News

Exclusive: Est Studios has entered into a partnership with New York and Bangkok-based N8 Studios to represent a slate of Asian films at global markets including the Marche du Film at Cannes.

The two companies will focus on international sales of Thai, Korean, Chinese and Indonesian titles. “The goal is to bring Asia to the World, forge new partnerships with filmmakers from the East and introduce new premium Asian film and television IP to global audiences,” the partners said in a statement.

The first title in the partnership is Thai hit thriller horror Home For Rent, co-produced by N8 Studios and Thailand’s Gdh. The film has been widely released theatrically in Asia by Gdh and will soon be rolled out across Latin America. Est N8 will represent the film in North America.

The partnership was negotiated by Tenten Wei for Est Studios and N8 Studios’ co-founder Kris Eiamsakulrat

“We...

Director Caylee So’s credits include 2019 Cambodian Oscar submission In The Life Of Music.

Est Studios is talking to international buyers in Cannes on Cambodian drama The Harvest from Caylee So, who co-directed Cambodia’s 2019 Oscar submission In The Life Of Music.

Based on a screenplay by Mulan and Gran Torino actor Doua Moua, the story revolves around a man who returns home to his ailing father against a backdrop of shifting cultural traditions in the Hmong community.

Doua Moua, Perry Yung (Warriors & The Knick), Dawn Ying Yuen and Chrisna Chhor star and John Houselog and Moua produced.

The Harvest...

Outfest Fusion, LA nonprofit Outfest‘s film festival dedicated to queer Bipoc storytelling, has unveiled the full lineup of films for its 20th anniversary festival.

10 features, 93 short films, and four TV presentations will screen during the March festival in Los Angeles, including Sundance documentaries “Little Richard: I Am Everything” and “The Stroll.” Documentary “Kenyatta: Do Not Wait Your Turn,” produced by Xpedition and Al Roker, and featuring Lee Daniels, will make its North American premiere during the festival; in total, 23 films will make world premieres, five will make their U.S. premiere, four their international premieres, and three their North American premieres. Over half of all films were directed by women, non-binary, two spirit, or gender-nonconforming filmmakers.

“We are at a moment where our industry is ready to have an honest dialogue about inclusion, investment and representation of people of color and yet our entire LGBTQ+ population is facing a...

Outfest is gearing up for the 20th anniversary of its Outfest Fusion Qtbipoc Film Festival.

The organization revealed on Tuesday the lineup of films that will screen during the 10-day festival as well as the news that The Inspection filmmaker Elegance Bratton has been selected to receive the Fusion Achievement Award at the opening night gala on March 24.

The honor recognizes “an individual who has made a significant contribution to LGBTQ+ visibility in stories, arts and media,” per Outfest. Bratton has been making the rounds as of late for A24’s The Inspection starring Jeremy Pope and Gabrielle Union. Inspired by his own story, The Inspection follows a gay Black man who is rejected by his mother and left with few options for his future. He then decides to join the Marines where he finds unexpected camaraderie, strength and support in this new community, giving him a hard-earned sense of...

Outfest has announced its feature lineup for its 2023 Outfest Fusion Qtbipoc Film Festival, which will run from March 24 through April 2.

Outfest Fusion will be celebrating its 20th anniversary by showcasing Lgbtqia+ filmmakers and their various films depicting queer and transgender stories. There will be nine features, including two 2023 Sundance documentaries, “Little Richard: I Am Everything” from Lisa Cortés and “The Stroll” from Kristen Lovell and Zackary Drucker. Cortés documentary explores how Richard “Little Richard” Penniman worked through his struggles with his sexuality, all while he made his mark on rock n’ roll. While Lovell and Drucker follow transgender women of color as they detail the community’s history of sex work in New York City.

In addition, the Outfest Fusion lineup includes Dawn Mikkelson, Keri Pickett’s “Finding Her Beat;” Fábio Leal’s “Follow The Protocol;” Timothy Harris’ “Kenyatta: Do Not Wait Your Turn;” Joseph Amenta’s “Soft;” Lorena Zilleruelo...

Following the very interesting “In the Life of Music”, Cambodian Caylee So now presents a rather different film with “The Harvest”, a Southeast Asian-American story written and starred in by Hmong American actor Doua Moua.

