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Although some voices, particularly from Europe, continue to claim that Asian genre cinema is in decline, the New York Asian Film Festival (Nyaff) once again proves that with a bit of deeper digging (or simply good programming), the gems are still very much there—often beyond the reach of European co-productions.

Despite the recent regression in output from Korean cinema, the 2025 lineup was once again impressive, featuring several high-quality entries, even from Korea. Japan maintained a strong presence, but it is arguably Southeast Asia that continues to steal the spotlight, with both indie films and star-driven productions commanding attention.

Among the standouts this year were Japan’s “How Dare You?“, Korea’s “Forbidden Fairytale“, Taiwan’s “Family Matters”, and Thailand’s “Panor“. Together, they reflect the strength and diversity of a truly excellent program, one that reaffirms Nyaff’s place as the most important Asian film festival in the West.

In the early 2000s, one of the major titles that launched the Thai horror renaissance was the gruesome “Art of the Devil” series. This was a full-bore assault on the senses, clearly indebted to the Hong Kong black magic tales of the 1970s and 80s, with their graphic depictions of witchcraft and supernatural torment, which left a strong impression on local audiences. That impact deepened when the filmmaking collective Ronin Team took on the second and third installments, effectively signaling the emergence of a fresh voice in Thailand’s genre cinema.

Panor is screening at New York Asian Film Festival

While Konkiat Komsiri has since become the most prolific name to emerge from the team, another member, Putipong Saisikaew, returns to the helm with this loose reboot, now simply titled “Panor.”

Born on a dark day for her village, Panor Boonsuk (Cherprang Areekul) becomes the center of a growing series of strange and violent events,...