Press Releases
THE 4th ASIAN FILM AWARDS Nominees Announced
37 Asian Films Vie in this Year's Competition
(Hong Kong, 20th January, 2010) The Hong Kong International Film Festival Society (HKIFFS) announced today the nominees in the 14 categories of the 4th annual Asian Film Awards (AFA) Presentation Ceremony, which will take place at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on 22nd March, 2010. The 4th AFA will be the Opening Gala of Entertainment Expo Hong Kong and will coincide with two other flagship events of the HKIFFS: the 34th Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF), and the 8th Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF).
Organized by the HKIFFS and sponsored by the Film Development Fund and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, the AFA celebrates excellence in Asian cinema produced in 2009. Outstanding films and filmmakers across Asia will compete in 14 categories: Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Newcomer, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Screenwriter, Best Cinematographer, Best Production Designer, Best Composer, Best Editor, Best Visual Effects, plus a new category, Best Costume Designer.
This year, internationally renowned actor Tony LEUNG Ka-fai will undertake the role of Jury President. Consisting of 13 film professionals with internationally recognized experience and expertise in cinema from 13 territories and countries, the jury screened through hundreds of eligible films submitted throughout the region. Up to six nominees in each category have been selected and the full list of nominations includes 37 Asian films.
Mr. Wilfred WONG, Chairman of the HKIFFS, joined by Ms. SHAW Soo Wei, Executive Director of the HKIFFS, as well as Mr. Tony LEUNG Ka-fai, the 4th AFA Jury President, Honorary Advisors of the AFA – Mr. Peter LAM and Mr. Jack SO, and Ms. Nansun SHI, Member of the AFA Steering Committee, proudly presented the nomination list at the press conference today.
The organizers of the AFA expanded the number of entries this year by widening the film submission, enabling all filmmakers from around the globe to submit their works directly or through official submission organizations. The organizers of the AFA recognized the increasing number of outstanding films being created and sought to meet the growing demands of filmmakers participating in the AFA.
“Now in its fourth year, the AFA continues to make its mark as the ultimate recognition of film talent in Asia,” said Mr. Wilfred WONG. “2009 was another great year for the film industry and the AFA is proud to be recognized as a global platform for the recognition of the best of Asian cinema. We sincerely congratulate all the nominees this year.”
The organizers of the AFA would like to thank its partners and sponsors for their invaluable support. Without their contribution, the AFA would not be the success it is today.
The complete list of nominations for the 4th AFA is attached at Appendix I.
The complete jury list for the 4th AFA is attached at Appendix II.
The list of key sponsors for the 4th AFA is attached at Appendix III.
Press accreditation for the 4th AFA is now open at: http://www.hkiff.org.hk/en/press_accreditation.php
The closing deadline is 5th March, 2010.
High resolution pictures can be downloaded from the link below,
http://asianfilmawards.asia/index.php/en/media/press-room
For further information, media only:
Waggener Edstrom Worldwide
Tramy Leung, Tel: +852 2907 8812
Vickie Chong, Tel: +852 2578 2116
E-mail: HKIFFS-MediaEnquiries@waggeneredstrom.com
The Hong Kong International Film Festival Society
Clifton Kwan, Tel: +852 2102 7362
E-mail: clifton_kwan@hkiff.org.hk
Asian Film Awards (AFA)
Inaugurated in 2007, the Asian Film Awards (AFA) is an international pioneering programme, honouring filmmakers with outstanding achievements in the field of Asian cinema. Eminent filmmakers and superstars from around the world are invited to bestow awards upon winners of each category, making the ceremony an elaborate extravaganza. A jury panel, comprising of international professionals and prominent members in the community of world cinema, will select the award winners among eligible films produced in the region in that year. Over the years, prominent guests, stars and filmmakers who attended the AFA include: Oliver STONE, William HURT, Arthur COHN, Barrie OSBORNE, Harvey WEINSTEIN, Luc BESSON, Jet LI, John WOO, Rain, Andy LAU, Joan CHEN, Tony LEUNG, Michelle YEOH, SHU Qi, Josephine SIAO, HOU Hsiao-Hsien, Brilliante MENDOZA, SONG Kang-ho, JEON Do-yeon, NAKATANI Miki, KWAI Lun-Mei, Priyanka CHOPRA and many more. The crowning awards presentation ceremony promises an evening of glitz and glamour that befits the honouring of the highest achievements in Asian cinema.
For more information, please visit the official AFA website at: http://www.asianfilmawards.asia
About The Hong Kong International Film Festival Society (HKIFFS)
Uniting the World through Film
The Hong Kong International Film Festival Society (HKIFFS) is a charitable, non-profit and non-governmental organization dedicated to the discovery and promotion of creativity in the art and culture of film. Through its year-round programs, the mission of the Society is to strengthen global appreciation of Chinese film culture and to promote inspiring films from around the world, enriching the cultural life of Hong Kong. Committed to the development of a vibrant film culture in Hong Kong and Asia, the Society organizes three annual flagship events in March and April: Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF), Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) and Asian Film Awards (AFA). Passionately believing in the power of films to unite cultures and generations, the HKIFFS is devoted to giving thousands of film lovers around the region direct access to the world’s most inspired films all year round.
