A spectacular celebration of Taiwanese wuxia cinema is set to ignite the screen in upstate New York this summer. Co-presented by Subway Cinema and the Taipei Cultural Center in New York, Flying Sword Heroes: Gravity-Defying Tales from Taiwan runs from August 14 to 24, 2025, at the iconic Proctors Theatre in Schenectady, New York. Featuring ten extraordinary films either made or produced in Taiwan, this event marks the most extensive retrospective of Taiwanese wuxia ever presented outside of any major U.S. city.
The festival opens with The Assassin (2015), Hou Hsiao-hsien’s poetic and visually sumptuous take on a Tang Dynasty legend, starring Shu Qi in a haunting tale of loyalty, conflict, and suppressed emotion. Spanning five decades, the lineup explores the evolution of martial arts cinema—from the groundbreaking cinematic language of King Hu to stylish modern interpretations by directors like John Woo.
King Hu’s timeless masterpieces are cornerstones of this retrospective. Dragon Inn (1967), a thrilling tale of subterfuge in a desert inn, is celebrated for redefining action choreography. A Touch of Zen (1971), winner of the Cannes Technical Grand Prize, elevates the wuxia genre with spiritual undertones and philosophical depth, its “bamboo forest battle” remains a touchstone of martial arts cinema. The Fate of Lee Khan (1973), a rare female-led ensemble film, features legendary actresses Hsu Feng and Li Li-hua in a tense, cloak-and-dagger drama. And The Valiant Ones (1975) dramatizes the Ming resistance against Japanese pirates through an elegant chessboard-like strategy of storytelling and action.
Hou Hsiao-hsien’s The Assassin (2015), which earned Best Director at Cannes, reimagines the martial arts genre as an exercise in restraint and atmosphere. Shu Qi delivers a layered performance as Nie Yinniang, a deadly assassin torn between duty and heart. The film’s meditative pacing and painterly visuals reveal the depth and beauty of internal struggle.
Among the modern highlights is Reign of Assassins (2010), directed by Su Chao-pin and produced by John Woo. A sleek, contemporary wuxia thriller, it fuses romance, intrigue, and jaw-dropping swordplay. A breakout at the New York Asian Film Festival, it introduced contemporary wuxia to new Western audiences with overwhelming success.
Other hidden gems include The Swordsman of All Swordsmen (1968), a digitally restored cult classic by Joseph Kuo, which epitomizes the lone swordsman archetype in Taiwanese-language cinema; A City Called Dragon (1970), a spy thriller cloaked in period wuxia; and The Ghost Hill (1971), a supernatural-inflected martial epic. The Grand Passion (1970) rounds out the series with operatic grandeur and rare visual flair.
Three classics—A Touch of Zen, Dragon Inn, and The Swordsman of All Swordsmen—have been beautifully restored by the Taiwan Film and Audiovisual Institute (TFAI). In addition, four titles—A City Called Dragon, The Ghost Hill, The Grand Passion, and The Swordsman of All Swordsmen—are officially authorized by TFAI. That means 60% of the lineup is directly tied to TFAI, reflecting its vital work in preserving and championing Taiwan’s wuxia legacy.
Curated by Subway Cinema and inspired by the Wuxia Genre in Taiwan: Film Series & Audiovisual Exhibition presented by the Taiwan Film and Audiovisual Institute, this program builds on the enthusiastic response to the 10th Old School Kung Fu Fest in 2022. It offers a sweeping journey through Taiwan’s martial arts cinema—from Mandarin and Taiwanese-language works of the 1960s to the genre’s modern-day reinvention—celebrating both thrilling spectacle and cultural resonance.
Fifteen screenings will take place at Proctors Theatre, with special post-screening talks by Lin Ying-chih, Deputy Director of the Taiwan Film and Audiovisual Institute, on August 15 and 16. These in-depth discussions will explore the historical and artistic dimensions of Taiwan’s wuxia tradition.
Located in the culturally vibrant city of Schenectady, Proctors Theatre is one of the premier performing arts venues in upstate New York, renowned for hosting Broadway tours and international programming. This marks the first large-scale showcase of Taiwanese wuxia cinema in the region—an unprecedented opportunity to share Taiwan’s cultural vitality with new audiences and foster appreciation of East Asian cinematic heritage.
All screenings are free with registration. Seats are limited—reserve now!
Festival info and ticket registration: https://www.atproctors.org/flying-sword-heroes-gravity-defying-tales-from-taiwan
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【SCREENING SCHEDULE】
All screenings at Proctors Theatre (432 State Street, Schenectady, NY 12305)
• The Assassin (2015) – Directed by: Hou Hsiao-hsien
7 p.m. Thu, Aug. 14 & Fri, Aug. 22
• The Valiant Ones (1975) – Directed by: King Hu
2 p.m. Sat, Aug. 16
• The Fate of Lee Khan (1973) – Directed by: King Hu
2 p.m. Sun, Aug. 17
• A Touch of Zen (1971) – Directed by: King Hu
7 p.m. Fri, Aug. 15 & 2 p.m. Sun, Aug. 24
• Dragon Inn (1967) – Directed by: King Hu
7 p.m. Sat, Aug. 16 & 2 p.m. Sat, Aug. 23
• Reign of Assassins (2010) – Directed by: Su Chao-bin, John Woo
4:30 p.m. Sun, Aug. 17 & Sat, Aug. 23
• The Swordsman of All Swordsmen (1968, digital restoration) – Directed by: Joseph Kuo
4:30 p.m. Sat, Aug. 16 & 7 p.m. Sat, Aug. 23
• The Ghost Hill (1971) – Directed by: Ting Shan-hsi
7 p.m. Thu, Aug. 21
• A City Called Dragon (1970) – Directed by: Larry Tu Chong-hsun
7 p.m. Tue, Aug. 19
• The Grand Passion (1970) – Directed by: Yang Shih-ching
7 p.m. Wed, Aug. 20