Vietnamese director Huynh Tuan Anh addresses the awards ceremony. (Photo: Vietnamnet)

Tuan Anh was honored for his historical drama “Phuong Khau”, known as “The Emperor’s Gift” in English. This is the first time a Vietnamese director has won the award.

Georges Jojo Chamchoum, executive director of AWFF, said the jury board had been delighted by the ancient Vietnamese costumes portrayed in the film, which contribute to the diversity of Asian cultural colors.

Phuong Khau is an original drama based on royal life during the Nguyen Dynasty, Vietnam’s last feudal rulers. It is set in Hue Imperial Palace and tells the story of concubines during the reign of King Thieu Tri who ruled from 1841 to 1847.

The AWFF strives to bring the best of a broad selection of Asian World cinema to LA, the United States, hoping to draw greater recognition to the region's wealth of talented filmmakers and artists.

This year’s event, which runs until Thursday, has attracted nearly 100 movies from 40 countries across the globe.