Asian Film Festival
The best of Far Eastern cinema at the Cinema Farnese in Rome
About Asian Film Festival
A festival dedicated to Asian cinema in the heart of Rome
The Asian Film Festival is a showcase that has been bringing the best of Far Eastern film production to Rome, the capital of the Lazio Region, for over twenty years. The historic venue is the Cinema Farnese, an art-house theater overlooking Campo de' Fiori, just a short walk from Piazza Navona and the Ghetto. This location makes the festival a deeply urban event, integrated into the daily life of Rome's historic center.
The event is directed by Antonio Termenini and enjoys the support of Italian institutions, as well as embassies and cultural institutes from the participating countries. It should not be confused with other Roman events dedicated to Asia: the Asian Film Festival has a distinct identity, built on a rigorous selection process and a direct relationship with the filmmakers.
What to expect
Each edition features over thirty feature films accompanied by a selection of short films. The program is divided into several sections:
- Competition — the main titles, competing for the jury's awards;
- Newcomers — first and second works, the section that highlights emerging directors from the continent;
- Out of Competition — auteur films, previews, and special events;
- Short Films — a showcase of short-form cinema, often the most experimental laboratory of Asian film.
The represented cinematographies cover a wide range: Thailand, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, China, Vietnam, Singapore, Cambodia, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Almost all films are Italian premieres and are screened in their original language with Italian subtitles.
National Days
One of the festival's most recognizable formats is the National Days: each day of the festival is dedicated to the cinematography of a specific country, often in collaboration with the relevant embassy or cultural institute. It is a way to add depth to the program, allowing the audience to follow the evolution of a national scene in just a few hours rather than focusing on a single headline film. These days are generally accompanied by meetings with directors, social gatherings, and insights into the host country's culture.
Guests and Meetings
The festival is more than just a film screening schedule: Asian directors, actors, and producers are regularly present in the theater to present their work and participate in Q&A sessions with the audience. Some events are also held outside the Cinema Farnese, for example at the Japanese Cultural Institute on Via Antonio Gramsci, where screenings are often free of charge until seats are filled.
Awards
The jury, composed each year of Italian film critics, journalists, and professionals, awards five main prizes: Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Most Original Film. These are joined by the award for the Newcomers section and the prize for the best short film. The awards ceremony closes the festival and is accompanied by the screening of the closing titles.
Why it's worth attending
For those living in or visiting Rome in April, the Asian Film Festival is one of the few real opportunities to see films on the big screen that are unlikely to reach Italian theaters otherwise. It is not a glitzy, high-society festival: it offers a historic venue, a knowledgeable yet accessible audience, art-house cinema prices, and a program that alternates between demanding auteur cinema and genre thrillers or comedies. Those who want to delve deeper can easily build a full day around screenings, meetings, and a walk through Campo de' Fiori, where the market and the square's local venues complete the experience.
Asian Film Festival — edition 2026
The 23rd edition
From April 7 to 15, 2026, the Cinema Farnese in Rome hosted the twenty-third edition of the Asian Film Festival, directed by Antonio Termenini. The program brought together 36 feature films—18 in competition, 9 in the Newcomers section, and 9 out of competition—accompanied by 10 short films, for a panorama that spanned twelve Asian cinematographies.
The opening, on April 7, was entrusted to Girl (2025), the directorial debut of actress Shu Qi, already presented in competition at the 2025 Venice Film Festival. The closing on April 15 combined the awards ceremony with the screenings of She Has No Name (2024) by Peter Chan and The Ugly (2025) by Yeon Sang-ho.
The festival received the patronage of the Embassy of the Philippines and the institutional support of the Ministry of Culture and the Lazio Region.
Programme Asian Film Festival 2026
Program structure
- April 7 — Opening film: Girl (2025) by Shu Qi, directorial debut of the Taiwanese actress, presented in competition at Venice 82.
- Competition — 18 feature films competing for the five jury awards.
- Newcomers — 9 works by debut or second-time directors.
- Out of Competition — 9 auteur titles and special events.
- Short films — 10 titles in selection.
- April 15 — Awards ceremony, followed by She Has No Name (2024) by Peter Chan and The Ugly (2025) by Yeon Sang-ho.
National Days
- April 8 — Philippine Day
- April 9 — Indonesian Day
- April 10 — Thai Day
- April 11 — Korean Day
- April 12 — Japanese Day
- April 14 — Malaysian Day
Titles and guests
Among the films presented: Human Resource by Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit and Death Cuisine by Pen-ek Ratanaruang (Thailand), Sham by Takashi Miike and Love on Trial by Koji Fukada (Japan), Becoming Human (Cambodia), Raging (Philippines), Siapa Dia by Garin Nugroho (Indonesia), The Old Woman with the Knife and Falling into Silence. South Korean cinema was the most represented, with eight titles.
Among the international guests present in the theater: Koji Fukada, Garin Nugroho, Isabel Sandoval, and Lee Kwang-kuk.
Special event
On April 10, in collaboration with the Japanese Cultural Institute (Via Antonio Gramsci 74), the Italian premiere screening of Love on Trial (2025) by Koji Fukada took place from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, with free admission, followed by a Q&A with the director.
Highlights Asian Film Festival 2026
- Opening film: Girl by Shu Qi, which later won the Best Film award.
- Six National Days dedicated to the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Korea, Japan, and Malaysia.
- Koji Fukada in attendance at the Japanese Cultural Institute, with a free screening of Love on Trial.
- 2026 Jury: producer Gianluca Arcopinto, TG1 journalist Francesco Maesano, and critic Martina Barone, selector for the Torino Film Festival.
- Palmarès: Best Film to Girl (Shu Qi); Best Director to Ryan Machado for Raging; Best Actress to Prapamonton Eiamchan for Human Resource; Best Actor to Piseth Chhun for Becoming Human; Most Original Film ex aequo to Two Voices into an Echo by Kim Kyung-rae and Siapa Dia by Garin Nugroho; Newcomers section to Falling into Silence by Yuto Shimizu, with a special mention for Love on Trial by Koji Fukada.
- All films in original language with Italian subtitles.
Prices Asian Film Festival 2026
Practical information — Asian Film Festival
Venue
Cinema Farnese, Piazza Campo de' Fiori 56, 00186 Rome (District I, historic center). Some side events are held at the Japanese Cultural Institute, Via Antonio Gramsci 74.
How to get there
Metro: the nearest stops are Barberini or Colosseo (Line B), followed by a walk or bus ride; the historic center is not directly served by the metro. Bus: lines 46, 62, 64, 916 to Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, then a five-minute walk. Tram: line 8 to Largo Argentina. Train: from Roma Termini, take bus 64 or 40 to Largo Argentina. Car: not recommended, as the area is in the ZTL (restricted traffic zone); it is better to use park-and-ride facilities and public transport.
Tickets
Paid entry with art-house cinema rates; season passes for the entire festival and discounts are generally available. Some events at cultural institutes offer free admission until capacity is reached. Information and purchases are available on the official website and at the Cinema Farnese box office.
Tips
All films are in their original language with Italian subtitles. For opening and closing nights, it is advisable to arrive early or purchase tickets online. The Campo de' Fiori area offers a wide choice of restaurants and accommodation, but in April, it is best to book your stay well in advance.
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Noticed an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Every proposal is verified by our team before publication.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.
Where does it take place — Asian Film Festival
Cinema Farnese
Piazza Campo de' Fiori 56, 00186 Roma