9th Annual Asian World Film Festival Announces Winners at Closing Night Gala

by admin · Published November 21, 2023 · Updated November 21, 2023

Hanging Gardens” (Iraq) Wins Snow Leopard for Best Film

Michael A. Goorjian (Amerikatsi) Named Best Actor

Mouna Hawa (Inshallah a Boy) Wins Best Actress

John Milius Receives Lifetime Achievement Award

“Marry My Dead Body”(Taiwan) Wins Audience Award

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Nov. 20, 2023 — The ninth annual Asian World Film Festival (AWFF) announced its competition winners at a star-studded event on November 17 at the Culver Theater. The Hanging Gardens (Iraq) directed by Ahmed Al-Daradji, won the Snow Leopard Award for Best Film, presented by Vietnamese actress Kieu Chinh (The Joy Luck Club). Michael A. Goorjian garnered the Snow Leopard for Best Actor in Amerikatsi (Armenia). The Snow Leopard for Best Actress went to Mouna Hawa for Inshallah a Boy (Jordan). The Snow Leopard Lifetime Achievement Award, which was given to John Milius, Oscar· nominated screenwriter, film director, and producer celebrating his legendary career including Apocalypse Now, Dirty Harry, Red Dawn and Conan the Barbarian, was presented by actor Martin Kove (Karate Kid, Rambo).

The 10-day AWFF offered a wide range of more than 50 feature films and special screening programs including 23 Academy Award® and Golden Globe® submissions for Best International Feature Film and Best Motion Picture, Non-English Language respectively from Asia. Several films honored by the AWFF are the official submissions of their respective countries: Armenia – Amerikatsi, Georgia – Citizen Saint, Iran – The Night Guardian, Iraq – Hanging Gardens, Jordan – Inshallah a Boy, Taiwan– Marry My Dead Body.

The AWFF presented a series of exclusive Snow Leopard Film Awards with the assistance of Jury President Jon Amiel. The Panavision Award for Best Cinematography ($60,000 Camera Grant Package) was presented to Krum Rodriguez for Citizen Saint (Georgia) by Pitof, visual effects producer, director (Catwoman, Alien: Resurrection). The Special Jury Award went to The Night Guardian by Reza Mirkarimi (Iran), presented by actress Mai Thu Huyen (Kieu). The Audience Award went to Marry My Dead Body (Taiwan), directed by Cheng Wei Hao.

The Snow Leopard honorary awards included Outstanding Cinematic Achievement Award was given to Peter Kwong (Big Trouble in Little China), presented by actress Nancy Kwan (The World of Susie Wong). The Rising Star Award was presented to Anirudh Pisharody (Big Sky, Never Have I Ever, 9-1-1), by Breydan Maniago (Dahmer).

The Winn Slavin Humanitarian Award was given to Le Ly Hayslip, honoring her dedicated efforts to humanitarian relief, education, and development to help rebuild Vietnam, presented by fine art entrepreneur Randall Slavin. The Bruce Lee Award was presented to Tony Jaa, legendary Thai martial arts actor, action director, presented by actor Andy Cheng (Rush Hour, Shanghai Noon). AWFF New Horizon Best Film Award was given to Berlin, directed by Atul Sabharwal (India), presented by Michelle Sugihara, Executive Director of CAPE (Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment).

Georges Chamchoum, AWFF executive director

“The spirit of our 9^th Year was Discovery and we delivered on a broad range of remarkable Asian films and engaging audience experiences,” stated Georges Chamchoum, AWFF executive director. “With our return to Culver City, we broke our records for movies with 23 Oscar submissions, the filmmakers in attendance, and our loyal audience.”

The Short Films Awards, winners selected from 12 finalists from over 200 entries, include the Grand Prize for Best Film ($2,000 Winn Slavin Fine Art Gallery Award) given to The Old Young Crow by Liam LoPinto (Japan). The Runner-Up Award (Panavision Award of $15,000 Camera Package) went to Our Males and Females by Ahmad Alyaseer (Jordan). A Special Mention was given to Witness by Aida Tebianian (Iran).

The competition and honorary awards were delivered during a music-filled ceremony hosted by Mark LaBella (SWAT) and Charlene Shen (Sky Link TV). Among the evening’s internationally recognized performers were a Muy Thai martial arts exhibition, and an amazing performance from ADEM Show, Vietnamese singer Nguyen Hong Nhung and a colorful finale of Hung Gar Kung Fu and the Lion Dance Academy.

SNOW LEOPARD COMPETITION AWARDEES

Best Picture: Hanging Gardens directed by Ahmed Al-Daradji (Iraq)
Best Actor: Michael A. Goorjian in Amerikatsi (Armenia)
Best Actress: Mouna Hawa in Inshallah a Boy (Jordan)
Panavision Best Cinematography: Krum Rodriguez for Citizen Saint (Georgia)
Special Jury Prize: The Night Guardian by Reza Mirkarimi (Iran)
Audience Award: Marry My Dead Body (Taiwan), Director Cheng Wei Hao

SNOW LEOPARD HONORARY AWARDS

Lifetime Achievement Award – JOHN MILIUS
Outstanding Cinematic Achievement – PETER KWONG
Rising Star Award – ANIRUDH PISHARODY

ADDITIONAL AWARDS

The AWFF Bruce Lee Award, in partnership with the Bruce Lee Foundation – TONY JAA
AWFF New Horizon Award: BERLIN by Atul Sabharwal (India)
Winn Slavin Humanitarian Award – LE LY HAYSLIP

SHORT FILM FINALISTS

Best Film (Winn Slavin Prize): The Old Young Crow by Liam LoPinto (Japan)
Runner Up (Panavision grant): Our Males and Females by Ahmad Alyaseer (Jordan)
Special Mention: Witness by Aida Tebianian (Iran)

Hollywood legend actress Nancy Kwan (Middle)

Hollywood legend actress Kieu Chinh (Middle – stand)

Vietnamese-American photographer Nick Ut

Actress Meng Yao (Left) and Chinese-American actress and musician Bai Ling (Right)

Li Jing is known for Mulan (2020), Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022) and Pacific Rim (2013)

Janet Josephine Hsieh (Middle), Taiwanese American television personality, model, and violinist; George Young (Left), English actor, writer, and television presenter; Jim Liu (Liu, Jing Yu) , actor

AWFF co-founder & M.D. Asel Sherniyazova(Left 2); Cheng Kai-Chung, also known as Andy Cheng (Right 2), is a Hong Kong actor, stuntman, choreographer, martial artist, and director; Ankie Lau (Right 1), actress and director