Bad Genius (NYAFF 2017) for TV as Bad Genius The Series. It won Best TV Drama/Series, Best Screenplay and Best Director at the 17th Komchadluek Awards, among other honors. He teamed up with the producers of the series to create How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies (NYAFF 2024), a personal project developed from an original screenplay by Thodsapon Thiptinnakorn, and makes his feature directorial debut with the film. It became an instant hit in Thailand, before conquering box offices across Asia.

Tony Bui is a writer, director and producer. His films include Yellow Lotus, Three Seasons, Green Dragon and The Throwaways. His feature debut, Three Seasons, received the Grand Jury Prize, Audience Award and Best Cinematography Award at the 1999 Sundance Film Festival and two Independent Spirit Awards nominations. He is a recipient of the 2002 Humanitas Prize. He has written and developed projects for NBC, Warner Bros and HBO, and is currently developing a narrative feature film about Nick Ut's Pulitzer Prize winning “Napalm Girl” photo.

Anthony “Tony” Buisseret is a Belgian-Thai actor who made his film debut with You & Me & Me (NYAFF 2023) playing the love interest of its leads. He prepared for the role by living in the countryside to learn the ways and customs of the people there as well as to learn how to speak the Northeastern dialect. He is reuniting with his You & Me & Me co-star, Thitiya “Baipor” Jirapornsilp, and playing the male lead in GDH’s new film, Not Friends.

After earning his degree in audiovisual communications from the University of the Philippines, Dennis C. Evangelista, won first place at the 1992 FPJ Screenwriter Contest. This led to a three-decade career as a screenwriter for both film and television. His awards include Best Screenplay at the 2007 FAMAS (Filipino Academy) Awards for his screenplay Paupahan (Crossroads). He currently wears various hats in film production, primarily working as a Producer. Multi award-winning director Joel Lamangan brought Mr. Evangelista back to writing when he asked him to pen the uproarious social satire Granny prostitutes (Lola Magdalena). Writing has always been his passion, and as long as there are stories worth filming it will inspire him to create again and again.

Conroy Chan is a culture icon, producer, actor, rapper and supermodel. Chan’s first time in the producer chair was in 2003 The Heavenly Kings, co-produced with actors Daniel Wu, Terrance Yin and Andrew Lin. In 2010 ,Chan produced the multiple award winning Dream Home, then Revenge: A Love Ballad and The Courier (2012) starring Jeffery Dean Morgan and Mickey Rourke, directed by oscar winner Hany Abu-Saad. In 2013 Chan co-produced Open Grave, Full Strike (NYAFF 2022), Rajah (2019) starring Jonathan Reece Myers and Josie Ho and Habit (NYAFF 2024) starring Bella Thorne and Josie Ho.

Chang Hang-jun graduated from the Seoul Institute of the Arts and has worked as a director and screenwriter. He entered the film industry with his script for The Adventures of Mrs. Park (1996) and debuted as a director with the feature Break Out (2002). Since then, he has made several works both as a director and writer, including the features Spring Breeze (2003), Forgotten (2017) and the TV series Sign (2011). He has continued his directing career with his latest feature, Rebound (NYAFF 2023), which received the Silver Mulberry Award at the Udine Far East Film Festival. He directed the chapter Everyone is Waiting for the Man in The Killers (NYAFF 2024).

Chayanit Chansangavej, aka Pat Chayanit, is a Thai model and actress. Chayanit studied graphic design at Silapakorn University. She is a veteran actress who has appeared in many music videos, TV series, and films. Among her series are The Stranded, on Netflix. She has also appeared in such films as Distance (Taiwan, 2015), Someone from Nowhere (2017), Cracked (2022), and Supposed (2023). She won Best Actress for Supposed at the 20th Komchadluek Awards.

James Chen just wrapped his sixth season on the TV series FBI, recently appeared on The Mandalorian and enjoyed a great arc on Apple TV+ show Dear Edward. Other fan-favorite roles include Kal on world-wide sensation The Walking Dead, and CSU Detective Adrian Sung on Law & Order: SVU. He has also appeared on Run the World, Iron Fist, Seven Seconds, and 9-1-1, among others. Chen has also had roles in The Amazing Spiderman, Mr. Popper’s Penguins, Labor Day, and We Need to Talk About Kevin. His award-winning performance in Ray Yeung’s indie darling Front Cover has enjoyed several Netflix runs. He will soon be seen in the upcoming Rosemead and One Stupid Thing.

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 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.

Shao-Yi Chen works as General Manager at Screenworks Asia, producing films and series. Having been trained in various disciplines, she developed comprehensive knowledge and successful practices from distribution, licensing, acquisition, and financing to OTT platform service before switching to production. Since joining Screenworks Asia, she has produced the series The Making of An Ordinary Woman 2 (2021),Twisted Strings (2022), and Not A Murder Story (2024), TV show Dee’s Talk (2021) and film Lost In Perfection (2023), and co-produced Indonesian horror Losmen Melati (2023) with Infinite Studios.

As a director and screenwriter, Chin’s shorts Lucky Draw (2019) and A Cold Summer Day (2019) have received numerous accolades, including the Golden Bell and Golden Harvest Awards. They have also been selected for the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival, Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival, Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia, and Singapore Chinese Film Festival. His screenplays have also won multiple Awards in Taiwan. Trouble Girl is his first feature film.

Korean American actor Jake Choi appeared in the independent feature Please Baby Please, which premiered as the Opening Night film at the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) in 2022. He has also starred in the LGBTQ+ indie The Mattachine Family, which premiered at Outfest, and action-adventure film R.I.P.D. 2, as well as The Sun Is also a Star. He is also active on TV, appearing in Single Parents, American Housewife, The Magician and FBI: Most Wanted. His first lead film role was in Ray Yeung’s 2015 Front Cover. In 2019, he received an HRC Visibility Award for his outspokenness with regard to LGBTQ+ issues and his own coming-out as “sexually fluid.” Chen will soon be seen in the indie dark-comedy The Late Night Creep.

Choi Jea-young received a degree in Korean Language and Literature before going on to graduate from the Korean Academy of Film Arts (KAFA) with a Master's in directing He filmed a number of short works, including Laundry (2017), which won production support from the Incheon Film Commission. His graduation piece from KAFA, Come Back Home (2020), was screened at the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival. Frankenstein Father is his first feature-length film.

Veteran producer and Co-founder of Media Asia Entertainment Group, Chong has worked in the film industry for nearly 40 years. He has served as a member of the Hong Kong FilmDevelopment Council and the Chairman of the Hong Kong Screenwriters’ Guild. As a screenwriter, producer and presenter, he has worked on over a hundred films, including the Infernal Affairs series, Initial D, Beast Cops and Z Storm.

