[2024.03.11] 17TH ASIAN FILM AWARDS

Tony Leung Chiu Wai jokes about trying again next week

Jiang Qinqin wins the Asian Film Awards Best Actress

Lee Young-Ae receives the Excellence in Asian Cinema awards

Fan Bingbing

Zhao Liying

DaDa Chan

Shirley Chan

Eunis Chan

Mario Maurer, Hio Miyazawa, Liu Kuan-Ting and Will Or
courtesy of on.cc

Thai god Metawin Opas-iamkajorn last year came to Hong Kong for a film location shoot 
courtesy of on.cc

courtesy of singtao.com

Before the Best Actor announcement, Tony Leung Chiu Wai appears to be a little nervous

THE DWELLING BY THE WEST LAKE's Jiang Qinqin happily kisses her Best Actress award

Hirokazu Kore-eda repeats as Best Director with MONSTER

Park Hoon wins Best Supporting Actor with 12.12: THE DAY

IN BROAD DAYLIGHT's Rachel Leung wins Best Supporting Actress and cannot hide her excitement

 

When Rachel Leung accepts her award she embraces Angela Lam but knocks over the microphone stand.  Liu Kuan-Ting helps and picks it back up.

Aside from the Lifetime Achievement Award, Zhang Yimou also won the Highest Grossing Asian Film Award with FULL RIVER RED

Lee Young-Ae receives the Excellence in Asian Cinema Award as well as Best Dressed
courtesy of mingpao.com

Fan Bingbing

Tony Leung Chiu Wai and Carina Lau

DaDa Chan

Audrey Lin and TROUBLE GIRL director Jin Jia-Hua

Jack Tan, Wu Kang-Ren and ABANG ADIK director Jin Ong 

Wan Fang said SNOW IN MIDSUMMER director Chong Keat Aun moved her into accepting the role

courtesy of mingpao.com

The 17th Asian Film Awards took place last night at the West Kowloon Cultural District's Xiqu Centre. This year's guests included internationally renowned filmmakers Zhang Yimou, Zhao Liying, Lee Young-Ae, Ryohei Suzuki and others who came to Hong Kong to accept their awards. Finally Japanese star Koj Yakusho with PERFECT DAYS won Best Actor, while mainland actress Jiang Qiqi with DWELLING BY THE WEST LAKE won Best Actress.

Japanese artist Koji Yakusho with the film PERFECT DAYS won Best Actor. He was not present so a representative accepted it on his behalf.

Mainland star Jiang Qiqi with DWELLING BY THE WEST LAKE won Best Actress. When she accepted the award hot tears streamed down her face. "I truly never thought, I didn't prepare. I am very touched, thank you everyone. Thank you Director Gu Xiaogang, it wasn't easy for him." Gu Xiaogang was also in tears in the audience. Jiang Qinqin continued, "Thank you very much to the work partners on and off camera. I also thank film for giving me strength, and understanding of the world, life and myself." She even gave special thanks to her husband Chen Jianbin, because he has always supported her. Chen Jianbin blew a kiss to his wife in the audience.

As for Best Film, Japanese film EVIL DOES NOT EXIST won; Best Director went to Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda for the film MONSTER.

Mainland director Zhang Yimou received the Lifetime Achievement Award. His film FULL RIVER RED also won the 2023 Highest grossing Asian Film Award. Zhang Yimou said after accepting this awards. "This is a heavy award. Looking back now, I didn't start too early. I went to the Beijing Film Academy at age 28. At 38 I directed my first film. Then I have been on the road of liking film, on the road of making film. Film has made my dream. Today, many excellent Asian filmmakers are here because they are also on the road of chasing our dream. Everyone has a film dream, making movies is very hard, making a movie that people would remember is even harder. Asian film today serves an important purpose in the world. Many Asian filmmakers are chasing dreams, telling Asian stories to the whole world. I hope that this award today isn't a end, but a beginning. We shall chase our dream together, we shall keep working hard, and telling our Asian stories to the whole world!"

Korean film star Lee Young-Ae and Japanese star Ryohei Suzuki both received the Excellence in Asian Cinema Award. Lee Young-Ae after accepting the awards greeted everyone in Putonghua with "How are you" then gave her speech in English and thanked everyone in Korean. Lee Young-Ae spoke to the media later. She said that she felt very happy to receive the Excellence in Asian Cinema Award, because she has been in the business for a long time and made many movies for everyone to see. Speaking of reprising DAE JANGGEUM after 20 years, she said that the series has yet to start production. She knew that everyone has been looking forward to it, but they should not be inpatient. She hoped to show everyone an even better face, so she would have to spend even more time on preparation. She wanted to work hard on her acting again as well.

Mainland star Zhao Liying won the AFA Next Generation Award. She said, "To be able to have the opportunity to participate in an event with so many excellent filmmakers, I want to thank the Asian also for giving me this honor. It would give me even more motivation to properly make movies, properly perform, to be able to join even more good film teams. At the same time I am very honored to be able to see so many filmmakers, for everyone to get to know me. I love film, I love performing, I am actress Zhao Liying, thank you very much." In the interview later she said that she was rather emotional to receive the "AFA Next Generation Award", because she saw so many excellent elders. In the future she would have the opportunity to try even more possibilities, like recently in the film ARTICLE 20 she broke through her image and gave the audience something fresh; in the film she also gained a lot, like coming to the Asian Film Awards this time. She believed it was a good start!

