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The circuit, month by month

Festival Calendar

46 festivals around the world that put Asian films on screen — the dedicated Asian and diaspora festivals, and the major internationals where Asian cinema premieres. Filter by region; click any festival for a full guide.

January

2 festivals
Rotterdam, Netherlands  ·  Europe

A major festival for independent, experimental, and emerging cinema, with a long history of championing new Asian filmmakers.

late January–early February
Park City, USA  ·  North America

The leading American independent film festival, whose World Cinema competition regularly premieres new Asian and diaspora films.

February

3 festivals
Berlin, Germany  ·  Europe

One of Europe's 'Big Three' festivals, known for a large public audience and a long history of showcasing Asian cinema.

Seattle, USA  ·  North America

A festival celebrating films by and about Asian Americans and the Asian diaspora, rooted in Seattle's Asian American community.

late February
Vesoul, France  ·  Europe

The oldest festival of Asian cinema in Europe, spanning the whole Asian continent from the Middle East to the Far East.

early February

March

2 festivals
Chicago, USA  ·  North America

A Pan-Asian film festival presenting contemporary films from across Asia and the Asian diaspora to Chicago audiences.

spring (March)
Osaka, Japan  ·  East Asia

Dedicated specifically to Asian cinema, spotlighting new and independent films from across East and Southeast Asia.

early-to-mid March

April

3 festivals
Beijing, China  ·  East Asia

A large state-supported festival with a substantial market, showcasing Chinese and international films including a broad Asian selection.

mid-to-late April
Udine, Italy  ·  Europe

Europe's largest festival dedicated to popular Asian cinema, spotlighting mainstream films from East and Southeast Asia.

Hong Kong, China  ·  East Asia

One of Asia's longest-running festivals and a historic gateway between Asian and world cinema.

late March–April

May

5 festivals
San Francisco, USA  ·  North America

The nation's largest showcase of Asian American film, music, and food, presented by CAAM.

Cannes, France  ·  Europe

One of the world's most prestigious film festivals, whose main competition has long premiered major works of Asian cinema.

Jeonju, South Korea  ·  East Asia

A festival known for independent, experimental, and alternative cinema, with strong attention to new Asian filmmakers.

late April–early May
Los Angeles, USA  ·  North America

The largest festival of Asian American and Asian Pacific cinema on the West Coast, presented by Visual Communications.

late April–May
Frankfurt, Germany  ·  Europe

One of the world's largest festivals of Japanese film, presenting features, shorts and independent work from Japan.

June

4 festivals
Austin, USA  ·  North America

Austin's home for Asian, Asian American, and Middle Eastern cinema, at the Austin Film Society's AFS Cinema.

New York, USA  ·  North America

The oldest festival of Indian and South Asian diaspora cinema in North America, presented by the Indo-American Arts Council.

Shanghai, China  ·  East Asia

China's only competitive A-list festival and one of the largest film events in Asia.

Taipei, Taiwan  ·  East Asia

Taipei's flagship summer festival, spotlighting Taiwanese cinema and new talent alongside international and Asian films.

late June–early July

July

4 festivals
New York, USA  ·  North America

The first and longest-running festival dedicated to Asian American and diasporic film, founded 1978.

late July–early August
Bucheon, South Korea  ·  East Asia

Genre-focused festival specializing in horror, thriller, fantasy, and mystery films, with a strong showcase of Asian genre cinema.

early-to-mid July
New York, USA  ·  North America

North America's largest festival of new Japanese cinema, presented by Japan Society in New York.

New York, USA  ·  North America

North America's leading showcase of popular and genre cinema from across Asia.

August

1 festival
Manila, Philippines  ·  Southeast Asia

The Philippines' leading independent film festival, dedicated to developing and showcasing Filipino independent cinema.

September

2 festivals
Fukuoka, Japan  ·  East Asia

One of Japan's longest-running festivals dedicated specifically to Asian cinema, screening features from across the continent.

Toronto, Canada  ·  North America

One of the largest publicly attended film festivals in the world, with dedicated recognition for Asian cinema.

early September

October

8 festivals
Boston, USA  ·  North America

A festival of independent cinema highlighting recent, significant works by and about Asian Americans and the Asian diaspora.

Busan, South Korea  ·  East Asia

One of the largest and most influential festivals in Asia, a key launchpad for new Asian cinema.

early-to-mid October
Washington, USA  ·  North America

A festival highlighting feature films and shorts from Asian Pacific American communities and encouraging the development of APA filmmaking.

Honolulu, USA  ·  North America

A showcase of films from Asia, the Pacific and North America, with a longstanding emphasis on cinema that bridges East and West.

Mumbai, India  ·  South Asia

A major showcase of contemporary South Asian and world cinema, organized by the Mumbai Academy of the Moving Image.

London, United Kingdom  ·  Europe

A festival celebrating the breadth of East Asian cinema, screening new films from across the region with talent appearances.

Pingyao, China  ·  East Asia

Founded by director Jia Zhangke, it spotlights young Chinese directors and non-Western cinema, including work from across Asia.

Tokyo, Japan  ·  East Asia

Japan's largest film festival and one of Asia's major international showcases.

late October–early November

November

10 festivals
Warsaw, Poland  ·  Europe

Poland's leading festival of contemporary Asian cinema, with a focus on East and Southeast Asian films.

Taipei, Taiwan  ·  East Asia

The most prestigious awards and festival in the Chinese-language film world, held in Taipei since 1962.

Panaji, Goa, India  ·  South Asia

India's national government-backed international film festival, presenting world and Indian cinema in competition and panorama sections.

Yogyakarta, Indonesia  ·  Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia's leading platform for new Asian cinema, run with the NETPAC network.

late November–December
Philadelphia, USA  ·  North America

A festival presenting culturally relevant films that highlight the experiences of the Asian and Pacific Islander diaspora.

San Diego, USA  ·  North America

One of the largest Asian film festivals in the U.S., presented by Pac Arts.

Singapore, Singapore  ·  Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia's longest-running festival, a champion of the region's independent cinema.

late November–December
Tokyo, Japan  ·  East Asia

An auteur-focused festival emphasizing new Asian art cinema and emerging directors from across Asia.

late November
Toronto, Canada  ·  North America

Canada's premier pan-Asian film festival, spotlighting East and Southeast Asian and diasporic work.

Vancouver, Canada  ·  North America

A festival dedicated to films by North American artists of Asian heritage, with a mission to advance authentic Asian representation on screen.

December

2 festivals
Macao, Macao  ·  East Asia

A competitive festival bridging Eastern and Western cinema, with a platform for Asian films and filmmakers alongside international titles.

Thiruvananthapuram, India  ·  South Asia

A state-run festival known for its focus on world, Asian, African and Latin American art cinema alongside Malayalam and Indian films.

Festivals are placed in the month they typically run; exact dates shift year to year, so confirm on each official site. Spot one we’re missing? The calendar is kept growing.