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. It was named Best Film (Chinese Language) in the Young Cinema Competition at the 48th Hong Kong International Film Festival.

Chow Kam Wing initially pursued a career at a 4A advertising agency before shifting gears to join The Film Factory, a film production company. There, he assumed the role of an advertising director, primarily focusing on commercial shoots. For Alice marks his maiden venture into feature-length filmmaking.



Sasha Chuk majored in Chinese literature and Sociology at the University of Hong Kong. Her short film The Dropout of Her (2019) won Best Cinematography at the 13th Fresh Wave International Short Film Festival. Her next short film, Plain Sailing (2022), won the Gold Award at the 27th ifva Awards (Asian Open Category) and was also selected in the 2022 Osaka Asian Film Festival. In 2020, she won the 6th First Film Initiative by Create Hong Kong with her screenplay Fly Me to the Moon, adapted from her novel. Fly Me to The Moon is her feature directorial debut, which earned her a Best Adapted Screenplay nomination at the 60th Golden Horse Awards.

Johmar Damiles, a graduate of the University of Santo Tomas majoring in Communication Arts, is a filmmaker based in Manila. He served as the cinematographer and co-writer for Heist School, a Cinemalaya 2019 Shorts entry that won the Audience Choice Award and screened at local and international film festivals. Additionally, he is the director, co-writer, and editor of Hot Seat, which was featured in both the 6th SineKabataan Film Festival and the 2024 New York Asian Film Festival. He received a special citation on Children's Rights at the 4th Lagerway Awards for Hot Seat. Currently, he works as a motion graphics designer and video editor in the advertising industry while pursuing his filmmaking dreams.

Working primarily in Thai films, Ananda Everingham broke through internationally with his lead role in the 2004 hit Shutter, and began working not only in Thailand, but in Singapore and Laos. After anchoring Me... Myself (2007) and having a featured role in Pen-ek Ratanaruang's 2007 Cannes film Ploy, he starred in the Singaporean romance The Leap Years (2008). He went on to the fantasy Queen of Langkasuka, then starred in Sabaidee Luang Prabang, the first commercial film produced since Laos adopted communism in 1975. In 2017, he starred as Maj. Gen. Khun Pantharak Ratchadet in the first episode of the ongoing Khun Pan series. As the NYAFF 2024 Actor in Focus, Ananda is presenting three dazzlingly diverse films: Supposed, Pattaya Heat, and The Cursed Land.

Gao Peng graduated from the Directing Department of the Beijing Film Academy in 2007. After working as an assistant director, he began directing TV commercials and at the same time, started screenwriting. He went on to complete several short films and a television series. A Long Shot, which he also co-wrote, is his directorial feature debut.

Stan Guingon is a producer for independent feature films and short films, with a focus on diverse and international narratives. His portfolio demonstrates his commitment to bringing unique stories to the screen. Notable projects include producer for the LGBTQ+ drama Front Cover (2016), executive producer for the Filipino-American film Where There Is No Exit (2018), and producer for the food-centric short Mukbang Masarap (2019). Guingon also served as co-producer for the critically acclaimed Hong Kong films Twilight's Kiss (Suk Suk) (2019) and All Shall Be Well (2024). Guingon has shown a particular interest in Asian cinema and LGBTQ+ storytelling, as evidenced by his work on Twilight's Kiss and Front Cover. His productions have been featured in international film festivals and have received critical praise for their sensitive portrayals of complex human experiences.

Atta Hemwadee is a Thai film director, editor and screenwriter specializing in teenage romance, comedy and music. He was also the former bassist of the band Two Million Thanks. After graduating from the architecture department of King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, he started working with famed novelist and independent filmmaker, Prabda Yoon. Later, he started making videos for a magazine company which caught the attention of Thitipong Kerdtongtawee, one of the founders of production studio Hello Filmmaker, who signed him to an agency where he began his career directing music videos and commercials. His breakthrough came in 2019 with the music video, Mai-Ru-Tham-Mai by Whal & Dolph, which garnered 13 million views on Youtube. Not Friends, based on his own screenplay, is his feature directorial debut.

Award-winning actress, producer, rock star and Hong Kong culture icon Josie Ho first graced the silver screen in 1994 and has appeared in such notable films as Exiled (2006), The Drummer (2007), Dream Home (2010), and Full Strike (2015), which she also produced. Ho received a Best Supporting Actress award for Naked Ambition in 2003 at the Hong Kong Film Awards and In the Room in 2017 at the Malaysian Film Awards. In 2009, she along with husband Conroy Chan and producer Andre Ooi founded the production company 852 Films. Recent works include Edge of the World, Habit and Onpaku.

Ho Miu-ki started working as a film screenwriter in 2008. She has written screenplays for films such as La Comédie humaine (2010), Naked Ambition 2 (2014), and The Mermaid (2022). She was nominated for Best Screenplay at the 36th Hong Kong Film Awards for The Mermaid, which went on to great international acclaim. Love Lies (NYAFF 2024) is her directorial debut.

Hsieh Hsin-Ying is an actress and model who has worked in film, TV and advertising. In 2006, she won the Golden Horse Award for Best Supporting Actress for Reflections. In 2011, she won the Best Actress Award at the Taipei Film Festival for her performances in Make Up and Honey Pupu. She was shortlisted for the Golden Bell Awards for Actress in a Drama Program for her 2013 performance in the TV series Die Sterntaler. In 2020, she was shortlisted for the Golden Bell Awards Supporting Actress Award for her performance in Til Death Do Us Part. She was also shortlisted for the Best Actress Award at the Golden Horse Awards and the Best Actress Award at the Taipei Film Awards for I Weirdo (NYAFF 2020). She reunites with her costar, Austin Lin, for Suffocating Love (NYAFF 2024).

Marcus Hu is Co-President of Strand Releasing which celebrates its 35th Anniversary this year. Strand has been honored with three consecutive decade retrospective programs at MoMA New York, and has distributed the works of such filmmakers as Gregg Araki, Catherine Breillat, Lucrecia Martel, Claire Denis, Isaac Julien, Lou Ye, Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Rithy Panh to name a few. Hu served as chair for the Festival Grants and Scholars committee, the International Inclusion Committee on behalf of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. Hu is currently a member of the National Film Preservation Board where he is chair of the organization’s Diversity Study Group. Hu has served on the jury for the Sundance Film Festival and as a panelist for Creative Capital and ITVS.

