International Oscar Contenders Boost Asian World Film Festival Lineup

Kicking off Nov. 13, the Asian World Film Festival sports features from 27 countries with its main competition screening 16 films submitted for the international feature Oscar. The festival runs through Nov. 21 at the Culver Theater in Culver City, celebrating its 10th anniversary. More than 30 of the screenings will include Q&As with the filmmakers, talent and crew.

“We are very grateful to the filmmakers around the world supporting this year’s lineup with more than 60 narrative and documentary films,” says Georges N. Chamchoum, AWFF executive director, said. “The AWFF continues to open the window to the region of Asia as well to showcase Asian-American talent through our range of programs. I am amazed at the depth and breadth of the work on the AWFF schedule this year.”

The festival opens with South Korean drama “A Normal Family” and closes with Filipino romantic drama “Hello, Love, Again.” The Centerpiece film is Wong Kar-wai’s “In the Mood for Love” (Hong Kong), starring Tony Leung Chiu-wai and Maggie Cheung.

The main competition lineup:

“The Wrestler” (Bangladesh), Dir. Iqbal Hossain Chowdhury
“Meeting with Pol Pot” (Cambodia), Dir. Rithy Panh
“The Antique” (Georgia), Dir. Russudan Glurjidze
“Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In” (Hong Kong), Dir. Soi Cheang
“Lost Ladies” (India), Dir. Ms. Kiran Rao
“In the Arms of the Tree” (Iran), Dir. Babak Lotfi Khajepasha
“Baghdad Messi” (Iraq), Dir. Sahim Omar Kalifa
“Bauryna Salu” (Kazakhstan), Dir. Askhat Kuchencherekov
“Paradise at Mother’s Feet” (Kyrgyzstan), Dir. Ruslan Akun
“Arzé” (Lebanon), Dir. Ms. Mira Shaib
“Abang Adik” (Malaysia), Dir. Jin Ong
“12.12: The Day” (South Korea), Dir. Kim Sung-su
“Old Fox” (Taiwan), Dir. Hsiao Ya-chuan
“How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies” (Thailand), Dir. Pat Boonnitipat
“Life” (Turkey), Dir. Zeki Demirkubuz
“Peach Blossom, Pho and Piano” (Vietnam), Dir. Phi Tiến Sơn

The AWFF also includes a 12-film shorts program, with the winning film being awarded a Panavision camera package valued at $15,000.

The shorts are:

“A Good Day Will Come” (Canada/Iran/Turkey), Dir. Amir Zargara
“Born a Celebrity” (Palestine), Dir. Luay Awwad
“콘 (Cone)” (South Korea), Dir. Ji-in Yu
“The Deer’s Tooth” (Palestine), Dir. Saif Hammash
“The First Dinner” (Palestine), Dir. Thekra Zohir Makalde
“Fort, da?” (Lebanon), Dir. Rita Younes
“Is anyone alive?” (Palestine), Dir. Omar Elemawi
“Lullaby” (U.K./Vietnam), Dir. Chi Thai
“Mar Mama” (Palestine), Dir. Majdi El Omari
“Milky White” (China), Dir. Yoyo Liu
“The Pencil” (Kazakhstan), Dir. Thomas Schultz
“The Rain Lady” (U.S./Syria), Dir. Lyla Mzayek

Other special presentations include the Oscar-qualifying feature and short films screenings, including feature doc “The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru,” from Chinese director Fang Li, and live action shorts “About Mannequin,” director Aruzhan Dossymkozha’s black and white silent tribute to Kazakh storytelling, and “The Unreachable Star,” from Asian-American filmmaker Sharon S. Park.

The festival’s Snow Leopard trophies will be awarded for best film, actor, actress, special jury prize and audience award. The best cinematography winner will receive a $45,000 Panavision camera package grant.

For more information, please visit asianworldfilmfest.org.