“The Harvest” review is part of the Submit Your Film Initiative

Thai returns to his parents house in Southern California, after a car accident leaves his family in need of his help, but the reunion is anything but idyllic. His father Cher, is as despotic as always, towards both his daughter Sue, and his wife Youa, and the fact that he is experiencing kidney failure but is not willing to take his medicine is not helping at all. His disappointment towards his son is also rather evident, both when he learns that he has quit his job as tutor to work in a restaurant, and because he feels betrayed by his leaving. The whole setting...

Doua Moua’s big break came in 2008, when he was cast as “Spider” in the film “Gran Torino” — the first feature film to spotlight Hmong Americans. Now 15 years later, Moua’s family drama, “The Harvest” — which he wrote, produced and stars in — is set for its world premiere at the Santa Barbara Film Festival.

Moua sat down with TheWrap’s Lawrence Yee ahead of the festival to talk about his labor of love.

Tell us about the genesis of the project

Doua Moua: After “Gran Torino,” I was on hold for a couple of different projects. They all kinda fell through because [the role] went to a white guy or the project got shelved. So it got to the point, “When am I going to get another role if I don’t write a film for myself?

I went back and forth — should I tell the story about my dad and me,...

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival announced plans Wednesday for 52 world premieres and 78 U.S. premieres spanning a total of 43 countries throughout the 11-day event.

“At a time where there’s a dwindling of movie theater attendance, the role of film festivals has never been more important,” said Sbiff executive director Roger Durling. “At Sbiff, with the 38th edition, our marching orders are clear, to celebrate movies and to nurture and exalt the film community, the artists as well as the cinephiles. It’s a great slate with 43 countries represented.”

The festival starts Feb. 8 with the world premiere of “Miranda’s Victim” from director-producer Michelle Danner. The period piece is set in the year 1963 and documents the true story of Patricia “Trish” Weir (Abigal Breslin), who attempts to put her abuser behind bars after being kidnapped and sexually assaulted at 18 years old.

Director Chandler Levack’s “I Like Movies” will...

The 38th edition of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, which will run Feb. 8-18, will open with Miranda’s Victim, one of 52 world premieres in this year’s lineup, and will close with the U.S. premiere of I Like Movies, one of 78 U.S. premieres, the fest announced Wednesday.

These are, of course, in addition to a slew of the career-retrospective tributes for which the fest is famous, which this year will celebrate the likes of Cate Blanchett, Brendan Fraser, Angela Bassett, Jamie Lee Curtis, Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, as well as panels with breakthrough artists, artisans, directors, writers, producers, female creatives and international filmmakers.

The fest will also offer a variety of free educational programs, including Mike’s Field Trip to the Movies (for 4,000-plus fourth through sixth grade students from low-income schools throughout Santa Barbara County), which this year will feature a screening of Guillermo del Toro...

The Santa Barbara Film Festival has today unveiled the lineup for its 38th edition, taking place in-person from February 8-18.

The festival will open with the world premiere of the courtroom drama Miranda’s Victim, from director Michelle Danner. Pic tells the true story of Trish Weir (Abigail Breslin), who in 1963 was kidnapped and brutally raped by Ernesto Miranda. Committed to putting her assailant in prison, Trish’s life is destroyed by America’s legal system as she triggers a law that transforms the nation. Ryan Phillippe, Luke Wilson, Donald Sutherland, Mireille Enos, Andy Garcia and more also star.

Closing out Sbiff 2023 is the Chandler Levack-directed I Like Movies, which makes its U.S. premiere. The film starring Isaiah Lehtinen, Romina D’Ugo, Krista Bridges and Percy Hynes White follows the socially inept, 17-year-old cinephile Lawrence (Lehtinen) as he gets a job at a video store, there forming a complicated...

Doua Moua is set to lead the independent film “The Harvest.” The film — a family drama — will be directed by director Caylee So (“In the Life of Music”), who like Moua is of Southeast Asian descent.

“The Harvest” tells the story of an estranged son who returns home to help his ailing and traditional Hmong father, only to set off a chain of events that affects the lives of his entire family. Moua wrote the Cape List and Nicholl Semi-Finalist screenplay in 2009 and tells TheWrap he is excited to finally bring a Hmong tale to the big screen.

“As an actor, I was told my type of Asian does not fit into the narrative of America. Which lead me to writing narratives that I want to tell. I want to redefine what diversity really means and that is inclusion, in front and behind the camera. ‘The Harvest’ may have taken...

Cambodia’S Largest International Cultural Event Celebrates 10 Years!