Thitiya “Baipor” Jirapornsilp is a Thai actress of Chinese descent who made her debut with the film You & Me & Me (NYAFF 2023), playing the titular roles of twin sisters You and Me. While the filmmakers had planned to cast real-life twins for the sisters, and Baipor won them over with her audition for the film. They were so impressed, they gave her both roles. She has since appeared in actor-singer Billkin’s music video, Please Please in 2022. She is reuniting with her You & Me & Me co-star, Anthony “Tony” Buisseret, to play the female lead in GDH’s new film, Not Friends.

Celine Kao is a strategic and highly motivated producer committed to developing projects with international perspectives that reflect contemporary social issues and care for humanity. In 2021, she helped develop the Taiwanese cult crime drama The Amazing Grace of Σ, which was selected at the Series Mania and had its Asia premiere at the Golden Horse Film Festival. From 2022, Celine has primarily worked on the feature film project The Horse, which was selected by Talents Tokyo, Golden Horse FPP, and Focus Asia 2024 in Udine. Based on the same motif, the short film of the same name premiered at the 2023 Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival and had its international premiere at the 2024 Osaka Asian Film Festival. Currently, she is also actively developing the popular Taiwanese immersive theater-adapted series The Great Tipsy: 1980s and Rocking Against the Tides, a Taiwanese independent music documentary.

Kim Da-min’s childhood passion for animation inspired her to become a filmmaker. After studying film at the Korea Animation High School and majoring in psychology and cultural anthropology at Yonsei university, she began making short films in 2009. Her 2019 sci-fi short Ungbi and Non-human Friends played festivals internationally. Her stunningly original feature debut, FAQ, was developed from a short that was in an anthology called I Am A Banana. She has since written the Netflix series Killer Paradox, which premiered in February 2024.

Kim Jong-kwan graduated from the Seoul Institute of Arts with a film major. He has made a multitude of renown short films since 2000. His first two feature-length films, Lovers (2008) and Come Closer (2010), were thematically connected short film omnibuses. He has since made five standalone features, starting with Worst Woman in 2016. His latest, Josée (2020), starring Han Ji-min, is a remake of the Japanese film Josée, The Tiger and the Fish. Kim directed the Metamorphosis chapter of The Killers (NYAFF 2024).

Kongkiat Komesiri worked for acclaimed filmmakers Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Tanit Jitkanul and Wisit Sasanatieng before becoming an in-demand screenwriter and making his solo directorial debut with the gory shocker Art of the Devil 2 (2005). He went on to direct martial arts actioner Muay Thai Chaiya (2007), serial killer thriller Slice (2009) and underworld epic The Gangster (2012). His major breakthrough was the "eastern-western" pirate epic Khun Pan (2016), which spawned two sequels. Operation Undead finds him transcending horror tropes, while his next film, Delivery Man, promises a mixture of Korean suspense with Thai storytelling.

Donsaron Kovitvanitcha works as a film writer, critic, and journalist for magazines and newspapers in Thailand. In 2022, he became the festival director of World Film Festival of Bangkok. He is a programmer for film festivals in Thailand, as well as the preselector of short films for Busan International Film Festival since 2020. He is also an independent film producer, and has produced Nontawat Numbenchapol's Boundary (2013), Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit's The Master (2015) and Die Tomorrow (2017), Anucha Boonyawatana's The Blue Hour (2015) and Malila: The Farewell Flower (2017), and Sorayos Prapapan’s Arnold is a Model Student (2022).

Lau Chi Fan Gigi graduated from the City University of Hong Kong with a degree in Creative Media and gained acclaim by winning the Best Fictional Film Award for The Smokies. Beyond her role as a commercials director, she passionately produces multiple short films. In 2024, she made a directorial comeback with Ping Pong Heartbeats, exploring the inner conflict of a female photographer torn between the innocence of a model and the mature soul of a choreographer. Currently, she is enrolled in the Hong Kong Film Directors’ Guild Masterclass in Film Directing and actively developing her new project, Unconditional Love.

Based in Los Angeles and Honolulu, Anderson Le diligently works in the global promotion of independent and world cinema as Artistic Director for the Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF), now in its 44th year. He is also a programming consultant for the Far East Film Festival in Udine, Italy and the Head of Programming of the Ho Chi Minh City International Film Festival. He has previously consulted for the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, Toronto Reel Asian, and Singapore International Film Festival. In 2020, Le co-founded EAST FILMS, which has offices in Los Angeles and Ho Chi Minh City, with the mandate to produce globally viable content from Southeast Asia. EAST projects ROM (2019) won the Busan Film Festival 's New Currents Award; BE WATER (2020) and MAIKA (2022) both world premiered at Sundance.

Lee Anna is a producer who has earned recognition for combining artistic and entertainment value in successful films such as Scandal Makers (2008), Sunny (2011), Tazza: The Hidden Card (2014), Love+Sling (2018), and Swing Kids (2018), all of which have earned acclaim at international festivals as well as at the Korean box office. Lee established Annapurna Films Co., Ltd. in 2012 and in 2021, the company expanded its production to streaming content with Start Up the Engine, which earned 18 million views on KakaoTV. In 2024, Annapurna Films will release Hifive and FAQ (NYAFF 2024).

Lee Hye-ri is a multifaceted talent who has seamlessly transitioned from K-pop sensation to acclaimed actress. Lee first captured the public's attention as a member of the third-generation K-pop group Girl's Day. Her stage presence and vocal prowess quickly made her a fan favorite. In 2012, Hye-ri took her first steps into the world of acting with a role in the TV series Tasty Life. However, it was her breakthrough performance in the nostalgic drama Reply 1988 that catapulted her to nationwide fame. Her portrayal of the lovable Sung Deok-sun resonated with audiences and critics alike, establishing her as a major acting talent. Lee continued to showcase her versatility in various TV projects, most notably in the fantasy romance My Roommate Is a Gumiho, which won hearts across Asia. Her transition to the big screen was equally impressive, with her first leading film role in the period action-horror Monstrum (2018) which earned the audience award at the Sitges Film Festival. In 2019, Lee further demonstrated her range in the sports drama My Punch-Drunk Boxer, tackling complex emotional themes with nuance and depth. Now, in NYAFF 2024's opening film Victory," she elevates her craft once again. Her portrayal of a small-town cheerleader in this coming-of-age drama showcases her ability to blend earnest emotion with infectious energy. Throughout her career, Lee Hye-ri has proven herself to be not just a pop idol or actress, but a true artist capable of captivating audiences across multiple mediums.

