Movies of War

CinemAsia Film Festival runs from 8–12 April in Amsterdam at Studio/K, Rialto De Pijp, and Eye Filmmuseum, celebrating Asian cinema in all its diversity. This 18th edition presents a vibrant lineup of 44 films, including 28 features and 16 shorts, with 23 premieres, among them one international and one European premiere. The 2026 programme reaches gender parity, with 50% of the filmmakers identifying as women, and a strong majority of female directors in the New Visions section. The lineup brings together iconic voices, emerging talent, and influential classics from Asia and its diaspora with films from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, India, Indonesia, Bhutan, Cambodia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Kazakhstan, the Netherlands, and beyond. CinemAsia 2026 explores the key theme Commons, reflecting shared land, stories, memories, and experiences. Cinema becomes a space of encounter, where diverse perspectives meet, illuminating human connections, cultures, and shared histories across borders and generations. Opening film: “Becoming Human” (Cambodia 2025) | Polen Ly | Dutch Premiere, director present Guardian spirit Thida has watched over a decaying cinema from Cambodia’s cinematic golden age for decades. When a young journalist sneaks inside to say goodbye, their encounter becomes a dialogue between past and present, revealing grief, memory and a fragile thread of hope. Closing film: “The Waves Will Carry Us” (Taiwan 2025) | Lau Kek-Huat | Dutch Premiere, director present When Ah Yao returns from Taiwan to Malaysia for his father’s funeral, he discovers his father secretly converted to Islam, turning a Taoist farewell into a darkly comic reckoning, as a diasporic family shaped by generations of migration confronts buried secrets and the question of where home lies. New Visions: Groundbreaking debut films by emerging Asian filmmakers● “The Period of Her” (Indonesia 2025) | E. Rakhmawati, Y. Andriyani, P. Blifa, S. Adilah – International Premiere● “Better Off Dead” (Indonesia 2025) | Kristo Immanuel – European Premiere, director present● “Amoeba” (Singapore, Netherlands, France, et al. 2025) | Tan Siyou – Dutch Premiere, director present● “Pinch” (India, USA 2025) | Uttera Singh – Dutch Premiere, director present● “Girl” (Taiwan 2025) | Shu Qi – Dutch Premiere● “Republic of Pipolinas” (Philippines 2025) | Renei Dimla – Dutch Premiere● “Jinsei” (Japan 2025) | Suzuki Ryuya – Dutch Premiere● “10S Across the Borders” (Philippines, Singapore, Germany 2025) | Chan Sze-Wei – Dutch Premiere● “Shape of Momo” (India, South Korea 2025) | Tribeny Rai – Dutch Premiere● “Becoming” (France, Kazakhstan, Netherlands, et al. 2025) | Zhannat Alshanova – Dutch Premiere● “Family Matters” (Taiwan 2025) | Pan Ke-Yin – Dutch Premiere Horizons: Contemporary Asian cinema that challenges borders and expectations● “Bel Ami” (France 2024) | Geng Jun – Dutch Premiere● “Love in the Big City” (South Korea 2024) | E.oni – Dutch Premiere● “I, the Song” (Bhutan, France, Norway, Italy 2025) | Dechen Roder – Dutch Premiere● “Two Seasons, Two Strangers” (Japan 2025) | Miyake Sho – Dutch Premiere● “Papa” (Hong Kong SAR 2025) | Philip Yung – Dutch Premiere● “Girlfriends” (Macao SAR, Taiwan, Hong Kong SAR, Thailand 2025) | Tracy Choi – Dutch Premiere● “Human Resource” (Thailand 2025) | Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit – Dutch Premiere● “People and Meat” (South Korea 2025) | Yang Jong-hyun – Dutch Premiere● “The Way We Talk” (Hong Kong SAR 2024) | Adam Wong – Dutch Premiere● “Lost Last” (Japan, France, Malaysia, Germany 2025) | Fujimoto Akio● “Moonglow” (Philippines, Taiwan, Japan 2026) | Isabel Sandoval● “Resurrection” (China, France 2025) | Bi Gan Pioneers: Honoring iconic works and filmmakers who shaped Asian cinema (curated by Sarnt Utamachote)● “Aladin” (Indonesia 1953) | Tan Sing Hwat – Dutch Premiere● “Tongpan”(Thailand 1976) | Isan Film Group● “Golden Slumbers” (Cambodia 2011) | Davy Chou Short Films: Striking cinematic experience through collaborations with guest curators. Journeys: Dutch-Asian filmmakers’ intimate explorations of identity, history, and self-discovery across oceans and memories● “How to Catch a Butterfly” (Netherlands 2026) | Kiriko Mechanicus● “Selamat Jalan” (Netherlands 2025) | Zefnad Tetelepta● “Statues Rule the Waves” (Belgium, Indonesia, Netherlands 2025) | Noah Isa Berhitu● “Sudah” (Netherlands 2025) | Aldo Agaatsz● “Reclaiming Dragons” (Netherlands 2025) | Xiang Yu Yeung Becoming: No Instructions Included: films dwelling in the strange, unorthodox and unexplained, inviting reflection, interpretation, and states of becoming (curated by Leong Puiyee)● “A Very Slow Brakfast” (Indonesia 2002) | Edwin● “Every Floor Looks the Same” (Singapore 2022) | Gladys Ng● “Sun, Moon, Toy, Earth” (India 2018) | Yashaswini Raghunandan● “Baby Fat” (Philippines 2025) | Margarita Mina● “Goodbye Waves” (Japan 2025) | Yang Ruihan● “Error Terror Public Horror” (Indonesia 2003) | Rizki Lazuardi Chaya Chobi: intimate portraits of lives on the margins, exploring displacement and love in South Asia (curated by Avita Maheen)● “A Snail Without Shell” (Bangladesh 2024) | Mohin Rakhaine● “Dhulpa”(India, Canada 2022) | Kunsang Kyirong● “She Lives in the Mirror” (Bhutan 2025) | Pema Dorji● “Bandits” (Bangladesh 2024) | Omar Chowdhury● “The Bridge” (Bhutan 2025) | Chand Kr. Rai (R.C.) The festival also includes CinemAsia PRO for filmmakers and industry professionals, Queer Nongkrong meeting space for queer Asian communities, a Food Market showcasing Asian cuisines, and the annual Karaoke Night, a beloved festival tradition. Tags:A Snail Without ShellA Very Slow BrakfastAdam WongAladinAldo AgaatszAmoebaBaby FatBanditsBecomingBecoming HumanBel AmiBetter Off DeadBi GanChan Sze-WeiChand Kr. Rai (R.C.)Cinemasia Film FestivalDavy ChouDechen RoderDhulpaE. RakhmawatiE.oniEdwinError Terror Public HorrorEvery Floor Looks the SameFamily MattersFujimoto AkioGeng JunGirlGirlfriendsGladys NgGolden SlumbersGoodbye WavesHow to Catch a ButterflyHuman ResourceI The SongIsabel SandovalIsan Film GroupJinseiKiriko MechanicusKristo ImmanuelKunsang KyirongLau Kek-HuatNawapol ThamrongrattanaritNoah Isa BerhituOmar ChowdhuryP. BlifaPan Ke-yin