19th Five Flavours has come to an end. Thank you for being with us!
We’ve just wrapped the 19th edition of Five Flavours Asian Film Festival – and it was truly exceptional. Both the programme and the unwavering enthusiasm of our audience made this year’s festival one for the books. Over 11,000 viewers joined us in Warsaw’s cinemas, and another 24,500 watched online. It’s yet another attendance record in the festival’s history!
The Grand Prix of the 19th edition, awarded by the People’s Jury, went to the Philippine film “An Errand” by Dominic Bekaert. A Special Mention was awarded to Chong Keat Aun for the Malaysian film “Pavane for an Infant”.
Together, we travelled through Japan’s vibrant 1980s, listened to songs capturing Korean youth, jumped between dimensions of Asian sci-fi, and explored cinematic stories of migration across the continent. The 19th Five Flavours reaffirmed one essential truth: the power of Asian cinema lies in its remarkable diversity. Thank you for being part of this journey – your enthusiasm, the smiling faces from the audience, chit-chats in cinema hallways, and the positivity coming from the social-media feedback fuel us with energy for the years ahead.
This year’s viewing statistics clearly show that Asian cinema has stepped far beyond the niche. Counting the screenings in Warsaw, the online edition, and our regional replicas in Poznań, Łódź, Wrocław, and Gdańsk – films from this year’s programme were watched almost 40,000 times! We know many of you gather in small watch-parties at home, so the actual number of viewers is no doubt much higher.
It was the largest edition of Five Flavours to date. We screened a record-breaking 51 films from 14 Asian countries across three Warsaw venues – Muranów, Kinoteka and the newly opened Kinomuzeum, with whom we collaborated for the first time. Films from eight thematic sections captured the pulse of Asian cinema, both artistic and commercial. For 19 days, audiences could also enjoy 35 films in the online programme. We’re growing in new directions, and our expanded replica events – especially the major edition in Poznań – reflect these new paths.
Audiences in Warsaw met with numerous guests from South Korea, Hong Kong, Bangladesh and Malaysia, and the winners of our competition were selected by an international People’s Jury. Viewers enjoyed in-cinema Q&As with filmmakers and producers, as well as panel discussions on topics including the phenomenon of Korean cinema, feminism in China, literary sci-fi, Asian migrations, and accessibility in film. We also recorded podcasts and online interviews, all of which remain available after the festival.
This year’s Wood Snake introduced a new cycle and a refreshed visual identity by our long-time collaborator, Przemysław Ostaszewski. The Snake has shed its skin, unveiling a new burst of festival energy; now it glides away for a well-deserved rest. We already see the patron that will come in its place; the untamed spirit of the Fire Horse is galloping in – just in time for our 20th anniversary edition, to which we warmly invite you. It shall come in November 2026 for the 20th Five Flavours – and you want to be there when it comes!
Festival Winners
2026’s New Asian Cinema Competition once again belonged to Southeast Asia! The Grand Prix of the 19th edition, awarded by the People’s Jury, went to the Philippine film “An Errand” by Dominic Bekaert. A Special Mention was awarded to Chong Keat Aun for the Malaysian film “Pavane for an Infant”.
Bonus materials available all year round
Every year, we prepare an extensive knowledge base – additional materials, essays and conversations created with our partners and patrons. Their goal is to deepen the context of the films featured in the programme. On our website, you’ll find numerous articles, podcasts and video interviews with the exceptional creators from this year’s edition – including conversations with Dominic Bekaert, this year’s winner, and Makoto Tezuka.
To our partners and sponsors – huge thank you!
The 19th Five Flavours Asian Film Festival would not be possible without the financial support of: City of Warsaw, the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, the Polish Film Institute, Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Berlin, Create HK, HK Film Development Fund, the Korean Cultural Center, and the Japan Foundation.
Our heartfelt thanks also go to our partners and media patrons, who supported the organisation of the festival and helped make it visible in both urban spaces and the media.
Partners: Kinoteka, Kino Muranów, Kinomuzeum, Pracownia Szumu
Media patrons: Zwierciadło, K Mag, Wysokie Obcasy, Wyborcza.pl, Filmweb, Onet, Pełna Sala, Filmawka, Czas Kultury
Special thanks: Kultura bez Barier Foundation, Kino Dostępne Foundation, Kabak, Amondo, Tajfuny, Linh Nguyen, Asia Travel, ZNAK.
