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.”
Several major honors were announced at the festival:
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.
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).
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.
