10th Annual Asian World Film Festival Announces Winners at Closing Night Gala (2024)

"Abang Adik"(Malaysia) Takes Home Snow Leopard for Best Film

Wu Kang-ren("Abang Adik") Named Best Actor

DiamondBou Abboud("Arze")Wins Best Actress

Sergei BodrovHonored withLifetime Achievement Award

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The 10th annualAsian World Film Festival(AWFF) announced its winners at a star-studded Closing Night Gala Awards Ceremony Thursday, November 21, at the Culver Theater. Over 60 films and special screenings, including 24 Academy Award submissions for Best International Feature Film, were presented over the nine days of the AWFF, held November 13 - 21.The ceremony was hosted by Kyrgyz director and actressElnura Osmanalievaand TV host, Golden Globe member, filmmaker and actorMico Saad.

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The Main Competition presented a series of exclusive Snow Leopard Awards with the assistance of Iris Wang, Jury President, producer ("Kung Fu Yoga,""The Composer"). Crime/drama"Abang Adik"(Malaysia), directed by Jin Ong, won theSnow Leopard Award for Best Film. The film also won the Snow LeopardBest ActorAward forWu Kang-ren.The Snow Leopard for Best Actresswent toDiamond Bou Abboudfor the social dramedy"Arze"(Lebanon), directed by Mira Shaib.

The Snow LeopardSpecial Jury Prizewent to family drama"In the Arms of the Tree"(Iran) directed by Babak Khajeh Pasha. The Snow Leopard Panavision Award forBest Cinematography, along with a $45,000 Panavision Camera Package Grant, was awarded to cinematographerZhanrbek Yeleubekfor Kazakhstan's coming of age drama"Bauryna Salu," and accepted by the film's director Askhat Kuchinchirekov and producer Dias Feld. The Snow LeopardAudience Awardwent to"The Glassworker"(Pakistan), directed by Usman Riaz.

Writer, director and producerSergei Bodrov("Mongol," "Prisoner of the Mountains")received the AWFFLifetime Achievement Award. The award was presented by Kazakhstan actressAyanat Ksenbai("About Mannequin").

Hong Kong filmmakerPeter Ho-Sun Chan("Warlords,""Comrades: Almost a Love Story") was presented with theOutstanding Cinematic Achievement Awardby producerAndre Morgan("The Cannonball Run,""The Warlords"). The Rising Star Awardwent to Filipino actressKathryn Bernardo("The Hows of Us,""Hello, Love, Goodbye") presented by actressKieu Chinh("The Joy Luck Club,""Hamburger Hill").

Executive Director Georges N. Chamchoum said, "There is always a beginning and end to everything—except at the Asian World Film Festival. This 10^th Anniversary year was filled with inspiring milestones, discovery, joy, and thrills! The myriads of movies we screened, the special country spotlights and the dedicated filmmaker panels, have brought the richness of our heritage to the forefront. Asia is a wellspring of incredibly talented filmmakers, offering valuable lessons, especially in this age of technology. The AWFF continues to showcase exceptional movies filled with heart, soul, and captivating storytelling. Onward to November 2025!"

The Bruce Lee Award, in partnership with the Bruce Lee Foundation, was presented to martial artist and actorMark Dacascos("Brotherhood of the Wolf," "John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum") by Lee's daughter Shannon Lee, CEO of the Bruce Lee Foundation. The Asian Vision Best Film Award was given to "Night Courier" (Saudi Arabia), directed by Ali Kalthami.

The Short Film Jury composed of filmmakers and industry professionals from the U.S. and abroad, was headed by Jury President, Head of HDR Content Workflow, Barco)Joachim Zell.The Best Short Film, with a prize of a $15,000 Panavision Camera Package grant, went to"Lullaby"(UK/Vietnam) directed by Chi Thai. The award was presented by producerZhu Xufangand accepted by actressMai Thu Huyen("A Fragile Flower,""Kieu"). A Special Mention was given to"Mar Mama" (Palestine), directed by Majdi El Omari.

The complete awards list is as follows:

SNOW LEOPARD COMPETITION AWARDEES

Best Picture: "Abang Adik" (Malaysia) directed by Jin Ong
Best Actor: Wu Kang-ren in "Abang Adik" (Malaysia)
Best Actress: Diamond Bou Abboud in "Arze" (Lebanon)
Panavision Best Cinematography: Zhanrbek Yeleubek for "Bauryna Salu" (Kazakhstan)
Special Jury Prize: "In the Arms of the Tree" (Iran) directed by Babak Khajeh Pasha
Audience Award: "The Glassworker" (Pakistan) directed by Usman Riaz

SNOW LEOPARD HONORARY AWARDS

Lifetime Achievement Award – Sergei Bodrov
Outstanding Cinematic Achievement – Peter Ho-Sun Chan
Rising Star Award – Kathryn Bernardo

ASIAN VISION BEST FILM AWARD:

See Also

Southeast Asian film festivals | IIAS

"Night Courier" (Saudi Arabia)directed by Ali Kalthami

AWFF BRUCE LEE AWARD(in partnership with the Bruce Lee Foundation)

MarkDacascos

SHORT FILM FINALISTS

Best Short Film:"Lullaby"(UK/Vietnam) directed by Chi Thai
Special Mention:"Mar Mama" (Palestine) directed by Majdi El Omari

The AWFF series of Snow Leopard Awards is bestowed in partnership with The Snow Leopard Trustto raise awareness for the endangered snow leopard and their Asian ecosystem.

AWFF SPONSORS
The Asian World Film Festival is proudly sponsored by Aitysh Film, Pechanga Casino Resort, Panavision, Bruce Lee Foundation, Korean Cultural Center (Los Angeles), Korean Film Council (KOFIC), Taiwan Academy (Los Angeles), Hollywood Arab Film Association (Los Angeles), Vietnam Cinema Association (Hanoi, Vietnam), Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office, Kyrgyz Film,Ministry of Culture & Tourism Republic of Turkiye,Directorate General of Cinema (Turkiye),Republic of Turkiye Los Angeles Consulate General, Beirut Film Association (Lebanon), Meihodo(Japan), MoRedii, Culver City Arts Foundation, CAPE (Los Angeles),AARP (California), Blackmagic Design, Emporium Thai (Los Angeles), NAMOO (Marina Del Rey), Jackson Market & Deli (Culver City,Shin Beijing (Los Angeles), H.C. Foods and Asahi Beer, among many others.

ABOUT THE ASIAN WORLD FILM FESTIVAL (AWFF)
Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2024, the Asian World Film Festival (AWFF) was founded by Kyrgyz public figure Sadyk Sher-Niyaz to bring the best of Asian cinema to Los Angeles and to strengthen ties between the Asian and Hollywood film industries. The festival screens feature films from more than 50 countries, spanning from Japan to Turkey and Russia to India and Southeast Asia. As of 2024, AWFF is the only Los Angeles-based festival that showcases most Asian submissions Academy Award^® and Golden Globe^® for Best International Feature Film and Best Motion Picture - Non-English Language respectively. AWFF is a non-profit organization under Aitysh USA.