The 10th Ciff presents film from 44 countries through a selection of 157 films, including short and feature films, documentaries, and animation.

From March 13 to 22nd, Ciff offers 150+ screenings in all major cinemas of Phnom Penh; venues included this year are Legend Cinemas, Major Cineplex, Bophana Center, Chaktomuk Theater, Rosewood Hotel & The Ciff Village @ Echange Square.

Ciff Is Possible Thanks to all partners and industry supporters and we are glad to announce Cellcard as Presenting Partner of the Festival.

Opening Ceremony On March 13th will host Cellcard’s Ambassador Suzanna Reth.

Cambodian Cinema – Films made-in and About Cambodia

Buoyancy

– Stories In Cambodia includes fictions related to Cambodia including the recent feature films shot in the Kingdom such as Buoyancy (multi Awarded Film in Festivals around the word) dealing with the topic of human trafficking in Cambodia and Southeast Asia. Also The Clock: Spirits Awakening...

Among the record 92 submissions this year, 27 titles are directed or co-directed by women. There are six documentaries in the mix, as well as two animated features. Moreover, for the first time, Ghana and Uzbekistan are each fielding an entry. However, Nigeria’s submission was disqualified by the Academy as being mostly in the English language. Here’s a guide to the films, including logline and sales or production contact.

Albania

“The Delegation”

Director: Bujar Alimani

Logline: In autumn 1990,

a political prisoner is secretly taken out of jail to meet the head of the European delegation investigating human-rights violations. But nothing goes according to plan.

Key Cast: Viktor Zhusti, Ndriçim Xhepa, Xhevdet Feri

Sales: Art Film

Algeria

“Papicha”

Director: Mounia Meddour

Logline: A female student rebels against the bans set by radicals during the civil war and plans a fashion show.

Key Cast: Lyna Khoudri, Shirine Boutella, Amira Hilda Douaouda

Sales:...

The Fifth Annual Asian World Film Festival November 6–14, Announces Expanded Two Day Industry Forum Schedule and Content

by TV News Desk Oct. 28, 2019

The 2019 Awff Industry Forum schedule has been announced by Asian World Film Festival Director, Georges N. Chamchoum, and Rick Ambros, Awff Executive Board Member, who will moderate the panels. Experts from all areas of film including financing, streaming, development & production, legal and international co-production will be in attendance. Those who attend the Industry Forums will learn more about the current state of film on an international scale and what the future of the entertainment industry looks like from top industry insiders on panels at each of the forums.

James Farrell

Headlined by James Farrell, Head of International Originals at Amazon Studios, the global streaming panel will examine how the voracious appetite for online content is changing the dynamics of the entertainment business. The future of film finance will...

Earlier in the week, we finally learned which films would be selected by all of the countries in search of Academy Award love in Best International Feature. Not only did we get the answers to some questions regarding what each nation would pick, but we found that a record breaking 93 submissions have been made here in 2019. It’s truly the largest slate ever for voters to sift through. Talk about a good problem to have! Below you can see all of the titles in competition for the Best International Feature Oscar. Right now, only Parasite from South Korea and Pain and Glory from Spain seem like safe bets, with the former almost assured of winning the Academy Award. Aside from them? Anything goes in this category, which has potential nominees like Atlantics from Senegal, Beanpole from Russia, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind from the United Kingdom, The Chambermaid from Mexico,...

Every year since its creation in 1956, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) invites the film industries of various countries to submit their best film for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. The award is presented annually by the Academy to a feature-length motion picture produced outside the United States that contains primarily non-English dialogue and that was released theatrically in their respective countries between 1 October 2018 and 30 September 2019.

Here are the Asian Submissions for Best Foreign Language Film. There are some excellent movies in this bunch and we have seen and reviewed already some of them.

Afghanistan

“Hava, Maryam, Ayesha” by Sahraa Karimi

Hava, Maryam, Ayesha

Armenia

“Lengthy Night” by Edgar Baghdasaryan

Lenghty Night

Bangladesh

“Alpha” by Nasiruddin Yousuff

Alpha

Cambodia

“In The Life of Music” by Caylee So and Sok Visal

In The Life of Music

China

“Ne Zha” by Jiaozi

Ne Zha

Georgia

“Shindisi...

A record 93 countries submitted entries in the International Feature Film race at the 2020 Oscars. That is up by six from last year,when the category was still called Best Foreign-Language Film, and eclipses the record 92 submissions in 2018. The nations represented ranged from A (Albania) to V (Vietnam). Predicting the eventual five Oscar nominees is made difficult by the two-step process.

