ASIA ROAD took its first step in 2016, and it has now arrived at its tenth edition. In the competition’s first year, the review committee watched over 300 films over two weeks. Now in the tenth year, we saw more than 700 films over a period of two months. While the number of films has doubled, the overall length of the content has quadrupled. In the past, 10 percent of the films were introduced at the festival, but now that number has fallen to less than 5 percent. In the beginning, films came from countries across Asia, between Japan to the east and as far west as Turkey. Now, that region has expanded to include countries as far away as Egypt on the African continent. ASIA ROAD has always been inclusive and welcoming of all Asian creators, wherever they live on the globe, and non-Asian creators whose films were made in Asia. The bounds of the competition are not walls but rather curtains that let the wind pass through. We wish to present the great diversity of Asia with an open heart.

We saw variations of common threads in the subject matter ranging from oral traditions to folk crafts, war and refugees, individual and organized violence, regional histories and cultures, and societal and political landscapes. Meanwhile, the pandemic, war, and worldwide disasters have given rise to an entirely different tide. While sensibilities have become globalized by our online connectedness, we face a scarcity of striking originality, all while the era of AI has come upon us. This year’s submissions include over 100 films that were made in part or largely with the use of AI. Creators are each finding their own ways to utilize new technologies. Experimentation seems to be most vibrant in the education sector, as creators contemplate the transformation of their previous methods and styles. What is certain is that using AI still does not mean animation can be made instantly, humans being such fickle and fussy creatures as we are.

For the preliminary selection, our work began each day before lunch and ended just before dinner. Looking back, there was never a year so full of discussion. After selecting 29 films, the jury members were exhausted. Some films were chosen unanimously while others were championed by only one of the three jurors. And of course, some cherished films had to be let go. We invite you to the theater to see the best of Asian animation today.

Comments written by LEE Kyunghwa on behalf of the ASIA ROAD Preliminary Selection Jury Members: SONG Yungsung, LEE Kyunghwa, LEE Hyejeong