We present a list of eight Asian Film Festivals you cannot miss this March 2018.

Note: As the festival closes we will release more information about each festival so please check this post from time to time.

8th Cambodia International Film Festival
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
March 5th – 11th, 2018
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We start the month in Cambodia for the 8th Cambodia International Film Festival. The festival is organized by the CFC and Bophana Center. Hosted by the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts of Cambodia and endorsed by UNESCO. Screening venues are the LEGEND CINEMAS (City Mall, TK Avenue, Steong Meanchey Market), MAJOR CINEPLEX, PLATINIUM CINEPLEX (Sorya Mall), CHAKTOMOK THEATER, FRENCH INSTITUTE (Le Cinéma) and BOPHANA CENTER and DIAMOND ISLAND (out-door screenings). This year the French television and film actress, Elodie Yung will be the Festival’s Patron. This year the Festival will feature lot of awarded movies, we can mention The Bold, The Corrupt and the Beautiful by Ya-Che Yang (Taiwan), Jesus is Dead (Patay Na Si Hesus) by Victor Villanueva (Philippines), Passage of Life by Akio Fujimoto (Japan). The Full Schedule can be seen HERE (PDF).

4th Sinag Maynila Independent Film Festival
Manila, Philippines
March 7th – 15th, 2018
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Two days later we land in Philippines for the 4th Sinag Maynila Independent Film Festival. Created by the Solar Entertainment Corp and Brillante Mendoza this festivals aims to support local independent cinema & filmmakers. The festival was born from the vision of Mr. Wilson Tieng and Mr. Brillante Mendoza’s wish to have a festival that not only inspired but educates and enlightens Filipino movie audiences. This year the festival had partnership with the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) and CineLokal in celebration of 100 years of Philippine Cinema. The festival will be held in SM CINEMAS (Megamall, North Edsa, Mall of Asia, Manila, Southmall, Fairview, Sta. Mesa and Bacoor). Five full feature films will be feature this year, Abomination by Yam Laranas, Bomba (The Bomb) by Ralston G. Jover, El Peste by Richard V. Somes, Melodrama/Random/Melbourne! By Matthew Victor Pastor and Tale of the Lost Boys by Joselito Altarejos. The Full schedule and films selected can be seen the festival’s official website.

9th Bangalore Queer Film Festival
Bangalore, India
March 9th – 11th, 2018
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Some days later we fly to India for the 9th Bangalore Queer Film Festival. The festival serves as a space for LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) concerns to be voiced through the medium of moving image. The BQFF is a crowd-funded, non-profit, free-entry festival which pushes for maximum participation. This year the festival will be held at the Max Mueller Bhavan/Goethe-Institut in Indiranagar.

Tokyo Anime Award Festival
Tokyo, Japan
March 9th – 12th, 2018
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On the same day but in Japan we have the opening of the Tokyo Anime Award Festival. The event is organized by the Association of Japanese Animation and co-hosted by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

13th Osaka Asian Film Festival
Osaka, Japan
March 9th – 18th, 2018
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Another festival starting also on March 9th is the 13th Osaka Asian Film Festival. Hosted by the Osaka Executive Committee for the Promotion of Moving Image Culture, it aims to facilitate human resources development and exchange, to invigorate the Osaka economy, and to increase the city’s appeal, through providing opportunities to watch excellent Asian films, supporting filmmaking in Osaka and attracting filmmakers from Asian countries and regions to Osaka. Promoting Osaka worldwide as a gateway city for Asian films, and engaging with many people from the fields of culture, art, education, tourism and business, from Osaka and all of Asia, OAFF works as an open platform to contribute to the development of Osaka and cinema.

This year the festival will be under programming director Teruoka Sozo. The Competition section, which receives increased recognition every year, will again select films previously unreleased in Japan. The regular sections, Special Screenings and Indie Forum, and other special programs will also feature a wide variety of excellent Asian films. The Opening Film will be Anarchist from the Colony by Lee Joon-ik (Korea | 2017) and the Closing Film will be The Name by Toda Akihiro (Japan | 2018).

28th Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival
Yubari, Japan
March 15th – 19th, 2018
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Some days later we take a plane to Osaka where we stay for the 28th Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival. Founded in 1990, it aims not only to promote films but also to interact locals, filmmakers and cinephiles from around the world with delicious foods of Hokkaido, skiing or snowboarding. The festival take place in Hotel Shuparo.

42nd Hong Kong International Film Festival
Hong Kong
March 19th – April 5th, 2018
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After that we take another plane for Hong Kong were we start the 42nd Hong Kong International Film Festival. One of the Asia’s oldest and most reputable platforms for filmmakers, film professionals and filmgoers from all over the world to launch new work and experience outstanding films. This year the Festival’s Ambassador will be Louis Koo. The Opening Films will be Omotenashi, directed by Jay Chern and Xiao Mei, directed by Maren Hwang. Closing film will be the World Premiere of What a Wonderful family! 3: My Wife, My Life, the latest work from the acclaimed comedy series by the Japanese master Yamada Yoji. There will be Master Classes by Werner Herzog, Tsai Ming-Laing and Hara Kazuo. The Filmmaker in Focus will be Brigitte Lin Ching-Hsia. For the second straight year AsianFilmFestivals will be the official Media Partner of the HKIFF.

North Luzon Film Festival
Philippines
March 24th – 26th, 2018
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Finally we take a plane to the Philippines where we will end the month with the North Luzon Film Festival. The festival is a Project of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Municipality of Echague and the North Luzon Cinema Guild, Inc. and aims to establish and influence the North Luzon Region to advocate film as a medium for artistic expression as well as a platform for societal reflection.