Director Georges Chamchoum discussed organizing the Asian World Film Festival, and how the festival is giving lesser known filmmakers a chance to promote their wonderful films.
“My passion has always been to make people discover cinema that they never heard of,” Chamchoum told TheWrap’s editor-in-chief Sharon Waxman.
He added that he hopes the festival will fill a gap for aspiring filmmakers to help promote their work. “There’s so much money you have to spend on promoting, marketing, and some of them, their movie is cheaper than the promoting and marketing,” he said.
“Sadyk Sher-Niyaz, who is the founder of the festival, came to me one day and said, ‘You know, Georges, what can we do to help those filmmakers promote their movie?’” he added.
The festival, which takes place October 26 – November 2, 2015, features select foreign language films from the 50 eligible countries in the Asian World region, including many films that have been officially submitted as their country’s Oscar and Golden Globe considerations.
Films will screen at ArcLight Cinemas in downtown Culver City and the luxury iPic Theaters in Westwood.
South Korea’s “The Shameless” will officially open the event, while Taiwan’s official Oscar submission, “The Assassin,” is the official closing night film on November 2nd.