LA Fest Showcases Diverse Asian Cinema

The Asian World Film Festival, set to run from November 12 to November 19 at the Culver Theatre in Los Angeles, has revealed its cinematic offerings for the Asian Vision and Focus On sections. The Asian Vision program, now in its third year, will present seven carefully selected films in a juried competition. These films are recognized for their artistic merit, often having been missed by other festival circuits, with the top selection receiving the Asian Vision Award. The festival will feature two North American premieres within this section. One is the Kazakh neo-Western "No Good In Sight: A Story," directed by Alibi Mukushev, and the other is the Tibetan drama "Released," helmed by Khabu, who will engage with audiences post-screening. The lineup also includes "Dear You," a Chinese blockbuster that achieved significant box office success in its home country, and "Kurak," a Kyrgyz social drama. Additionally, the section will screen "I Wanna Be Your Lobster" from Myanmar, "Bluefish" from South Korea, and "Fear," a psychological drama from Russia's Sakha Republic. AWFF Executive Director Georges N. Chamchoum emphasized the importance of these programs in celebrating and promoting outstanding Asian cinema. The Focus On section is dedicated to showcasing contemporary cinema from specific countries and regions. This year's Focus On program includes China, Japan, Palestine, Kyrgyzstan, South Korea, Taiwan, and several ASEAN member nations. China's contributions include "Once Upon A Time In The Middle East," the nation's official submission for the Oscars, and the U.S. premiere of "The Road Not Taken." Palestine's Focus will feature seven documentaries, including two official Oscar submissions: "Citizen Osama" and "Who Is Still Alive." Taiwan's offerings include "A Foggy Tale," its Oscar submission, and three shorts. Japan will present its Oscar submission "All Of A Sudden" and the animated film "Chimney Town: Frozen In Time." Kyrgyzstan's section includes the North American premiere of "Kassandra," and South Korea's will feature "Possible Love," its Oscar entry. The ASEAN program, curated by the Malaysia International Film Festival, will present films from Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Singapore, with several North American and U.S. premieres.