First, the several hundred academy members of the Foreign-Language Film screening committee are required to watch a number of the submissions (upwards of a dozen) over a two-month period that ends in mid December. They will rate them from 6 to 10 and their top six vote-getters make it to the next round, as will three films added by the 20 members of the executive committee.

Those nine semi-finalists will be screened three per day beginning in early January by select committee members in Gotham, Hollywood, London and San Francisco. These 40 folks will...

A record-breaking total of 93 countries have submitted entries to be considered for best international film nominations at the Academy Awards.

The Academy announced the full list of eligible films and countries on Monday. Ghana, Nigeria and Uzbekisztan are competing for the first time in the category, which was previously known as the best foreign-language film category.

The previous high for submissions was 92 in 2017. A total of 87 films were submitted last year. Alfonso Cuaron’s “Roma” won the category this year, becoming the first Mexican entry to win the award.

High-profile entries include South Korea’s “Parasite,” Bong Joon Ho’s black comedy which won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival; Spain’s “Pain and Glory” from Pedro Almodovar with Antonio Banderas starring as a film director; Japan’s “Weathering With You,” the country’s first animated entry since “Princess Mononoke”; Senegal’s “Atlantics” from director Mati Diop,...

The 2020 foreign-language Oscar nominees will come from submissions from 93 countries, up from last year’s 87, and breaking the record 92 from 2017. A contender for the renamed Best International Feature must be a feature-length motion picture (more than 40 minutes) produced outside the United States with a predominantly non-English dialogue track.

Ghana, Nigeria, and Uzbekistan are first-time entrants, but Uganda did not qualify. China (Yu Yang’s “Ne Zha”) and Senegal (Mati Diop’s “Atlantics”) submitted their films under the wire on the deadline of October 1.

Earlier this year, the Academy’s Board of Governors voted not only to rename the Foreign Language Film category, but to expand the shortlist from nine films to 10.

The 2019 submissions, listed in alphabetical order by country, are:

Albania, “The Delegation,” Bujar Alimani, director;

Algeria, “Papicha,” Mounia Meddour, director;

Argentina, “Heroic Losers,” Sebastián Borensztein, director;

Armenia, “Lengthy Night,” Edgar Baghdasaryan, director;

Australia, “Buoyancy,” Rodd Rathjen, director;

Austria, “Joy,...

The 2020 foreign-language Oscar nominees will come from submissions from 93 countries, up from last year’s 87, and breaking the record 92 from 2017. A contender for the renamed Best International Feature must be a feature-length motion picture (more than 40 minutes) produced outside the United States with a predominantly non-English dialogue track.

Ghana, Nigeria, and Uzbekistan are first-time entrants, but Uganda did not qualify. China (Yu Yang’s “Ne Zha”) and Senegal (Mati Diop’s “Atlantics”) submitted their films under the wire on the deadline of October 1.

Earlier this year, the Academy’s Board of Governors voted not only to rename the Foreign Language Film category, but to expand the shortlist from nine films to 10.

The 2019 submissions, listed in alphabetical order by country, are:

Albania, “The Delegation,” Bujar Alimani, director;

Algeria, “Papicha,” Mounia Meddour, director;

Argentina, “Heroic Losers,” Sebastián Borensztein, director;

Armenia, “Lengthy Night,” Edgar Baghdasaryan, director;

Australia, “Buoyancy,” Rodd Rathjen, director;

Austria, “Joy,...

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has released the full list of countries that have submitted a pic for consideration for the new International Feature Film Oscar category.

Here are the 93 nations and their hopefuls, in alphabetical order:

Albania, The Delegation, Bujar Alimani, director;

Algeria, Papicha, Mounia Meddour, director;

Argentina, Heroic Losers, Sebastián Borensztein, director;

Armenia, Lengthy Night, Edgar Baghdasaryan, director;

Australia, Buoyancy, Rodd Rathjen, director;

Austria, Joy, Sudabeh Mortezai, director;

Bangladesh, Alpha, Nasiruddin Yousuff, director;

Belarus, Debut, Anastasiya Miroshnichenko, director;

Belgium, Our Mothers, César Díaz, director;

Bolivia, I Miss You, Rodrigo Bellott, director;

Bosnia and Herzegovina, The Son, Ines Tanovic, director;

Brazil, Invisible Life, Karim Aïnouz, director;

Bulgaria, Ága, Milko Lazarov, director;

Cambodia, In the Life of Music, Caylee So, Sok Visal, directors;

Canada, Antigone, Sophie Deraspe, director;

Chile, Spider, Andrés Wood, director;

China, Ne Zha, Yu Yang, director;

Colombia, Monos, Alejandro Landes, director;

Costa Rica, The Awakening of the Ants,...

A record-breaking total of 93 countries will be competing in the Oscar race for Best International Feature Film, the new name for what previously has been known as the Best Foreign-Language Film category.

The Academy announced the full list of eligible films and countries on Monday, with three countries — Ghana, Nigeria and Uzbekistan — competing in the category for the first time.

The previous high for submissions was 92 films, which was set in 2017. This year’s field also sets a new record for the number of women with films in the race, with 29 female directors responsible for 28 of the qualifying films.

One film, Algeria’s “Papicha,” needed a special ruling from the Academy to retain its eligibility. The film was scheduled to open in Algeria in late September, but the Algerian government cancelled the screenings without explanation just before they were scheduled to happen, presumably because it was uncomfortable with a film...

Cambodia has chosen In the Life of Music — a drama that follows the fortunes of a family across three generations — as its entry for the best international feature film category at the 2020 Oscars.

Co-directed by Caylee So and Sok Visal, the narrative plays out across three time periods — beginning in 1968, then picking up the thread in 1976, soon after the brutal Khmer Rouge regime took hold of Cambodia, and, finally, turning attention to 2007.

The film stars Sreynan Chea, Vandarith Phem, Ellen Wong and Arn-Chorn Pond and binds its characters together through their love of ...

Cambodia has chosen In the Life of Music — a drama that follows the fortunes of a family across three generations — as its entry for the best international feature film category at the 2020 Oscars.

Co-directed by Caylee So and Sok Visal, the narrative plays out across three time periods — beginning in 1968, then picking up the thread in 1976, soon after the brutal Khmer Rouge regime took hold of Cambodia, and, finally, turning attention to 2007.

The film stars Sreynan Chea, Vandarith Phem, Ellen Wong and Arn-Chorn Pond and binds its characters together through their love of ...

Germany has chosen Nora Fingscheidt’s “System Crasher” as its entry for the newly re-branded International Feature Film award at the 92nd Academy Awards, it was announced Wednesday by promotional body German Films.

Produced by Kineo Filmproduktion and Weydemann Bros, the film won a Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival, where it received its world premiere in February, and has since gone on to be a fixture on the festival circuit picking up a number of other prizes. It stars Helena Zengel as nine-year-old Benni, whose untamed energy in her wild quest for love drives everyone around her to despair.

The film was chosen from a list of seven films, submitted by their producers, by the eight members of the German selection committee, which consists of representatives from eight German cinema trade associations and institutions. German Films organizes the selection procedure for the German candidate for the Oscars’ International...

“We’re together now. It’ll be fine.”

For director Denis Do the task of making his first film is closely linked to his family’s history. Born in 1985 in Paris, Do is a child of three different cultures; the French, the Chinese and the Cambodian. His first feature “Funan” – as the closing credits state – is dedicated to his mother, his brother as well as the survivors of the Khmer Rouge regimes in Cambodia between 1975 to 1979. In an interview with Zippy Frames from 2013, the director mentions how his mother lost his brother in the turmoils of the Khmer Rouge’s rise to power. Only after the regime ended the family was eventually able to re-connect, a fate which many Cambodians shared, while others never saw their relatives again.

“Funan” is screening at the 27th Art Film Fest Kosice

However, “Funan” is not a political film in the mind of its director.

Platform will screen features The Elephant Queen, Hala at Sicilian festival.

The Taormina Film Festival (June 30-July 6) in Sicily will celebrate the first TV series in its 65-year history when Octavia Spencer flies in on behalf of Apple TV+’s forthcoming true-crime drama Truth Be Told.

The series will debut on the Apple TV app this autumn. Series executive producer/star Spencer will attend the Italian festival, where she will receive the Taormina Arte Award and highlight the series, which is inspired by a true-crime novel by Katherine Barber.

Apple will screen two of its films at the festival. Mark Deeble...

Platform will screen features The Elephant Queen, Hala at Sicilian festival.

The Taormina Film Festival (June 30-July 6) in Sicily will celebrate the first TV series in its 65-year history when Octavia Spencer flies in to discuss Apple TV+’s forthcoming true-crime drama Truth Be Told.

The series will debut on the Apple TV app this autumn. Series creator and executive producer/star Spencer will attend the Italian festival, where she will receive the Taormina Arte Award and talk about the series, which is inspired by a true-crime novel by Katherine Barber.

Sicilian festival will screen the first TV series in its 65-year history.

The Taormina Film Festival (June 30-July 6) in Sicily will screen the first TV series in its 65-year history, Apple TV+’s forthcoming drama Truth Be Told.

Apple will offer a first-look at the series, which will debut on the Apple TV app this autumn. Series creator and executive producer/star Octavia Spencer will come to Taormina to present the series, which is inspired by a true-crime novel by Katherine Barber.

Apple will also show preview footage of See starring Alfre Woodard, and The Morning Show starring Jennifer Aniston,...

The Festival runs February 14-23 in New York City with a jam-packed schedule of 89 fantastic films from 32 countries, seriously amazing discussion panels, cool networking events and super-fun parties

We’ve got something for everyone, with a diverse mixture of shorts and features, animations, documentaries, thrillers, comedies, romances, dramas, horror, sci-fi, music videos and web series!

Filmmakers come from 32 countries; 50% of the films were created by women, 53% were created by or about people of color. Hollywood continues to ignore women and people of color, but Winter Film Awards celebrates everyone!

“I think that when everybody’s story is told, then that makes for better art, that makes for better entertainment. It makes everybody feel part of one family.” — President Obama.

In The Land of Pomegranates

All The Asian Titles:

Dance Dance – Music Video by Andrew Hachem

Dhrma-Ciaxxo – Music Video by Kotaro Saito

Difference – Short Film by Ali Asadollahi

Fatimah – Documentary by...

“We’re together now. It’ll be fine.”

For director Denis Do the task of making his first film is closely linked to his family’s history. Born in 1985 in Paris, Do is a child of three different cultures; the French, the Chinese and the Cambodian. His first feature “Funan” – as the closing credits state – is dedicated to his mother, his brother as well as the survivors of the Khmer Rouge regimes in Cambodia between 1975 to 1979. In an interview with Zippy Frames from 2013, the director mentions how his mother lost his brother in the turmoils of the Khmer Rouge’s rise to power. Only after the regime ended the family was eventually able to re-connect, a fate which many Cambodians shared, while others never saw their relatives again.

“Funan” is screening at Five Flavours Asian Film Festival

However, “Funan” is not a political film in the mind of its director.

This year no cash prize was given to the winning films.

Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit’s Die Tomorrow won the grand prix at the 12th Five Flavours Asian Film Festival in Poland, with Yang Mingming’s Girls Always Happy receiving a special mention.

The two films were among 11 Asian titles in competition at the eight-day festival held in Warsaw. Wednesday night’s closing ceremony took place at Kino Muranow, one of the oldest and now the last arthouse cinema in the capital of Poland.

The award winners were selected by a People’s Jury made up of 11 non-professional film lovers aged 18-...

Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit’s Die Tomorrow won the grand prix at the 12th Five Flavours Asian Film Festival in Poland, with Yang Mingming’s Girls Always Happy receiving a special mention.

Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit’s Die Tomorrow won the grand prix at the 12th Five Flavours Asian Film Festival in Poland, with Yang Mingming’s Girls Always Happy receiving a special mention.

The two films were among 11 Asian titles in competition at the eight-day festival held in Warsaw. Wednesday night’s closing ceremony took place at Kino Muranow, one of the oldest and now the last arthouse cinema in the capital of Poland.

“Searching,” from director Aneesh Chaganty and starring John Cho and Debra Messing, won the audience award for North American narrative film at the 34th Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival. The thriller will open nationally in August in theaters through Screen Gems.

The documentary “Minding the Gap,” directed by Bing Liu, won the audience award for documentary feature, and also was given the special jury prize for best director.

The festival gives out awards in both North American and international categories. For international narrative feature divisions, “In the Life of Music,” directed by Caylee So and Visal Sok, was a double winner, with both the audience award and special jury prize.

The international documentary-feature audience award was given to “Late Life: The Chien-Ming Wang Story,” directed by Frank W. Chen.

Other winners: “Call Her Ganda,” directed by Pj Raval, grand jury prize for North American docu feature; “Anote’s Ark” from director Matthieu Rytz,...