The second annual Asian World Film Festival (AWFF) ended its week-long event Tuesday, when it announced winners for awards including Best Picture.
The Iraqi film “El Clásico,” directed by Halkawt Mustafa, won Best Picture, while Mongolia’s “The Faith,” directed by Garamkhand B., took the Audience Award. Turkish actor Haydar Sisman won Best Male Lead for “Cold of Kalandar” with South Korea’s Ji-min Han (“Age of Shadows”) and Russia’s Victoria Isakova (“The Student”) tying for Best Female Lead.
Korean producer Keon-seop Park was presented with the Cinematic Legacy Award for “cultivating Korean cinema outside of the country’s borders.”
Based in Los Angeles, the AWFF brings films from around Asia to provide a creative platform for the continent’s many directors and creators, and to help bring global recognition to their work.
“The Asian World Film Festival unfolded its second year with a big bang and is a tower of strength and opportunity for Asian filmmakers,” Georges Chanchoum, AWFF executive and program director, said in a statement. “We look forward to continuing to present films which are exciting, original, exceptional and inspiring.”
This year the event ran from Oct. 24 to Nov. 1, and included an Asian World Industry Forum that featured entertainment industry members as panelists. An award ceremony closed the festival, with more than 40 films contending.
The awards were presented by members of the AWFF jury, which include jury president Heather Rae, Oscar-winning screenwriter David Seidler (“The King’s Speech”) and Emmy-nominated director Uli Edel (“Last Exit to Brooklyn”).
The Asian World Film Festival will be back next year from Oct. 30 to Nov. 7.
