The 2021 Asian World Film Festival (AWFF) unveiled its Competition, Centerpiece, and Special Screenings slate. The closing night film will be South Korea’s official submission to the 2022 Academy Awards, Escape from Mogadishu. The AWFF, now in its seventh year, will take place November 1 – 11, 2021 at the Landmark Theater, West Pico Blvd., Los Angeles.
The Competition lineup includes the U.S. premiere of Kyrgyzstan’s Shambala, the country’s official Oscar submission. The Centerpiece movie is the documentary Qazaq: History of the Golden Man, directed by Igor Lopatonok and featuring Oliver Stone, also a producer who will attend the screening.
Among the Special Screenings is the world premiere of director Michael Pascal’s documentary feature We Are Not Alone, followed by a live Q&A with spiritual leader Deepak Chopra. Additional U.S. premieres in the festival include Lebanon’s Yusif and Kyrgyzstan’s The Road to Eden.
2021 OFFICIAL SELECTION – IN COMPETITION
(** Official Submission, 94th Academy Awards®)
Should the Wind Drop (Armenia), drama, directed by Nora Martirosyan **
Yuni (Indonesia), drama, directed by Kamila Andini **
Shambala (Kyrgyzstan), drama, directed by Artykpai Suyundukov ** U.S. premiere
Al Garib (The Stranger) (Palestine), drama, directed by Ameer Fakher Eldin,
Let It Be Morning (Israel), drama, directed by Eran Kolirin **
Pebbles (India), drama, directed by P.S. Vinothraj **
Brighton 4th (Georgia), drama, directed by Levan Koguash Vili **
200 Meters (Palestine), thriller, directed by Ameen Nayfeh
Asu (Sri Lanka), drama, directed by Sanjeewa Pushpakumara
Fire (Kazakhstan), comedy, directed by Aizhan Kassymbek
2021 OFFICIAL SELECTION, NON-COMPETITIVE
The Road to Eden (Kyrgyzstan), drama, directed by Dastan Zhaparuulu and Bakyt Mukul U.S. premiere
Wuhan Wuhan (China), documentary, directed by Yung Chang,
Raging Fire (Hong Kong), action thriller, directed by Benny Chan,
A Writer’s Odyssey (China), action fantasy, directed by Lu Yang
Yusif (Lebanon), psychological thriller, directed by Mohamad Kazeem Fayad (Kazim Fayad)
2021 CENTERPIECE FILM
Qazaq History of the Golden Man (USA), documentary, directed by Igor Lopatonok
2021 SPECIAL SCREENINGS
Flower Drum Song (USA, 1961), musical, directed by Henry Koster, 60th Anniversary, actress Nancy Kwan to attend
The Disappearance of Mrs. Wu(USA), comedy, directed by Anna Chi, Tribute to Lisa Lu’s 65th anniversary in entertainment, cast and crew appearances
The Villainess(2017), South Korea, thriller, directed by Jung Byung-gil
Ahimsa Gandhi: The Power of the Powerless (India) documentary, directed by Ramesh Sharma
Americanish (USA) comedy, directed by Iman K. Zawahry
Fathers (Cambodia), drama, directed by Huy Yaleng
Journey from the Fall (USA, 2006), drama, directed by Ham Tran Tribute to the movie’s 15th anniversary. Actress Kieu Chinh will appear in-person, followed by book signing with Kieu Chinh, Vietnamese American actress, humanitarian, lecturer, and philanthropist.
Dawn of Thunder (The Origin of Sango): Sneak Screening of the animated feature by GDN Studios Nigeria. World Premiere