Malaysia’s "Abang Adik" enters film screening competition in LA

1 November 2024

LOS ANGELES: The Asian World Film Festival (AWFF) announced the festival's Main Competition and Short Film lineups; select, noteworthy screenings; special program highlights; and centerpiece film.

Celebrating its 10th anniversary of showcasing Asian film from around the world, AWFF will take place from November 13 to 21, at The Culver Theater in Culver City, California.

The nine-day festival will present narrative and documentary motion pictures and short films from 27 countries, including four that premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. More than 30 of the screenings will feature live Questions and Answers with the filmmakers, talent, and crew.

Georges N. Chamchoum, AWFF Executive Director, said, "We are very grateful to the filmmakers around the world supporting this year's line-up with more than 60 narrative and documentary films. 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 Main Competition will exclusively include sixteen motion pictures submitted for the 97th Academy Award®️ for Best International Feature Film. Snow Leopard trophies will be awarded for Best Film, Best Actor, Best Actress, Special Jury Prize, and Audience Award. The Best Cinematography winner will receive a $45,000 Panavision Camera Package Grant.

Films screening in competition are "The Wrestler" (Bangladesh), Dir. Iqbal Hossain Chowdhury, "Meeting with Pol Pot" (Cambodia), Dir. Rithy Panh, "The Antique" (Georgia), Dir. Russudan Glurjidz, "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 and "Peach Blossom, Pho and Piano" (Vietnam), Dir. Phi Tiến Sơn

Twelve short films have been selected to compete in the AWFF Short Film Program and the winning film will be honored with a Panavision camera package valued at $15,000.

They 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" (UK/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" (USA/Syria), Dir. Lyla Mzayek

Special presentations of Oscar-qualifying feature and short films will take place throughout the festival. They include "The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru," from Chinese director Fang Li, which will qualify for the Academy Awards®️ as Best Documentary Feature Film. Also screening is "About Mannequin," director Aruzhan Dossym's black and white silent tribute to Kazakh storytelling and "The Unreachable Star," from Asian-American filmmaker Sharon S. Park, both of which have qualified for consideration for the Best Live Action Short Academy Award®️.

This year's Centerpiece film will be director Wong Kar-wai's masterwork "In the Mood for Love" (Hong Kong), starring multi-award-winning actors Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung.