Asian World Film Festival Opening Day

The Asian World Film Festival is back for its 12th edition, and the opening day on Thursday, November 12 is where it all begins. If you are scanning the things happening in Los Angeles this month, this is one of the few evenings built around films from across Asia rather than a single studio slate.

When: Thursday, November 12, 2026, 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM Where: The Culver Theater, Culver City Festival run: November 12 to 19, 2026

What to expect

The festival is described as a showcase of Asian cinema drawn from more than 33 nations and autonomous regions. The lineup includes 27 international Oscar submissions, plus premieres and filmmaker Q&As, so a screening can come with a conversation afterward. Two titles named in the listing are the psychological horror film Kassandra and Peter Ho-Sun Chan's family drama The Road Not Taken.

The listing gives the opening day as an early-evening window, from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM. It does not name the opening film, the guests or a full schedule for the night, so check the festival's own program before you plan around a particular screening. The festival's website is the place to look for the day-by-day lineup for the rest of the week.

Tickets and practical info

The listing does not publish a price for opening day, and it does not say whether the evening needs its own ticket or is part of a pass. Confirm cost and availability on the festival's site before you go rather than counting on walk-up seats. Opening nights at film festivals tend to draw a full house, so arriving early is a safe habit.

The Culver Theater sits on Culver Boulevard in the middle of Culver City, a short drive from most of the Westside and easy to reach from central LA. The listing does not include parking or transit details, so look those up ahead of time and leave a little extra margin for an early-evening start.

Making a week of it

The festival keeps going through November 19, which makes it a good fit if you want several nights of international film instead of one. Among the upcoming events in Los Angeles this month, it stands out for the range of countries on screen. Start with the opening day, then use the festival's program to pick a second night around a title or a Q&A that appeals to you.

Browse more arts and culture events in the area, or see the Los Angeles neighborhood page for what else is on nearby.