The 8th Asian World Film Festival (AWFF) will take place November 9 – 18, 2022 in Los Angeles. AWFF kicks off Wednesday, November 9 with the world premiere of the action-thriller Decibel directed by In-ho Hwang and starring Kim Rae Won and Lee Jang Suk. The film is a sound terror action film and revolves around a bomb designer who wants to occupy the city center with a special bomb that explodes when the noise increases and a former naval deputy commander who becomes his target.

AWFF’s closing film will be South Korea’s Oscar submission, the neo-noir, romantic mystery Decision to Leave, directed by Park Chan-wook, winner of Cannes 2022 Best Director Award. In the film, a detective falls for a mysterious widow after she becomes the prime suspect in his latest murder investigation.

Celebrating the work of filmmakers of Asian descent, AWFF has grown year over year. AWFF 2022 will feature 20 submissions for the 95th Academy Award for Best International Feature Film as well as multiple contenders for the 80th Golden Globe, Best Motion Picture – Non-English Language Award. Expanded programming across 10 days will include centerpiece and special screenings, thematic film days, industry forum discussions, and other celebrations. Screenings and additional activities will unfold November 10 – 16 at the AMC Marketplace, Marina Del Rey and at the Culver Hotel, Culver City, CA.

“AWFF’s theme for this our eighth iteration is the ‘Power of Connectivity,'” said Georges N. Chamchoun, AWFF Executive Director, “Eight is a significant number for many Asian cultures, evoking good fortune and social communication, among other qualities, and calls forth AWFF’s ongoing role nurturing connections between Hollywood and Asia.”

Chamchoun continued, “Asian films achieve greater artistic prominence every year and with Decibel, Decision to Leave, and our entire 2022 slate, we’re bringing many of Asia’s finest new and established creative voices to Hollywood.”