Award-winning actor Lee Ju-seung studied theater at Seoul University and had his first starring role in a film at age 19. He garnered critical acclaim for his turns in the independent productions Shuttlecock (2014) and Socialphobia (2015). Other notable performances include the revenge thriller Broken and TV dramas Pinocchio and The Producers. In 2021 Lee tried his hand at directing with the short film Mast. He will next be seen as one of the leads in the upcoming film Dauren’s Wedding.

A graduate of the Seoul Institute, Lee Myung-Se started his film career as an assistant producer for director Bae Chang-ho in the mid-'80s. He branched out into screenwriting and made his directorial debut, Gagman, in 1989. His diverse oeuvre includes love stories like Their Last Love Affair (1996) and maverick action like Nowhere to Hide (1999). Other highlights of his filmography include Duelist (NYAFF 2006) and M (NYAFF 2008). He directed the Silent Cinema chapter of The Killers (NYAFF 2024).

Leung Kam Fai studied economics, but filmmaking is his true calling. He first apprenticed under acclaimed director Cheung Chi Leung Jacob and later under Fruit Chan. His debut short film, The Captive and the Fugitive, tells the story of a couple who create a film that defies conventions. His latest work, Save My Soul, which portrays the transformation of a mute person due to loneliness, won the Jury Award at the Eye Catcher International Pitching Forum 2023 and has been selected for international film festivals. In 2024, he produced and co-wrote _Ping Pong Heartbeats _for his long-time collaborator Lau Chi-fan Gigi.

Liao Ming-yi earned a Master’s degree from the School of Applied Media Arts, National Taiwan University of Arts. He started creating his own productions in 2005 and has directed seven short films, including The Gift. In 2011, he served as the executive director and editing director on You Are the Apple of My Eye. He was also the editing director of Bad Girls and Forever Love, both in 2012. In 2015, he was the executive director and editing director on At Café 6; and in 2017, was the screenwriter and executive director on Didi's Dream. He made his directorial debut with I Weirdo (NYAFF 2020), and his second feature with Suffocating Love (NYAFF 2024).

Austin Lin made his debut with the film Somewhere I Have Never Traveled (2009) and in 2016, won Best Supporting Actor at the Golden Horse Awards for At Cafe 6. In 2020, he was nominated for Best Actor at the Golden Horse Awards for I Weirdo (NYAFF 2020). He starred in Terrorizers (NYAFF 2022) and in 2023, played a grieving husband in Marry My Dead Body (NYAFF 2023 Audience Awardee), which led to a nomination for Best Actor at the Taipei Film Festival Awards, cementing his status as one of the most versatile actors of his generation. A huge box office winner, the film went on to wide acclaim after its Netflix release, where it won top ranking across Asia. Lin has a pivotal role in Salli (NYAFF 2024) and anchors Suffocating Love (NYAFF 2024).

Alyssa Loh is a filmmaker and writer based in New York. She was a 2021 Sundance Lab Fellow and Sundance | Alfred P. Sloan Development Fellow. She was recently selected for TIFF's 2023 Breakthroughs program and the 2023 Wscripted Cannes Screenplay List. Her short film, Let, premiered at SXSW in March of 2024, and is currently on the festival circuit (SIFF, Palm Springs Shortfest, NYAFF). It won NYU’s Martin E. Segal Production Award, Roger King Finishing Award, Riese Production Award, Faculty Commendation in Filmmaking, and Screenwriting, Acting, and Sound Design Craft Awards. Her first short — a genre film called Other Bodies — premiered at Fantasia in 2021, where it won Best Actor. Her essays on technology, surveillance, and visual culture have appeared in The New York Times, Artforum, and The Los Angeles Review of Books. She sits on the Editorial Board of the history journal Lapham’s Quarterly, and is associated with the collective The Friends of Attention.

Nelicia Low is the younger sister to an autistic brother, and the daughter of two melodramatic Chinese-Singaporeans who seem to have emerged from a Latino soap opera. She used to be a National Fencer for Singapore, competing at the Asian Games in 2010. She will never admit to anyone that she only wanted to be a fencer because she loved The Lord of the Rings and the Star Wars movies growing up. Her short film Freeze, about her relationship with her brother, premiered at the 38th Clermont-Ferrand international Short Film Festival in 2016 and went on to screen at over 70 festivals around the world, including the 53rd Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival, Odense, and Busan. In 2018, she graduated with an MFA in Film Directing from Columbia University in New York. Her feature directorial debut, Pierce, a Singapore/Taiwan/Poland co-production about a younger brother's love for his enigmatic older brother, won her the Best Director Award at the 58th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in early July.

Aliza Ma has been a programmer at MomI and Metrograph and is currently the head of programming at The Criterion Channel. She has also published numerous pieces on cinema for various platforms.

Shaina Garcia Magdayao is an acclaimed Filipino actress, known primarily for her dramatic roles in film and television. She began her career as a child actress and starred in her first titular role, Lyra (1996). She has received accolades from various local award-giving bodies such as FAMAS, Metro Manila Film Festival Award, Young Critics Circle, and Gawad Pasado, in addition to nominations from Gawad Urian (Philippines’ equivalent to the Oscars). Her works have also competed and screened in numerous prestigious film festivals around the world, including the Cannes Film Festival, Berlinale, Locarno Film Festival, Tokyo International Film Festival and Busan International Film Festival.

A creative partner to award-winning director Kome Kongkiat Komesiri, working through his production company Kongkiat Production Co LTD, Piyaluck has wide ranging experience as a leading figure in the local industry for over 25 years, and a prolific producer with credits on some of Thailand’s most successful features, of these, several with leading Thai actors and actresses.

Shinzo Matsuhashi, producer and CEO of Credeus Inc., began his career as a producer with the now-classic Battle Royale (2000). Since becoming independent and establishing his own studio, he has produced a constant stream of hit live-action films based on popular manga, achieving the highest annual live-action Japanese box office revenues with Gintama (2017) and three films in the Kingdom series (2019, 2022, 2023). In recent years, he has also produced multiplatform film/drama series such as The Silent Service (2024) and Golden Kamuy (2023). Season 1 of The Silent Service: The Battle of Tokyo Bay (2024) became the most viewed live-action film ever distributed on Prime Video in Japan. He is at NYAFF 2024 to present the fourth and final chapter of the Kingdom franchise, Kingdom: Return of the Great General.

