Name: Asian Film Festival 2025
Start: 2024-04-10T00:00:00+0000
End: 2024-04-17T00:00:00+0000
Location: Cinema Farnese

All about the 22nd edition of the beloved film festival in Rome

Since 2003, the Asian Film Festival brings together the best talents of the Far East cinematography. Get an exclusive chance to dive into the history and culture of the East Asian countries through an artistic window of personal stories about intimacy, trauma, friendship and love. This year the festival is expected to take place at Arthouse Cinema Farnese in Rome between April 8th and April 16th, 2025.

The festival will hold nine days of screenings for full-length movies and shorts. It will open on April 8, at 8:30pm with the Italian premiere of Blue Sun Palace, the debut film by Constance Tsang.

Set in New York, the movie follows Amy and Didi, two young friends trying to make a living by working at a massage center in Queens, within the Asian community of Flushing. Both are immigrants—Amy from Taiwan and Didi from China—searching for a sense of belonging and a better life. Didi is especially excited about her new relationship with Cheung, played by Lee Khang Sheng, the famous actor known for working with Tsai Ming Liang.

Blue Sun Palace was presented at the Semaine de la Critique in Cannes in 2024, where it won the French Touch Jury Prize.

The 2025 selection of the Asian Film Festival includes 19 films in competition, 7 films out of competition, and 10 films in the Newcomers section, dedicated to emerging directors.

The jury will award five prizes: Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Most Original Film.

There will also be two student juries: the UNINT Jury, composed of students from the University of International Studies of Rome, who will award the Best Film in the Newcomers section, and the RUFA Jury, composed of students from the Rome University of Fine Arts, who will present a new award for the Best Short Film in competition.