JAN | PRESS CONFERENCE OF THE 17th ASIAN FILM AWARDS
Press conference of the 17th Asian Film Awards invited Dr. Wilfred WONG, Chairman of the Asian Film Awards Academy (AFAA) and the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society (HKIFFS), Mr. Fred WANG, board member of the AFAA, and Ms. Josie LIN, Executive Director of the AFAA, who joined forces with new generation Hong Kong actors and actresses including Mr. Peter CHAN, Ms. Jessica CHAN, Mr. Kevin CHU, Mr. Adam PAK, Mr. MAK Pui Tung, and Ms. Mandy TAM to unveil the complete list of nominees across all categories of the 17th Asian Film Awards. Renowned Japanese director KUROSAWA Kiyoshi was introduced as the jury president for this edition, alongside the introduction of this year’s four Youth Ambassadors, LIU Kuan-ting from Taiwan, Mario MAURER from Thailand, MIYAZAWA Hio from Japan, and Will OR from Hong Kong.
MAR | AFA17 featured programmes: In Conversation with Asian Filmmakers
The Asian Film Awards Academy held its first filmmaker panel associated with the Awards, inviting over twenty filmmakers from around the world who were nominees at the 17th Asian Film Awards. The event featured six themed panels with speakers including Taiwanese versatile diva Wan Fang, Hong Kong aspiring actresses Rachel LEUNG and Yoyo TSE, Mongolian rising star Tergel BOLD-ERDENE, emerging Thai actor Awat RATANAPINTHA and Japanese young actress SHIRATA Mihaya, who generously shared on their performing journey as actors and actresses.
In addition, internationally acclaimed and awarded filmmakers, including Oscar-winning production designer Tim YIP, production and costume designers Eric LAM, MAN Lim Chung, MITSUMATSU Keiko, Elaine NG, ZHANG Menglun, new directors Nick CHEUK, Lkhagvadulam PUREV-OCHIR, Dominic SANGMA, editors Keith CHAN Hiu Chun, Matthieu LACLAU, YAMAZAKI Azusa, and cinematographers KITAGAWA Yoshio and CHENGMA Zhiyuan, shared and exchange their creative insights in different fields of film production and interacted with the audience.
MAR | The Asian Cinerama – 17th Asian Film Awards Selection
“The Asian Cinerama – 17th Asian Film Awards Selection” organized by the Asian Film Awards Academy and co-organized by Broadway Cinematheque was successfully held on 7 – 11 March. Seven outstanding films nominated for the 17th Asian Film Awards (AFA17), along with two selected films, were screened. Renowned Asian filmmakers were invited to attend the screenings where they interacted with audiences and shared their insights into the filmmaking process. They include renowned director KORE-EDA Hirokazu, KUROSAWA Kiyoshi, screenwriter SAKAMOTO Yuji, and Eiko Ishibashi, who won the Best Original Music Award at AFA17 again for “Evil Does Not Exist.” MATSUNAGA Daisuke, director of “Egoist,” along with leading actors, AFA17 Excellence in Asian Cinema awardee SUZUKI Ryohei, as well as Youth Ambassador MIYAZAWA Hio, appeared for the post-screening sharing. Hong Kong premiere of the South Korean film “12.12: The Day” opened with greetings by director KIM Sung-soo and AFA17 Best Supporting Actor Award winner PARK Hoon. Director of “Dwelling by the West Lake” GU Xiaogang, Best Actress awardee JIANG Qinqin and co-star CHEN Jianbin; stars from “Trouble Girl” Audrey LIN and Terrance LAU; AFA17 Best Newcomer winner Tergel BOLD-ERDENE from “City of Wind”, and Sri Lankan director Prasanna VITHANAGE of “Paradise” also attended post-screening discussions to meet the audience.
MAR | AFA17 featured programmes: Youth Ambassador Mall Event
On the eve of the 17th Asian Film Awards Ceremony, four Youth Ambassadors, including Taiwanese actor LIU Kuan-Ting, Thai actor Mario MAURER, Japanese actor MIYAZAWA Hio, and Hong Kong actor Will OR attended a mall event together. They engaged closely with a large crowd of fans, interacted and played games with them, and gave away souvenirs with autographs and took photos.
MAR | ASIAN FILM AWARDS
The Asian Film Awards Ceremony, marking its 17th edition, took place at the Xiqu Centre, West Kowloon Cultural District, Hong Kong on March 10, 2024. The ceremony concluded on a high note, presented a total of sixteen awards were presented, along with six special awards. Four films tied with two awards each: Evil Does Not Exist, The Goldfinger, Godzilla Minus One and Snow Leopard. HAMAGUCHI Ryusuke’s Evil Does Not Exist won Best Film; YAKUSHO Koji won Best Actor for Perfect Days; JIANG Qinqin won Best Actress for Dwelling by the West Lake; and KORE-EDA Hirokazu won Best Director for Monster. Chinese director ZHANG Yimou was a double honouree, accepting the Lifetime Achievement Award and the Highest-Grossing Asian Film Award for his period comedy-drama Full River Red. South Korean actress LEE Young-ae and Japanese actor SUZUKI Ryohei received the Excellence in Asian Cinema Awards; while mainland Chinese actress ZHAO Liying won the AFA Next Generation Award and Thai actor Win Metawin received the AFA Rising Star Award.
MAR | AFA17 featured program: “Under Parallel Skies” World Premiere
Right after the AFA17 Ceremony, where Win Metawin (Metawin Opas-iamkajorn) was named the first Thai actor to receive the AFA Rising Star Award, he attended the premiere of “Under Parallel Skies” in apm mall on March 11, alongside lead actress Janella SALVADOR, director Sigrid BERNARDO, and producer Richard JUAN. They met with local audiences, sharing their experiences from filming in Hong Kong last year, their impressions of the city, and the cross-cultural romance depicted in the film. This event marks the finale of AFA17.
APR | INTERNATIONAL FILM CAMP
The five-day “International Film Creation Camp” was successfully held from April 9 to 13, 2024, at the integrated resorts operated by Sands China. Veteran directors, screenwriters, and producers served as mentors, providing individual guidance to 16 participants from all over Asia and sharing their expertise in filmmaking. The jury selected 8 creative projects to receive funding of HK$300,000 (approximately US$38,000) each. This funding is to be used to produce short films themed “My Hometown,” which will be shown at the Academy’s annual Asian Cinerama. Furthermore, the Academy will also help the winning films submit to film festivals, thereby increasing their exposure and development opportunities in the global film industry.