Concurrent Events
The Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF)
The Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) is one of Asia’s most reputable platforms for filmmakers, film professionals and filmgoers from all over the world to launch new works and experience outstanding films.
Screening over 250 titles from more than 50 countries in 11 major cultural venues across the territory, the Festival is Hong Kong’s largest cultural event that reaches an audience of over 580,000 including 4,500 business executives who attend Hong Kong Film and Television Market (FILMART), a concurrent event of the HKIFF.
Committed to discovering new talent, the Festival premieres the breadth of Chinese cinema and showcases Asian talents. As a lifestyle event, festival-goers can enjoy world-class films, attend seminars hosted by leading filmmakers from around the world, visit film exhibitions, join celebration parties, and more.
The Festival draws extensive media coverage from over 560 global press members and continues to grow in vital importance as the premier platform to launch films to Asia. The 34th HKIFF will be held from 21st March to 6th April, 2010.
For more information, please visit the official HKIFF website: http://www.hkiff.org.hk
About Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF)
Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) is widely recognized as one of the most important film-financing platforms in Asia. HAF brings Asian filmmakers with upcoming film projects to Hong Kong for co-production ventures with top film financiers, producers, investors, distributors and buyers. Attended by 1,000 filmmakers and financiers, more than 20 projects are selected to participate in this three-day event.
Past participants include Mainland China's JIA Jiangke, JIANG Wen and LOU Ye, Hong Kong's Stanley KWAN, Ann HUI, Gordon CHAN, PANG Ho-cheung, Taiwan's TSAI Ming-Liang, Japan's SABU, NAKATA Hideo, OTANI Kentaro, KORE-EDA Hirokazu, MIIKE Takashi and YUKISADA Isao, Korea's KIM Jee-woon, PARK Chan-wook, E J-yong and IM Sang-soo as well as Thailand's EKACHAI Uekrongtham, Nonzee NIMIBUTR and Pen-ek RATANARUANG. The 8th HAF will be held from 22nd to 24th March, 2010.
For more information, please join the HAF Facebook community at http://www.facebook.com/haf.asia or visit the HAF official website at http://www.haf.asia.
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Released on behalf of the HKIFFS by Waggener Edstrom Worldwide.
APPENDIX I
4th ASIAN FILM AWARDS NOMINATION LIST
第四屆亞洲電影大獎提名名單
Best Film 最佳電影
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Best Director 最佳導演
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Best Actor 最佳男主角
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Best Actress 最佳女主角
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Best Newcomer 最佳新演員
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Best Supporting Actor 最佳男配角
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Best Supporting Actress 最佳女配角
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Best Screenwriter 最佳編劇
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Best Cinematographer 最佳攝影
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Best Production Designer 最佳美術指導
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Best Composer 最佳原創音樂
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Best Editor 最佳剪接
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Best Visual Effects 最佳視覺效果
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Best Costume Designer 最佳造型設計
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The End 完
APPENDIX II
4th ASIAN FILM AWARDS JURY LIST
第四屆亞洲電影大獎評審團
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APPENDIX III
4th ASIAN FILM AWARDS KEY SPONSORS LIST
The organizers of the AFA would like to thank its partners and sponsors for their invaluable support: Official Premium Car Partner – Audi; Official Diamond Sponsor – Forevermark; Luxury Fashion Sponsor – Versace; Official Hotel – Grand Hyatt Hotel; Partner Hotel – Renaissance Harbour View Hotel; Official Broadcasters – FOX, Star Movies & Star World; Official Media Partners – The Hollywood Reporter, International Herald Tribune; Concierge Partner - Quintessentially; Honorary Legal Advisor – Haldanes; Official Auditor – PricewaterhouseCoopers; and Production Partner – DotAsia Organisation. Without their contribution, the AFA would not be the success it is today.
About Audi
Official Premium Car Partner
As one of the world’s leading automobile corporate, the core brand value of Audi ’Vorsprung durch Technik’ has contributed not just to automotive development but has also strongly committed to the untiring and supporting of art, cultural and charitable events. The appearances of Audi in Hollywood action blockbusters like Mission Impossible, I-Robot, Iron Man and Transporter I & II, are just a few to names exemplifying Audi's fame in the filming industry worldwide and locally. Audi is honored to be appointed by the 34th HKIFF and 4th AFA as the Official Premium Car Partner, the all new A5 sportback has been selected to provide prestigious limousine service to its list of Hollywood stars and VIPs.
About Forevermark
Official Diamond Sponsor
Forevermark is a diamond brand which comes from the De Beers family of companies. Forevermark diamonds are carefully selected and come from sources committed to the highest standards; are beautifully crafted by a select group of diamantaires; and are exclusively available in select jewellers. Less than one percent of the world’s diamonds are eligible to become a Forevermark diamond and be inscribed with the Forevermark icon and a unique identification number.
About Versace
Luxury Fashion Sponsor
Founded in 1978 in Milan by Mr. Gianni Versace, Gianni Versace SpA is one of the leading international fashion design houses and a symbol of Italian luxury world-wide. It manufactures, distributes and retails a wide range of fashion and lifestyle products, all bearing the distinctive Medusa logo.
