The 10th Annual Asian World Film Festival (AWFF) has unveiled the lineup for its inaugural Asian Vision program, designed to highlight remarkable Asian feature films that have either participated in major A-list film festivals or received international acclaim. This exciting program, featuring eight outstanding motion pictures, will take place from November 17 to 19, 2024, with the top film being honored with the Asian Vision Best Film Award. The festival itself runs from November 13 to 21, 2024, at the Culver Theatre in Culver City, CA.
This year, the prestigious Snow Leopard Lifetime Achievement Award, the festival’s highest honor, will be awarded to esteemed director, screenwriter, and producer Sergei Bodrov, celebrating his impressive 50-year career. Bodrov is recognized as a visionary filmmaker, gaining acclaim for works like “Mongol: The Rise of Genghis Khan” (2007), which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, and “Prisoner of the Mountains” (1996), an Oscar nominee that also won the FIPRESCI Prize at the Cannes Film Festival.
The Snow Leopard Outstanding Cinematic Achievement Award will go to director, producer, and screenwriter Peter Ho-Sun Chan, celebrated as one of Hong Kong’s most accomplished filmmakers. Known for his versatility and depth, Chan’s iconic films, including “Comrades: Almost a Love Story” (1996) and “The Warlords” (2007), have earned him a staggering 233 awards from over 400 nominations. As previously announced, AWFF will screen “Comrades: Almost a Love Story,” followed by a Q&A session with Chan.
Multi-award-winning actress Kathryn Bernardo will be honored with the Snow Leopard Rising Star Award. Dubbed the Box Office Queen by PeopleAsia and recognized as Outstanding Asian Star at the Seoul International Drama Awards, Bernardo has made a name for herself as one of the most beloved and bankable stars in the Philippines. Her star power will shine at AWFF’s closing night with the screening of her latest film, “Hello, Love, Again.”
The Bruce Lee Award will be presented to the versatile martial artist and actor Mark Dacascos, who has built a remarkable career spanning nearly four decades in cinema. Dacascos is known for memorable performances in more than 40 feature films, including his notable role as the lethal assassin Zero in “John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum,” Mani in the French hit “Brotherhood of the Wolf,” and Toby Wong in the cult action film “Drive.”
Festival Executive Director Georges N. Chamchoum shared, “Asian Vision is such an inspiring initiative. Celebrating the creativity and talent of Asian filmmakers—who often go unrecognized—is incredibly important. Moreover, this program offers a unique platform for movie lovers to discover the vast and diverse world of Asian cinema. Organizing such a new program truly showcases the richness and variety of films emerging from Asia, presenting fresh perspectives and stories to audiences worldwide. It’s a wonderful way to cultivate a deeper appreciation for the art and culture these films embody.”
AWFF has also announced the jury lineup for both the Main Competition and the Short Film Program. The Snow Leopard Main Competition Jury will be chaired by Jury President Iris Wang, producer and VP of Shinework Pictures. Joining her are cinematographer and producer Patti Lee; singer, actress, presenter, and model Nguyen Cao Ky Duyen; award-winning filmmaker Sam Kadi; actress Stephanie Nur; acclaimed actress and writer Sue Shaheen; and producer and actor Jiin Jang.
The Short Film Jury will be led by Joachim Zell, Head of HDR Content at BARCO. Other jurors for the Short Film segment include award-winning filmmaker David Boo; actress, fashion designer, and humanitarian Ayanat Ksenbai; award-winning cinematographer Jacek Laskus; notable filmmaker Sharon Park; acclaimed screenwriter and director Aya Mheidly; award-winning director Jang Cheol-Soo; and producer and investor Zhu Xufang.
Asian Vision Lineup
In curating the Asian Vision program, AWFF focused on highlighting filmmakers and talent from lesser-known Asian countries and autonomous regions, aiming to increase their visibility and recognition on the international stage. The program will feature:
- “Deal at the Border” (Kyrgyzstan), Dastan Zhapar Ryskeldi, director
- “Hiding Saddam Hussein” (Iraq/Norway), Halkawt Mustafa, director
- “Karina” (Yakutia), Marianna Siegen, director
- “The Legends of Eternal Snow” (Yakutia), Alexey Romanov, director
- “Mado” (Japan), MAO, director
- “Night Courier” (Saudi Arabia), Ali Kalthami, director
- “Smoking Tigers” (Japan), So Young Shelly Yo, director
- “The Killers” (South Korea), multiple directors
Detailed event information can be found on the AWFF website.