Noriko Matsumoto is a producer of animation films and the head producer of dwarf studios. She started her career as a TV commercial producer. After producing both DOMO (1998) and the exhibition showcasing what goes on behind the scenes of animation films, she shifted her field to the animation and character industry and she supported Goda on creating Komaneko when he started the studio dwarf. Matsumoto was one of the first producers in Japan to work with international streaming services, bringing the superior quality stop-motion techniques that dwarf is renowned for to an even wider audience. Highlights of her recent productions include the series Rilakkuma and Kaoru in 2019, and Rilakkuma’s Theme Park Adventure in 2022 with Netflix. Always looking for something new and interesting, she launches projects that push the boundaries of stop-motion and is a producer who has been elevating not only dwarf but the Japanese industry as a whole. In 2023, she successfully crowdfunded a sensational stop-motion pilot film HIDARI (NYAFF 2023) which has been shown at the cinema even though it’s just a pilot film! The next challenge is to turn it into a full-length feature.

Kevin was almost born in a movie theater when he started kicking in his mother's womb while she was watching Goodfellas. Since then, he has been obsessed with audiovisual arts, starting his career as an advertising copywriter and eventually shifting into filmmaking. His 2023 debut film, When This Is All Over, won multiple awards at the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival and had its international premiere at the Udine Far East Film Festival. Kevin continues to focus on distributing his first feature film, while developing his next films, web series, and finally watching Goodfellas again.

A queer ex-Filipino-soap-opera-translator-turned-filmmaker, Achim’s passion for film started in his teens, when Marilou Diaz-Abaya, a renown Filipino director and National Artist, offered to mentor him. As a teenager, Achim would fly back and forth between his hometown of Davao and Manila to attend her classes. Back in the Philippines, he helped create “Stages Sessions,” a YouTube channel that focuses on indie Filipino musicians and poets. Achim’s works focus on the radical power of joy to change the world, especially the joy experienced by his fellow Filipinos and queer persons of color. In his spare time, Achim likes to perfect his family’s longsilog recipe.

Jessica del Mundo (she/her/siya) is a senior communications strategist and producer based in Los Angeles. She currently serves as a member of the executive team at Golden Media, parent company of GoldenTV, ChimeTV, Golden Lab, and Character Media. Golden Media champions Asian American and Pacific Islander creative content that is captivating, courageous and continues to drive cultural impact. Through its global family of media companies, Golden Media is dedicated to the development, production, and distribution of entertainment content across cable, digital, and streaming platforms. Through GoldenTV and Character Media, Jessica marks her fourth year producing the annual Unforgettable Gala, now in its 22nd year of honoring the biggest API names in entertainment, arts and culture. A former journalist, Jessica began her career as a writer and investigative news producer for a leading cable news network before pivoting to media and public relations. She has spent more than two decades as an agency executive specializing in entertainment, consumer marketing and brand strategy. Born in Manila and raised in Southern California, Jessica is a graduate of the USC Annenberg School for Communication and USC Dornsife College of Letters Arts and Sciences. ABC News and Good Morning America named Jessica to its annual “GMA Inspiration List.” She lives in the greater Los Angeles area with her family and is fluent in Tagalog/Filipino, 90s R&B, and all things USC. Follow Jessica on Instagram @jessicadelmundo.

Philip Ng is a Hong Kong-born American actor, martial artist and action choreographer. He began his study of martial arts while growing up in Chicago, and went on to master Wing Chun, Taekwondo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai and Eskrima. Ng returned to Hong Kong in 2002 to pursue a career in acting and martial arts choreography in film and television, beginning as a stuntman and featured performer. His first major role was in Once Upon a Time in Shanghai (2014) and he played Bruce Lee in the 2016 biopic Birth of the Dragon. He is the unhinged villain of the NYAFF 2024 closing film _Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In _by Soi Cheang.

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.

Born in 1980 in Japan, Akihiro Nishino is a children's book author. His works include beloved picture books such as Dr. Ink's Starry Sky Cinema, Zip & Candy: A Robot Christmas, Music Box Planet, Poupelle of Chimney Town, Poncho of the Bookstore, Tick Tack: The Clock Tower of Promises, and Marco, all of which become bestsellers in Japan. In December 2020, Nishino made headlines as the screenwriter and executive producer of the animation film Poupelle of Chimney Town, which became a massive hit. The film received the Excellent Animation of the Year award at the Japan Academy Prize, was nominated for the Feature Film category at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, and garnered acclaim internationally. Poupelle of Chimney Town has been expanded beyond film to include musicals, kabuki, ballet, NFT, and many other business and expressive activities.

Nonkul is a Thai actor who has been gracing the entertainment industry for approximately a decade. He rose to prominence with his critically acclaimed and commercially successful performance in the 2017 film Bad Genius (NYAFF 2017). Since then, Nonkul has showcased his versatility in various movies and TV series, both in Thailand and internationally, such as _Love Destiny the Movie (_2022) and I Feel You Linger in the Air (2023). Born in 1996, he completed his undergraduate studies in film production at Mahidol University International College. This year, Nonkul took on a leading role in the horror drama film Operation Undead (2024), further expanding his acting repertoire.

Jeremias Nyangoen is an actor, screenwriter, producer and director. As an alumnus of the Jakarta Institute of Arts, his strong background in art education shaped his sensitivity to the literary and psychological aspects of the world of filmmaking. His screenplay Denias (Senandung di Atas Awan) earned him the Citra Award for Best Screenplay Writer at the 2006 Indonesian Film Festival. He is making his directorial debut with Women From Rote Island.

Chapman University alum Naam burst onto the Thai film scene, cutting her teeth on international blockbusters like Only God Forgives and Scorpion King: Rise of Redemption. She then engineered a game-changing alliance between Korean powerhouse CJ E&M and Thailand's Major Cineplex Group. A force in Thai cinema for over a decade, Naam's fingerprints are all over hits like Suddenly 20, Love Battle, and the spine-tingling Cracked. Now, as IFA's Thailand Scripted Producer, she's spearheading a Thai drama revolution following their HBO Asia series Forbidden. Brace yourself for her latest brainchild: the hair-raising Operation Undead, set to terrorize theaters in August 2024. With Naam at the helm, Thailand's film future looks electrifying.

Park Beom-su’s acclaimed directorial debut, Red Carpet (2014), a romcom about an adult film director and a former child actress whose careers cross paths in unexpected ways, proved him a promising filmmaker. He followed this with Single in Seoul (2023), a romance that explores the travails of dating and finding one’s soulmate. Victory builds upon Park’s previous work, highlighting his unique sense of humor underlined by wry and clever dialogue.

