ASSEMBLY leads the pack!
Every year, our audience at the New York Asian Film Festival votes to give the Audience Award to one deserving film. It’s our very own popularity contest with the winning film getting a metaphorical hug and a diamond tiara while the losers have to stand in the back of the room, bitter and mumbling amongst themselves. Over the years the award has gone to MY SASSY GIRL, PING PONG, PLEASE TEACH ME ENGLISH, THE TASTE OF TEA, ALWAYS: SUNSET ON THIRD STREET and MEMORIES OF MATSUKO. These are the most popular movies at our festival but they fly in the face of conventional distributor wisdom which says that Americans want to see action and horror from Asia and nothing else. In every single case, none of these movies have been picked up for US distribution except for PING PONG, which got picked up almost five years later by Viz and went straight to DVD, and THE TASTE OF TEA which was also picked up by Viz but got an abortive, miniature theatrical release, barely deserving of the name.
After opening weekend at this year’s festival we totaled up the Audience Award ballots and here’s what’s in the first three places:
#1 ASSEMBLY - here’s a shocker. Feng Xiaogang’s war film blew the audience away at yesterday’s screening and they ranked far ahead of the rest of the pack, putting it in a strong first place lead. There’s only one more screening of ASSEMBLY left, and that’s this Wednesday, June 25 at 6:00pm (at the IFC Center). Tickets are still available to the second (and final) screening. (Tickets and showtimes)
#2 MAD DETECTIVE - Johnnie To’s reunion film with Lau Ching-wan sold out the house far in advance of last night’s screening, and it’s come in at a very strong number 2 in the Audience Award polling. There are no more screenings left, but it opens at the IFC Center on July 16. (More info)
#3 TOKYO GORE POLICE - the number three film in the Audience Award polling, this flick destroyed the sold-out audience at Saturday night’s screening. There are two screenings left, one of which is a matinee show, meaning that you can buy a Subway Six Pack, bring five friends, and you’re only paying $8 each for your tickets, instead of $11.50 (go here for details). The remaining screenings are a midnight show on Friday, June 27 (starting at 12:15am at the IFC Center) and the matinee is on Thursday, July 3 at 4:20pm at the IFC Center. (Tickets and showtimes)