Asian cinema is seeing a new wave of young talent taking over. Here is a list of movies by filmmakers from the Gen.T community that are loaded with lessons on topics such as bullying, identity and the future of the Earth
Hollywood may be the pinnacle of the global film industry, but Asian cinema has been gaining recognition worldwide, covering various genres and styles that reflect the region’s diverse cultures, histories and realities.
Read more: Singaporean director Anthony Chen’s latest film to debut at Cannes
Language no longer poses a barrier to the international audience, with directors such as Spirited Away’s Hayao Miyazaki and Parasite’s Bong Joon-ho seeing their films break box office records globally.
A new generation of Asian filmmakers is following in their footsteps, showing at international film festivals and winning at prestigious awards events such as Sundance. Here are five of them from the Gen.T community who are making waves—and what you would learn from watching some of their most popular films.
Kayla Abuda Galang: The Filipino-American filmmaker whose Sundance-winning film discusses identity and belonging
Filipino-American filmmaker Kayla Abuda Galang draws from her environment and communities to tell immersive, character-driven stories. Her latest film, When You Left Me on That Boulevard, is a moving depiction of the Filipino-American diaspora, diving into the topics of family, identity and belonging. It follows the main character Ly and her cousins as they navigate their dual cultures and histories, with Ly facing a dilemma between her Filipino roots and American upbringing while trying to find her place in both worlds.
The film won the Short Film Grand Jury Prize at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival.