The Asian Films and Filmmakers Coming to TIFF 2022

Korean superstar Jung Woo-sung makes his directorial debut with A Man of Reason, an exhilarating action thriller spectacle about a man’s desperate struggle to protect someone, starring Jung himself in the leading role.

Song Kang-ho (best known for his role as Kim Ki-taek in Parasite) stars in this thrilling film revolving around a self-proclaimed “broker of good will” who finds new parents for babies anonymously left in “baby boxes” by their parents.

After winning the Grand Prix in 2004 for Oldboy and the Jury Prize in 2009 for Thirst at Cannes Film Festival, Park Chan-wook is returning to the festival circuit with Decision to Leave, a wounded love story TIFF describes as a “mesmerizing and lavish noir masterpiece.” The film has already won the South Korean filmmaker the Best Director prize at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival. 

Squid Game star Lee Jung-jae is at the helm behind and in front of the camera in Hunt, making its international premiere at TIFF. The South Korean action star’s directorial debut is an espionage action film set in the 1980s, with Jung-jae himself in the starring role playing the chief of an intelligence agency uncovering a plot to assassinate the president of South Korea. 

Joyland centres on the complexities of a patriarchal Pakistani family when the youngest boy of the family takes a liking to a Trans starlet at an erotic dance theatre he secretly joins. Joyland is director Saim Sadiq’s directorial debut feature and has already been awarded the Un Certain Regard Jury Prize and the Queer Palm at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival.

Shubham Yogi’s Kacchey Limbu is a heartwarming drama following the rivalry of two siblings competing against each other on opposing cricket teams.

Renowned Iranian New Wave filmmaker Jafar Panahi subverts the definition of film yet again with No Bears, a drama flick surrounding two parallel love stories.

South Korean director Hong Sang-soo is bringing the world premiere of his 28th feature film Walk Up to TIFF, which follows the interactions of a middle-aged moviemaker.

This British romantic comedy centers around a filmmaker’s journey documenting her best friend’s arranged marriage, starring Lily James, Shazad Latif, and Emma Thompson.