Asian World Film Festival Announces Competition Line-up with ‘Kassandra’ as Opener

Festival Overview

The Asian World Film Festival (AWFF) has unveiled its competition line-up and programming for its upcoming edition, scheduled for November 12-19, 2026, at the Culver Theater in Los Angeles. Founded by Sadyk Sher-Niyaz and led by Executive Director Georges N. Chamchoum, the festival features films from over 33 nations and territories.

Key Selections

• Opening Film: *Kassandra* (Kyrgyzstan), directed by Bekzat Pirmatov. It is also the country's official submission for the Best International Feature category at the Oscars.
• Centerpiece Film: *No Paradise If You Are Killed By A Woman* (Iraq), directed by Halkawt Mustafa.
• Closing Film: *The Road Not Taken* (Hong Kong), directed by Peter Ho-sun Chan.

Competition and Jury

The festival will screen 27 official International Oscar submissions, with 16 competing in the main category. The jury is presided over by U.S. producer Arthur Sarkissian, joined by Mina Chow, Zaur Darabzada, and Jasmine Suraya Chin.

Main Competition Line-up

• Bangladesh: *Roid*
• China: *Once Upon A Time In The Middle East*
• Iraq: *No Paradise If You Are Killed By A Woman*
• Israel: *Tell Me Everything*
• Kazakhstan: *Abel*
• Malaysia: *The Fox King*
• Mongolia: *Independence: Keeper Of The Prophecy*
• Pakistan: *Hanging By A Wire*
• Palestine: *Citizen Osama*
• Philippines: *Filipiñana*
• Sri Lanka: *Riverstone*
• Syria: *Other Side Of The Sun*
• Taiwan: *A Foggy Tale*
• Turkey: *Like A Limbless Tree*
• Vietnam: *Spirit Guardians: The Last Secret Of The First Emperor*