"Best Screenplay" went to the SNOW LEOPARD's Pema Tseden, who passed away last year. His son Jigme Trinley accepted the award on his behalf.

In addition, Hong Kong actress Rachel Leung Yung Ting with IN BROAD DAYLIGHT (BAK YUT TIN HA) won Best Supporting Actress; Nick Cheuk Yik Him with TIME STILL TURNS THE PAGES (NIN SIU YUT GEI) won Best New Director.

After Leung Yung Ting reached the stage and excitedly embraced guest presenter Angela Yuen Lai Lam but accidentally knocked over the microphone stand. She said, "Sorry, I am a little clumsy. I am very happy. Thank you to the film team and each co-star, as well as my family and boyfriend for their support. They are here too." Her co-star Jennifer Yu Heung Ying was moved to tears.

Earlier on the red carpet, Best Actor nominee Tony Leung Chiu Wai and Carina Lau Ka Ling held hands for the grand finale. Wai Jai said that his European new film has yet to start production, but he estimated that next month he would take off for preparation. Ka Ling would keep him company for awhile then as well, so they probably would not be able to participate in the Hong Kong Film Awards.

Invited to be this year's Asian Film Awards youth ambassador, Thai actor Mario Maurer, Hong Kong actor Will Or Wai Lam, Taiwan actor Liu Kuan-Ting and Japanese actor Hio Miyazawa yesterday morning appeared at an event and introduced themselves in English. Or Wai Lam mischievously taught Liu Kuan-Ting to say in Cantonese, "I am Lau Koon Ting, very handsome!" Hio Miyazawa revealed that this was already the third time he came to Hong Kong. Mario even came to work on a movie in Hong Kong. He hoped to have a chance to work with famous Hong Kong actors. His favorite was Andy Lau Tak Wa and he looked forward to the opportunity to collaborate. The host mentioned that Liu Kuan-Ting would soon become a father. Liu Koon Tin said after receiving everyone's applause, "Thank you everyone, I feel very honored to be able to be the youth ambassador. I hope everyone would get to know Taiwan film more." Liu Kuan-Ting pointed out that earlier while shooting a movie in Malaysia, he saw Hong Kong star Louis Koo Tin Lok and got very nervous. "I grew up watching Hong Kong films, in the past I only saw Koo Tin Lok on the screen. This time I was able to see him on the set, the feeling was very memorable and I was very nervous." Or Wai Lam said that he wanted to take the other actors to visit the Kennedy Town cinema. He just finished two Taiwan films.

The 17th Asian Film Awards yesterday arranged for nominated actors and directors to attend an event. 12 year old Golden Horse Award Best Actress Audrey Lin with TROUBLE GIRL was nominated for Best Actress. "I am happy and honored to be able to be nominated with elders, it's been like a dream." In the film she and Terrance Lau Chun Him relied more on eye interaction because they were unable to speak too much. Director Jin Jia-Hua said that he chose Lau Chun Him to be the lead actor because he discovered that his sunny appearance also had a dark side. Audrey Lin wanted to work with Cecilia Choi Sze Wan, knowing that she was Lau Chun Him's girlfriend. Golden Horse Best Actor Wu Kang-Ren with his ABANG ADIK co-star Jack Tan and director Jin Ong appeared. The former said that that he was in the Best Actor race for participation. He also claimed to be a little fan, feeling excited to see stars from all over. He has already prepared his mobile phone to "collect stamps". Would Jin Ong make a sequel with the original team. He asked Wu Kang-Ren, "Would you be willing?" Wu Kang-Ren joked, "I was done! Maybe if we were an alternative ghost film."

Malaysian director Chong Kea Aun said that the biggest difficult of making SNOW IN MIDSUMMER was inviting actors. Due to the sensitive subject, many actors did not dare to perform. "The movie has yet to be released in Malaysia. It is still waiting for inspection. I hope next month after its Hong Kong International Film Festival release to fight for the Malaysia release." SNOW IN MIDSUMMER lead actress Wan Fang was a Taiwan artist. She said that playing the role, she was the most worried about the language and cultural differences. The director moved her into participating. From the character she saw shades of many Taiwan women. She hoped tot be able display what was inside them. She too wanted to make Hong Kong films.

Thai star Metawin Opas-iamkajorn (Win) received the 17th Asian Film Awards "Rising Star award". Yesterday he spoke to the media and said that he ws very nervous and honored to receive the award. Last year he spent over a month in Hong Kong to shoot the film UNDER PARALLEL SKIES, which would hold its premiere soon. He said that he still has not enjoyed the film in its entirety, but he looked forward to being able to watch his performance with the entire audience very much. The location shoot was memorable for him because he went to Peng Chau numerous times. Normally when he came to Hong Kong he very rarely would go to the island. He even went to Kowloon City to try the local delicacies.