Korean actress Park Se-wan made her acting debut in 2016 on the short drama special The Red Teacher and started gaining attention in 2017 with her supporting roles in the coming-of-age series School 2017 and the romantic dramedy I'm Not a Robot. Her first lead role came in the 2018 youth drama Just Dance, which earned her Best New Actress at the KBS Drama Awards. She also won an Excellence in Acting Award in 2019 for the drama Never Twice. She has been prominent in film roles since 2019, and earned a Baeksang Arts Award for Best Supporting Actress for 6/45 in 2023. She stars in the NYAFF 2024 opening film Victory.

One of the most influential figures in the industry today, Doris Pfardrescher has been with Well Go USA since the company was founded in 1991 and is currently president and CEO of the company. Over the course of 30-plus years, she has been instrumental in building Well Go into a full-service film distribution studio. Under Pfardrescher, Well Go has become a leader in Asian film distribution, with the acquisition and release of the IP Man franchise, box-office hits Wolf Warrior 2, _Operation Red Sea and Train to Busan_, as well as critically acclaimed movies, such as The Assassin (Hou Hsiao-Hsien), Burning (Lee Chang-dong) The Wailing (Na Hong-jin), Shadow (Zhang Yimou), Monster (Hirokazu Kore'eda) and many more! Well Go's latest major acquisitions Customs Frontline (Herman Yau) will be released theatrically on July 19, and Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In early August.

Baz Poonpiriya is a Thai film director, producer, and screenwriter of feature films, commercials, and music videos, internationally acclaimed for his kinetic visual style and assured storytelling. After graduating with an MFA in stage directing from Srinakharinwirot University , he worked as an assistant director on TV commercials fbefore moving to New York to study graphic design at Pratt Institute. He returned to Thailand in 2011 and worked as a music video director before directing his first feature film, the horror thriller Countdown. He then directed Bad Genius (NYAFF 2017), which became a surprise hit, won a record-breaking 12 Suphannahong National Film Awards, and brought him international fame. He premiered One for the Road, produced by Wong Kar-wai, at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award: Creative Vision and was selected as the Thai entry for the Academy Awards®. Baz founded the production company Houseton and Not Friends (NYAFF 2024)) is his first film as a producer.

Awat Ratanapintha is a Thai actor who began his career at the age of 16 with supporting roles in Thai series. His breakthrough came with his first leading role as ‘Sorn’ in Doi Boy (2023), earning him the ‘Rising Star’ award from Marie Claire at the BIFF Asia Star Awards during the 28th Busan International Film Festival. In 2024, Awat was nominated in the ‘Best Newcomer’ category at the 17th Asian Film Awards. With ongoing projects, he continues to pursue his journey in cinema, striving for excellence in his future roles. His recent films include Haunted Universities 3 and Operation Undead (NYAFF 2024), showcasing his versatile talent in portraying diverse characters.

Roh Deok is a South Korean film director and screenwriter known for her unique storytelling across genres. Her journey in filmmaking began with short films and a stint as a script supervisor on the cult film Save the Green Planet (2003). After graduating from the Seoul Institute of the Arts in Film, she directed the short film The Secret within Her Mask (2005). Roh's feature debut, Very Ordinary Couple (2013), a character-driven romantic comedy, showcased her talent for capturing emotionally honest moments. The film's unique and outspoken style earned her the Best Feature Award in the Shanghai International Film Festival's Asian Film Competition. In 2015, with her second feature, The Exclusive: Beat the Devil's Tattoo, Her second feature, The Exclusive: Beat the Devil's Tattoo (2015), a gripping journalistic thriller, further demonstrated her versatility as a filmmaker. Recently, Roh ventured into television with the science-fiction anthology series SF8 (2020), directing the AI-focused episode Manxin. She continued exploring the genre with the Netflix original series Glitch (2022), a 10-part production that marked a significant milestone in her career. With her growing body of work across different genres and mediums, Roh Deok continues to establish herself as a rising creative force in the South Korean entertainment industry.

Yugo Sakamoto is acclaimed for his comedy-action films. He won numerous prizes for his short films before making his first full-fledged actioner with A Janitor in 2021. The same year, he won the 31st Japan Film Critics Award for Best New Director for Baby Assassins, which was screened at numerous film festivals overseas, and essentially invented the hitman/woman-comedy genre in Japan. He has since released Yellow Dragon's Village (2021), Green Bullet (2022), Baby Assassins 2 Babies (2023) and Baby Assassins: Nice Days (2024), for which he is receiving the NYAFF 2024 Daniel A. Craft Award for Excellence in Action Cinema. He describes his philosophy about filmmaking as "Weekly Shonen Jump, not Hollywood."

Daisuke Sato began his career in the special effects field as a modeling assistant for Godzilla, Mothra, and King Ghidorah: The Great Monsters All-Out Attack (2001). He has been involved in the creation of practical effects for such productions as Godzilla Final Wars (2004), Gamera (2006), Ultraman Moebius & Ultra Brothers (2006), and Tokusatsu Kigeki Oki Yuzo: The Greatest Battle of My Life (2010). He directed the short film The Land of Fog (2019), then worked as cinematographer on Kaike Neko Kyousoukyoku (2021), as co-director and SFX/cinematographer on Hoshi 35 (2023), and directed SFX scenes for the American film Ikè Boys (2024). He served as the special effects director and producer of the NYAFF 2024 film Brush of the God.

South Korean actress Shim Eun-kyung starred in the smash hits Sunny (2011) and Miss Granny (2014), both of which had Japanese remakes, as well as Fabricated City (2017), among others. She began appearing in Japanese films, and received the Takasaki Film Festival Best Actress Award for Blue Hour (2019), as well as becoming the first Korean to win the Best Actress Award at the Japan Academy Prizes with The Journalist (2019). She also starred in A Garden of Camellias (2021) and Seven Secretaries The Movie (2022). She has a busy television career in Korea, and played a leading role in Japanese TV drama Indigo Area (2021). She plays three wildly divergent roles in The Killers (2024).

Kazuya Shiraishi began his career working as an assistant director for the legendary Koji Wakamatsu, as well as Isao Yukisada and Isshin Inudo. He made his own debut in 2009 with Lost Paradise in Tokyo and earned acclaim for his gritty explorations of dark societal themes, with compelling narratives and complex characters spanning the crime, drama, and thriller genres. His many award-winning works include The Devil's Path (NYAFF 2013), Twisted Justice (NYAFF 2016), which he presented in person at NYAFF, The Blood of Wolves (NYAFF 2018), and Last of the Wolves (NYAFF 2021). He joins us at NYAFF 2024 with his first jidaigeki period film, Bushido.

