The 6th Annual Asian World Film Festival (AWFF) announced Festival award winners with Circus of Life directed by Sarmad Sultan Khoosat, the Oscar submission from Pakistan, taking the Snow Leopard Award for Best Film.
Better Days directed by Derek Tsang, the Hong Kong Oscar submission, received the Snow Leopard Special Jury Award on the same day the film was nominated for the Oscar for Best International Feature Film.
The Snow Leopard Award for Best Actress went to Zhou Dongyu for her performance in Better Days and the Snow Leopard Award for Best Actor went to Arif Hassan for his performance in Circus of Life.
The Snow Leopard Distinction Award went to the Women Ensemble Cast for Japanese Oscar submission True Mothers.
Uzbekistan Golden Globe submission 2000 Songs of Farida directed by Yalkin Tuychiev received the Snow Leopard Audience Award.
The HFPA Scholarship Award, presented to a new Asian short filmmaker, went to Tattoo (Iran), directed by Farhad Delaram. The runner-up was Monsters Never Know (China), directed by Ming Yang and in third place was Exam (Iran), directed by Sonia Hadad.
Executive and Program Director Georges Chamchoum said, “Throughout all our screenings, special events and the Gala Ceremony for the Snow Leopard Award presentations and Honorary recipients, the Spirit of the Asian World Film Festival has been riding high. We have stayed true to ourselves, in that the Festival continues to showcase Creativity, Performance and Entertainment. It is a Journey of Discovery and not about Political Correctness, Creed or Color! We carry and hold our banner high with one word… TALENT!”
“AWFF is thrilled that Tunisia’s The Man Who Sold His Skin, directed by Kaouther Ben Hania, and screened during the Festival, has also received an Oscar nomination for Best International Feature Film. We would like to wish both Better Days and The Man Who Sold His Skin every success at the 93rd Academy Awards this coming April!” added Managing Director Asel Sherniyazova.
The seventh edition of the Asian World Film Festival will be a physical event and take place from November 3-11, 2021 in Culver City, Los Angeles. .