Asian World Film Festival Unveils Competition Line-up; Kyrgyzstan’s ‘Kassandra’ Set As Opening Film
The Asian World Film Festival has announced its 2026 programme, with Kyrgyzstan’s *Kassandra* opening the event and Hong Kong film *The Road Not Taken* closing it. The festival will run from 12 to 19 November at the Culver Theater in Los Angeles, showcasing films from across Asia and highlighting international Oscar submissions.
The programme includes 27 films submitted for the International Feature Oscar, with 16 selected for the main competition. Iraq’s *No Paradise If You Are Killed By A Woman* is the centrepiece, and 13 filmmakers are expected to attend for audience Q&As. Last year, eight festival films reached the Oscars shortlist and two received nominations; this year’s jury will be led by producer Arthur Sarkissian.
In short
- *Kassandra* will open the festival.
- The event runs from 12 to 19 November in Los Angeles.
- Sixteen films are in the main competition.
Explained simply
The Asian World Film Festival is an annual event in Los Angeles that presents films from across Asia. It also draws attention to films countries have put forward for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film, giving audiences a chance to see entries from different national film industries.
The Oscar category recognises films made outside the United States, with each country or region selecting a submission. Festival screenings and Q&As can introduce audiences to those films and their filmmakers; the jury, led this year by producer Arthur Sarkissian, will assess the competition entries.
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