Welcome to the 2025 Asian Cinema Challenge! 

This is the sixth edition of this challenge. Thanks to the 2024 participants in my first year hosting! I hope people had fun and discovered some new Asian films they wouldn't have otherwise watched or knocked some key items off of their watchlists.

This is a typical annual challenge, with 52 films to be watched and reviewed on a weekly basis. Please use the tag “asiancc2025” and a weekly tag "asiancc2025 week#" (#=the week number) for every entry so we can keep track of your reviews and everyone can see what everyone else is watching. Please post the link to your lists in the comments below and I will add your name to the roster in this section.

Please see this year’s weekly themes below. How you approach the challenge is up to you, but I strongly suggest you pick films that are new to you. Watch films in any order and make adjustments whenever you need to, like when films are not available to you or you prefer to tackle another area of Asian cinema when one doesn't appeal to you. Start any time and never feel beholden to your original pick if the week comes around and you find something better. The purpose of the challenge is to keep exploring and experiencing new films! Feel free to share any comments or suggestions for now or the future, and have fun. 

PARTICIPANTS
Nick Atkins • diya • Lastyearat.quarantine • Germano Dutra Jr • Julia • Niranjan • Benjamin Baron • pei 🫧 • melee • eightandahalf • Mahad • SharonCs • kat • meyi☆ • Moresbi • Alex Simeon • Mara 🦋 • gilgaboosh • Christopher Cross • jason ☃️ • EnnuiOnMe • SoRefined • solesider • Gabe Nun • Ilia Ginzburg • Mason Kuzmich • Kat • nathanjohnson_ • maskull • Ayub Nor • sean • incerto • MarryMeSenpai • Goodnekovibes • Ryan Michero • Donny • Justin • Limey66Helena • Tim Looney • mariah • Carl • camb • sabsab • ☆ • zi :) • Jack Yates • Volkorel • Livia Mele • Proletariat • PJ • Nick • 🏳️‍🌈🎼 • Jerry St. Peter • Suping • Фома "Foma" Киняев • Alex • BrendanMLeonard • Carlos (Hache) • Jason Rainey • chaeo3o • Sam Mvhd • Michael • JackFoxx • Charcastrology ✨ • Bruno Campos • VonBergundy • hanniquinn • Kieran Healy • abystopia • SAJ77 • Jam Skeleton

Week 1 - Silent Film From Asia
Week 2 - Shomin-geki: Japanese Home Dramas
Week 3 - Asian Cinema With International Awards Recognition
Week 4 - Korean Film Archive Top 100
Week 5 - Made in Vietnam
Week 6 - Southeast Asia Top 100
Week 7 - Iranian New Wave
Week 8 - Middle East Top 100
Week 9 - Cinema of Palestine
Week 10 - Indian Experimental/ Alternative Cinema
Week 11 - Asian Coming of Age Films
Week 12 - Top 100 Yakuza Films
Week 13 - Top 100 Hong Kong
Week 14 - Directed by Jia Zhangke
Week 15 - Asian Slow Cinema
Week 16 - K or J Horror
Week 17 - Directed by Tsai Ming-liang, Hou Hsiao-Hsien, or Edward Yang
Week 18 - Category III Hong Kong Sleaze
Week 19 - Cinema of Pakistan
Week 20 - Mainland China Top 100
Week 21 - Directed by Lav Diaz
Week 22 - Made in Thailand
Week 23 - Indian Horror
Week 24 - Korean New Wave
Week 25 - Filipino Top 250
Week 26 - Directed by Chinese Woman
Week 27 - Scored by Toru Takemitsu
Week 28 - Asian LGBTQ
Week 29 - Directed by Keisuke Kinoshita
Week 30 - Directed by Korean Woman
Week 31 - Critically Beloved Anime
Week 32 - Cinema of Central Asia
Week 33 - Composed by Ryuichi Sakamoto
Week 34 - Taiwanese film from the Top 100 NOT directed by Tsai Ming-liang, Hou Hsiao-Hsien, or Edward Yang
Week 35 - Directed by Japanese Woman
Week 36 - Wuxia Films
Week 37 - Directed by Naoko Ogigami
Week 38 - Chinese Animation
Week 39 - Chinese Dissident Cinema
Week 40 - Taiyōzoku/Sun Tribe Films
Week 41 - Directed by Tsui Hark
Week 42 - Made in Indonesia
Week 43 - Made in Turkey
Week 44 - Directed by Hong Sang-soo
Week 45 - Directed by Nobuhiko Obayashi
Week 46 - Made in Singapore
Week 47 - Golden Harvest Studio
Week 48 - Seishun Eiga: New Japanese Cinema
Week 49 - Asian American Cinema
Week 50 - Directed by Arab Women
Week 51 - Watch the Original: Asian Edition
Week 52 - The Asian film that has been on your watchlist the longest.