New York Asian Film Festival

This city may be drowning in high-profile festivals of all ilk, but the New York Asian Film Festival stands a head above most shoulders, not only because of the glut of compellingly original films and directors emerging from that continent these days, but because so few ever see the light of distribution on this side of the Pacific, save for in this annual program. Particular must-sees this year include the bubblegum-faced erotic Korean musical Dasepo Naughty Girls; the punk-existentialist romantic comedy I'm a Cyborg but That's OK from no less than Korean director Park Chan-wook (Oldboy, 2003); and the Pakistani slash-and-gasher Hell's Ground.