• A glittering, star-spangled ceremony will open the 12th Asian Film Awards in The Venetian Theatre
  • This year, 32 outstanding motion pictures will vie for 17 awards at the Asian Film Awards (Photo courtesy of Asian Film Awards Academy)
  • Kara Wei receives the Excellence in Asian Cinema Award (Photo courtesy of Asian Film Awards Academy)

Macao to Host 12th Asian Film Awards

LISTEN STOP Your browser does not support this feature

The 12th Asian Film Awards (AFA) - slated to be held in The Venetian Theatre on 17th March - will gather in Macao the stars of the Asian film industry and beyond, featuring 32 outstanding motion pictures from around the region. These exceptional movies will compete with each other for 17 awards this year, with Angels Wear White (China), Newton (India), The Day After (South Korea), The Third Murder (Japan), and Youth (China) competing for the honour of Best Film.

In contention for Best Director are Chen Kaige (Legend of the Demon Cat, China/Japan/Hong Kong), Feng Xiaogang (Youth, China), Sylvia Chang (Love Education, China/Taiwan region), Ann Hui (Our Time Will Come, Hong Kong/China), Hong Sang-soo (The Day After, South Korea), and Ishii Yuya (The Tokyo Night Sky is Always the Densest Shade of Blue, Japan).

Best Actor will go to one of the following: Kim Yun-seok (1987: When the Day Comes, South Korea), Sukollawat Kanarot (Malila: The Farewell Flower, Thailand), Rajkummar Rao (Newton, India), Louis Koo (Paradox, Hong Kong) or Duan Yihong (The Looming Storm, China).

Contenders for Best Actress are Aoi Yu (Birds without Names, Japan), Zhou Dongyu (This is Not What I Expected, Hong Kong/China), Sylvia Chang (Love Education, China/Taiwan region), Marsha Timothy (Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts, Indonesia/France/Malaysia/Thailand) and Kim Min-hee (The Day After, South Korea).

This year, two new awards will be introduced - Best New Director and Best Action Film. The accolades of Best New Director will be fought for by: Vivian Qu (Angels Wear White, China), Kishi Yoshiyuki (Wilderness, Japan), Derek Hui (This is Not What I Expected, Hong Kong/China), Huang Hsin-yao (The Great Buddha+, Taiwan region), Anucha Boonyawatana (Malila: The Farewell Flower, Thailand), and Dong Yue (The Looming Storm, China).

The movies in contention for Best Action Film are Along With the Gods: The Two Worlds (Korea), Blade of the Immortal (Japan), Brotherhood of Blades II: The Infernal Battlefield (China), Paradox (Hong Kong), and The Thousand Faces of Dunjia (Hong Kong, China).

The theme of this year's Asian Film Awards is Martial Arts in Asian Cinema, with world renowned Hong Kong director and stunt co-ordinator Ching Siu Tung serving as Jury President. Internationally renowned actress Carina Lau will join the jury as a Celebrity Juror.

Meanwhile, the Excellence in Asian Cinema Award will be presented to famous Hong Kong actress Kara Wei in recognition of her many contributions to the film industry.

For more information on the Asian Film Awards, please visit the AFA Facebook page: www.facebook.com/asianfilmawards.asia.