The Los Angeles Post

11th Asian World Film Festival Opens in Los Angeles — Celebrating New Asian Cinema; Lucy Liu, Lee Byung-hun, and Daniel Lee Honored with Snow Leopard Awards; Special Tribute Screening for Lisa Lu

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LAPost / Los Angeles, November 11, 2025 — The 11th Asian World Film Festival (AWFF) kicked off in grand fashion at the Culver Theater in Los Angeles. Running from November 11 to 20, the ten-day cinematic celebration features 73 acclaimed films from over 30 Asian countries, including 23 official Oscar submissions for Best International Feature Film.

This year’s festival is powered by Samsung’s Cinema LED Onyx technology, with all films screened on the world’s first DCI-certified LED cinema screen — delivering an unprecedented level of visual realism and immersive experience.

AWFF Executive Director Georges N. Chamchoum remarked, “The creativity and diversity of Asian cinema continue to inspire. This year’s lineup once again showcases the richness and power of Asian filmmaking on the global stage.”

🌟 Honorees: Lucy Liu, Lee Byung-hun, Daniel Lee, Nina Ye, and Michael Jai White

Several major honors were announced at the festival:

  • Snow Leopard Lifetime Achievement Award — presented to acclaimed Hong Kong director and screenwriter Daniel Lee (The Climbers, Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon).

  • Snow Leopard Award for Outstanding Film Achievement (Actor) — awarded to Korean superstar Lee Byung-hun (No Other Choice, KPop Demon Hunters).

  • Snow Leopard Award for Outstanding Film Achievement (Actress) — presented to Chinese-American actress Lucy Liu (Rosemead, Kill Bill: Vol. 1).

  • Rising Star Award — given to Taiwanese child actress Nina Ye (The Girl with the Left Hand, Dead Talents Society).

  • Bruce Lee Award — awarded to Hollywood action star and martial artist Michael Jai White (The Dark Knight, Black Dynamite).

🎬 “Focus On” Section Showcases the Cinematic Voices of Four Nations

This year’s “Focus On” program spotlights the film cultures of Cambodia, Korea, Taiwan, and Kyrgyzstan, featuring a diverse selection of internationally recognized works, including:

  • No Other Choice (Korea, dir. Park Chan-wook)

  • The Girl with the Left Hand (Taiwan, dir. Chou Shih-ching)

  • Tenement (Cambodia, dirs. Inrasothythep Neth & Sokyou Chea)

  • Black Red Yellow (Kyrgyzstan, dir. Aktan Abdykalykov)

  • From Island to Island (Taiwan, dir. Liu Ke-hua, documentary)

The short film section includes Taiwan’s My Summer Side A (dir. Wan Jian-hui) and Cambodia’s Returning Gods (dir. Yoshirō Osaka) — both official Oscar submissions.

🎥 Special Tribute to Lisa Lu: Lisa Lu Plays Herself and 98th Birthday Celebration

As one of the festival’s most anticipated events, a special screening of the documentary Lisa Lu Plays Herself will be held on November 20 to honor the legendary Chinese-American actress Lisa Lu.
Directed by Mei-juin Chen, the film weaves rare archival footage and interviews with renowned artists, portraying Lu’s extraordinary artistic journey spanning nearly a century.

Following the screening, the festival will host a birthday celebration and tribute ceremony for Lisa Lu, who was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in May 2025. The 98-year-old icon will attend in person to celebrate this remarkable milestone with audiences.

🥋 “Motion Arts Day” Returns — Celebrating Action, Movement, and Cultural Fusion

Continuing its annual tradition, Motion Arts Day will take place on November 16 at downtown Culver City Plaza, showcasing martial arts, dance, acrobatics, and stunt performances — celebrating Asia’s dynamic action and performance culture.
Michael Jai White will be joined by actors and stunt coordinators Philip Tan (Inception, Transformers), Brandon H. Lee (Cobra Kai, Shang-Chi), and Lewis Tan (Mortal Kombat, Deadpool & Wolverine).

💡 Technology Meets Art: Samsung Onyx Forum

For the first time, Samsung joins AWFF as an official partner and will host a special forum titled “Redefining the Cinema Experience with Samsung Onyx”, inviting global filmmakers to discuss the intersection of cutting-edge viewing technology and cinematic storytelling.

11th Asian World Film Festival (AWFF 2025)
📅 Dates: November 11–20, 2025
📍 Venue: Culver Theater, Culver City, Los Angeles
🎞️ Films: 73 titles from over 30 Asian countries, including 23 official Oscar submissions