Vietnamese-British filmmaker with a Masters in Classical Arabic. Frank started as a BBC director & producer specialising in documentaries from conflict zones across the world. His filmography includes The Killer Wave, Dowry Cops, License to Kill, Peabody winner feature doc A Year In The Clouds and Cine Golden Eagle winner feature doc A Town Called Success. Frank was Executive Producer on multi-Golden Bell winner, The Teenage Psychic for HBO Asia and creator of both Netflix’s 2019’s Nowhere Man, Netflix and HBO Asia’s Thai drama series, Forbidden, which premiered at Busan’s 2021 On-Screen selection. Frank is spearheading IFA's drive into feature co-production, with the launch of Thai horror Operation Undead in 2024.

Kuku So Tsz Yan specialized in photography while in school, and following her graduation, embarked on a career in the industry, initially working behind the scenes. However, her talent was soon discovered and with her exceptional skills, Kuku quickly established herself as a prominent figure in the industry, excelling in both still modeling and acting. She is the star of For Alice (2024).

Yusuke Suzuki is Chief Operating Officer of Rights Cube Inc., which produces, sells and distributes films and dramas. As an executive producer, he has participated in a wide range of films from new directors and veteran directors. Some of the films he has been involved in are Road to King Series Y-team: Road to King and Renji Himuro, which were released theatrically as spin-off series of the Road to King series. He has also worked on Baby Assassins, No Place to Go, Downtown Doctor, Dependence, and Fearless, among others. He is also active as a film buyer, focusing on Korean and Taiwanese films.

Tom Sveen is currently Head of Theatrical at Cinema Guild, where he has worked since 2016. During that time the company has released films by Jia Zhang-Ke and Shinji Somai and have acquired more than 20 films by Hong Sangsoo.

Prior to Cinema Guild, he worked in marketing for Film Independent and Double Hope Films. He has an MFA in film from Columbia and a BA in Journalism from Bethel University in St. Paul, MN.

Tai Bo started in the film industry behind the scenes and first appeared on screen as a stuntman, eventually earning a coveted place on Jackie Chan’s team. Proving his natural talent, he transitioned to an award-winning acting career and has become an indispensable presence in Hong Kong cinema. He has also worked in Taiwan, including a memorable role in Hou Hsiao-Hsien’s A City of Sadness (1989). Tai Bo garnered multiple awards and accolades for his outstanding performance in Ray Leung’s Twilight’s Kiss (_Suk _Suk, 2019). He returned in a pivotal supporting part in Yeung’s latest film, _All Shall Be _Well, which won the Teddy Bear Award at the 2024 Berlin Film Festival. Some of his other striking performances in recent years include The Brink (NYAFF 2017), Hand Rolled Cigarette (NYAFF 2020), The Silent Forest (NYAFF 2020) and Coffin Homes (NYAFF 2021).

Adrian Teh, a distinguished director, producer, and writer, began his career with Chinese films. He founded the Chinese Film Association of Malaysia in 2012 and launched Malaysia's first Chinese film award, the Golden Wau Awards, in 2013. Named one of Malaysia's Top 10 Outstanding Youths and among the 100 Most Influential Young Entrepreneurs in 2016, Teh is a respected filmmaker known for acclaimed action films like Paskal: The Movie, Wira, The Assistant and Malbatt: Misi Bakara. Teh now returns to themes of love, loss, and second chances with his latest work, Reversi (NYAFF 2024).

Akihiro Toda is the founder of Tokyo's Cheese Theater stage troupe, and winner of the Sun Mall Studio Best Play in 2015 for the theatrical version of “Ichiko,” in which the lead character was the mother (Ichiko never appears). Although he is primarily a playwright and stage director, he has also made waves in the world of cinema. His feature film directing debut was the indie film Tangerines on a Cat (2014), followed by The Name (2018) and Walking Together (2022). The film Ichiko, which won star Hana Sugisaki a Japan Academy Prize for Best Actress, is a NYAFF 2024 Uncaged Competition nominee.

Sally Tran is a NYC-based writer and director originally from Vietnam and New Zealand. Known for her unique storytelling that focuses on multiple cultural experiences and important social issues, Sally has a passion for highlighting marginalized communities. Her work is recognized by institutions such as the NZ Film Commission, Creative NZ, and Asian NZ. Sally has been a part of prestigious programs like the Massey University Writers Residency, Berlinale Talents, and has received the Script To Screen Killer Films Grant. Her short film Don't (2024) received funding from NYCWF, NYFA, Panavision, Vimeo BIPOC Fund, and MOME. Currently, she is working on a short documentary, Still a Go Between, supported by the BRIC Film Labs Residency and the Tribeca Kickstart Initiative. Her upcoming projects explore themes like Asian hate crimes, displacement, and community dynamics. Sally Tran is dedicated to crafting narratives that resonate deeply, share underrepresented stories, and fostering empathy globally.

Kent Tsai made his acting debut on HBO Asia's first original series in Mandarin, The Teenage Psychic, in 2017. In the same year, he appeared in Giddens Ko's horror film Mon Mon Mon Monsters, which screened at NYAFF, and starred in All Because of Love. He went on to star in Kai Ko’s Bad Education (NYAFF 2022), and has continued being active in TV dramas, film and on streaming series, like Sometimes When We Touch (2021) and Taiwan Crime Stories (2023). His latest film is the reverse-heist Breaking and Re-Entering.

Felix Tsang is the Sales and Acquisitions Manager of Golden Scene. His responsibilities include acquiring foreign films for distribution in Hong Kong and representing local films in the international film market, such as Mad World (NYAFF 2017), Still Human (NYAFF 2019) The Sunny Side of the Street (NYAFF 2022) and Fly Me to the Moon (NYAFF 2024). In 2021 and 2022, he was invited to participate in the Rotterdam Lab as an Industry Expert. He is also a director of Golden Scene Cinema and Blacklight Artist Management.

Hong Kong actor, singer, songwriter, entrepreneur and TV chef (Chinese food travelogue Chef Nic) Nicholas Tse has dazzled global audiences with his acting and action chops for the past two decades, delivering powerhouse performances in a striking array of roles. After debuting as a singer in 1996, he moved into acting and anchored such hits as New Police Story (2004), Bodyguards and Assassins (2009), The Viral Factor (2012), The Bullet Vanishes (NYAFF 2013), As the Light Goes Out (2014), Beast Stalker (NYAFF 2018) and Raging Fire (NYAFF 2021). For his performance in The Stool Pigeon (2010), Tse won the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actor, making him the first winner of three major acting categories at the awards, after earlier taking Best Supporting Actor and Best New Performer. In Herman Yau’s explosive new thriller, Customs Frontline, the star ignites the screen as a customs officer caught in a deadly web of arms smuggling. With pulse-pounding action and shocking twists, it is a white-knuckle ride that will take audiences to the very edge of the law--and their seats! Tse will present the North American premiere of the film, which also marks his debut as action director.

