Full Breakdown
NYAFF’s 25th Anniversary Kicks Off with Yeon Sang-ho’s “Colony” and 4K “Train to Busan” Revival
5/14/2026, 8:46:01 PM
Opening Night Highlights: “Colony” Premiere and “Train to Busan” Restoration
NYAFF opens 25th edition on July 10, 2026 at Lincoln Center’s SVA Theatre, Look Cinemas, and Korean Cultural Center. Opening night presents North American premiere of Yeon Sang-ho’s zombie thriller Colony, starring Gianna Jun as a biotechnology professor attending a conference when a virus breaks out; Showbox has sold the film to over 120 territories. 4K restoration of 2016 hit Train to Busan marks 10-year anniversary. Train to Busan opens Aug 14; Colony follows Aug 28.
Festival Evolution
Founded in 2010 by New York Asian Film Foundation and Film at Lincoln Center, NYAFF began as a showcase for emerging Asian directors. It is North America’s largest Asian-cinema festival, drawing over 20,000 attendees. 24th edition featured eight world premieres, more than 75 North American premieres, 17 debuts, and guests Tadanobu Asano, Heo Sung-tae and Ekin Cheng. Uncaged Competition awarded Best Feature to Taiwan’s Family Matters.
Milestones
- Territories sold: >120
- Festival attendance: >20,000
- 2025 premieres: 8 world, more than 75 North American, 17 debuts
- Dates: Train to Busan 4K – Aug 14, 2026; Colony – Aug 28, 2026
Significance
The dual program highlights Korean horror’s expanding U.S. presence. Pairing a new genre-bending film with a decade-old landmark showcases the evolution and impact of Korean zombie cinema, reinforcing NYAFF’s role as a conduit for Asian genre innovation.
Official Statements & Summaries
President Samuel Jamier called Colony a “formally revolutionary” work that creates “the most contagious moment for Korean genre cinema in New York” since Train to Busan. CEO Doris Pfardrescher said the 25th anniversary is occasion to honor legacy, showcasing filmmaker, noting films embody theatrical experiences NYAFF seeks.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Yeon Sang-ho’s Colony introduces a new physical grammar for the zombies, formally revolutionary and viscerally tense, and unlike anything else in the genre right now,” — Samuel Jamier, NYAFF President
- “Opening NYAFF’s 25th edition alongside a 10th-anniversary 4K restoration of Train To Busan, both courtesy of Well Go USA Entertainment, this event marks the most contagious moment for Korean genre cinema in New York since Train To Busan first arrived a decade ago.” — Samuel Jamier, NYAFF President
- “ Doris Pfardrescher, President and CEO of Well Go USA Entertainment, said: “As NYAFF celebrates its 25th anniversary, there’s no more fitting way to honor the festival’s legacy than by showcasing one of the defining filmmakers in modern genre cinema.” — Doris Pfardrescher, President & CEO, Well Go USA Entertainment
- “We’re thrilled to have the North American premiere of Colony alongside a special 4K revival of Train To Busan, a landmark work that forever changed the zombie genre.” — Doris Pfardrescher, President & CEO, Well Go USA Entertainment
Upcoming Releases and Future Programming
NYAFF will announce its 2026 lineup, including special guests and restorations, in coming weeks. Theatrical releases of Train to Busan (4K) and Colony are slated for August 2026, extending festival’s summer programming beyond July run.