Leo Wang grew up in the entertainment business, as his parents are both well-known TV producers. At the age of 25, he directed My Gifts, a TV film starring Golden Bell Award-winning actor Chris Wu and popular actress Ivy Shao, winning the hearts of countless viewers. In The 9th Precinct (2019), his feature film debut, he tackles a supernatural theme, blending a commercial Hollywood narrative with a fresh cast and Taiwanese religious and cultural beliefs. The raucous reverse-heist film Breaking and Re-Entering is Wang’s second feature film.

Sean is an Academy Award®-nominated filmmaker, currently based in Los Angeles. He is a Google Creative Lab 5 alum, former Sundance Ignite Fellow, and 2023 Sundance Screenwriters & Directors Lab Fellow. His short, Nǎi Nai & Wài Pó (Grandma & Grandma), premiered at SXSW 2023, where it won the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award. It was nominated for an Academy Award® for Best Documentary Short Film. His debut feature film, Dìdi (弟弟), premiered in the U.S. Dramatic Competition at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the U.S. Dramatic Audience Award and the Special Jury Prize for Best Ensemble Cast.

Wang Yichun studied French before moving into filmmaking. She wrote, directed and produced her debut film, What’s in the Darkness (NYAFF 2016), which won the Best Director Award at the 9th First International Film Festival in China before it made its international debut in the Generations section of the 2016 Berlin International Film Festival and was nominated or awarded at more than 30 international film festivals, including the BFI London and Shanghai International Film Festival. The Escaping Man (NYAFF 2024) also premiered at the First International Film Festival, and is sure to earn Wang further acclaim.

Michael J. Werner is along-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, HongKong's HAF and Asian Film Awards, Screen Singapore, Busan, Singapore's MDA, and the Macau International Film Festival and Awards. He is a voting member of the Motion Picture Academy in the US (Executive Branch). Michael was one of the partners in the pioneering sales company, Fortissimo Films until his departure in 2016. Selected Filmography: All Shall Be Well (2024), The Sunny Side of The Street (2022), Suk Suk (2019), The Grandmaster (2013), Norwegian Wood (2010), Tokyo Sonata (2008), I Don’t Want To Sleep Alone (2006), Shortbus (2006), Invisible Waves (2006), Mysterious Skin (2004), Springtime In A Small Town (2002), Party Monster (2002), The Goddess of 67 (2000)

Director Nobuhiro Yamashita’s acclaimed Osaka University of Arts graduation film Hazy Life (1999) was followed by two more independent features, and a prolific career of diverse, acclaimed films. His high school rock-and-roll dramedy Linda Linda Linda (NYAFF 2006) put him on the international cinema map. Other highlights of his storied filmography include A Gentle Breeze in the Village (2007), La La La at Rock Bottom (NYAFF 2015), Over the Fence (2016), and Hardcore (NYAFF 2019).

Kento Yamazaki made his acting debut in 2010 and quickly worked his way to the top of the Japanese box office, proving his versatility in a range of roles and anchoring such hits as No Longer Heroine (2015), for which he won the Rookie of the Year award at the Japan Academy Prizes, Your Lie in April (2016), Psychic Kusuo (2017), JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond is Unbreakable (2017), A Forest of Wool and Steel (2018), Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku (2020), Theater (2020), and in 2024, Golden Kamuy and The Yin Yang Master Zero. He came to global attention with the Netflix series Alice in Borderland in 2020, which soon begins shooting the third season. He is the recipient of the NYAFF 2024 Best From the East Award.

Yeon Je-gwang has an MFA in filmmaking from the Korea National University of Arts. He has been making short films since 2014 and they have played at film festivals internationally, including Cannes. A nail-biting thriller adapted from his 2016 short, The Guest, is Yeon’s feature debut.

Hong Kong actor Angus Yeung graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in Economics. A talented athlete, he was a member of the school's volleyball, rugby, and handball teams. After returning to Hong Kong, he began appearing in magazines, music videos, short films and his first web series, PTU. His movie career took off with Raging Fire (NYAFF 2021), Detective vs. Sleuths (2022), The Goldfinger (2023), Bursting Point (2023), and now Inexternal (NYAFF 2024) and Customs Frontline (NYAFF 2024).

Hong Kong-born director Ray Yeung made several short films before premiering his feature debut, Cut Sleeve Boys, at the 2006 International Film Festival Rotterdam. The film went on to win awards at a number of festivals and secured an international cinema release in several countries. His second feature, Front Cover, premiered at the Seattle International Film Festival 2015 and went on to win awards at a number of festivals in the US, before hitting theaters. His third feature, Twilight’s Kiss (Suk Suk), celebrated its premiere at the Busan International Film Festival in 2019, screened in the Berlinale Panorama in 2020 and was nominated for five Golden Horse Awards in Taipei and nine Hong Kong Film Awards, among other honors. All Shall Be Well won the Teddy Award and the Panorama Audience Award at the 2024 Berlin International Film Festival. Ray is a Columbia University MFA graduate. He has been the Chairman of the Hong Kong Lesbian and Gay Film Festival since 2000, currently the longest running lesbian and gay film festival in Asia, started in 1989.

Perry Yung’s breakthrough role was as Ping Wu in Steven Soderbergh’s Cinemax series The Knick. He has guest starred on Gotham, The Blacklist, The Equalizer and recently starred in Netflix’s The Three-body Problem. Film work includes The Harvest, John Wick: Chapter 2, and the voice of the Puppet Master in The Guardians Brothers. Perry played Father Jun in Cinemax’s Warrior. His acclaimed flute playing is also on the soundtrack. Perry is one of the founders of the Slant Performance Group and has been a member of the Great Jones Repertory Group since 1993.

Zhang Zhen is a Professor and the founding director of the Asian Film and Media Initiative in the Martin Scorsese Department of Cinema Studies at New York University. Her publications include The Routledge Companion to Asian Cinemas, An Amorous History of the Silver Screen: Shanghai Cinema 1896-1937; The Urban Generation: Chinese Cinema and Society at the Turn of the Twenty-first Century; DV-Made China: Digital Subjects and Social Transformations after Independent Film.