Hong Kong, 13 February 2012 – The Hong Kong International Film Festival Society (HKIFFS) today announced details of Road to AFA, a behind-the-scenes video series on Asian cinema to be screened in the run-up to the 6^th Asian Film Awards (AFA). Road to AFA offers an inside view of Asia’s burgeoning film industry and the nominees for this year’s awards. HKIFFS also launched the People’s Choice Awards today, giving the public the chance to participate directly in this year’s AFA. Both programmes are aimed at introducing the AFA to more people and territories throughout the region.

Road to AFA

The first ever such video series created for the AFA, Road to AFA is one of the big build-up campaigns to the Asian Film Awards Presentation Ceremony. It is a video series of approximately 18 episodes of three minutes each featuring renowned filmmakers, nominees behind the scenes footage, and look at the film industries of selected regions including Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia (Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines). The series will provide greater insight into the films and filmmakers that the AFA celebrates and help to raise public awareness of the awards.

Interviewees include directors HOU Hsiao-hsien, Teddy SOERIAATMADJA and Brillante MENDOZA, actors Donny DAMARA and KO Chen-tung, actresses Eugene DOMINGO and GWEI Lun-mei, cinematographer CHIN Ting-chang and editor Lee CHATAMETIKOOL among many others.

The episodes will be available to view on the AFA website (http://www.asianfilmawards.asia) and will be screened on various broadcast television and online channels in the region, including CCTV-6 (China Movie Channel), Phoenix TV, STAR Chinese Movies, STAR World, StarHub, Yahoo! and many more in the lead-up to the 6^th Asian Film Awards Presentation Ceremony, which will be held on 19 March 2012.

People’s Choice Awards

The People’s Choice Awards are open to public voting, enabling audiences from all overseas countries to have their voices heard at Asia’s leading celebration of the film industry by voting for the nominee in the Best Actor and Best Actress categories that they feel most deserve recognition for their work in 2011. Previous winners include CHOW Yun-fat, JEON Do-yeon, WANG Xueqi, and LI Bingbing.

Voters who correctly pick one or both winners of the People’s Choice Awards will be entered into a lucky draw to experience the star-studded 6^th Asian Film Awards Presentation Ceremony.

Participating Hong Kong residents have a chance to win ten admission tickets to the 6^th Asian Film Awards Presentation Ceremony. Overseas voters (non-Hong Kong residents) have a chance to win a Hong Kong travel package for two, including two roundtrip economy class air tickets, two nights hotel accommodation stay in Hong Kong from 18–20 March 2012, and two admission tickets to the Asian Film Awards Presentation Ceremony. Five winners will be drawn from Hong Kong entrants, and five from overseas.

The voting period runs from today to 5 March 2012 (12:00 noon HKT) on the official AFA website (http://www.asianfilmawards.asia). Log on today to register your vote and for a chance of rubbing shoulders with the stars of Asian cinema!

For nominees of the 6^th AFA People’s Choice Awards, refer to Appendix (1).

For high-resolution behind-the-scenes photos of Road to AFA and nominees of the 6^th AFA People’s Choice Awards, visit: https://picasaweb.google.com/6thAsianFilmAwards

About the Asian Film Awards

The AFA Presentation Ceremony takes place as part of Entertainment Expo Hong Kong.  Since 2007, the Asian Film Awards (AFA) has sought to highlight the best in Asian cinema to the world, and to promote Asian film culture both regionally and internationally. Eminent filmmakers, distinguished guests and acclaimed talents from around the world are invited to bestow awards upon the winner(s) of each category, making the Ceremony a dazzling extravaganza as well as an influential cultural event that helps position Hong Kong as the hub of Asian cinema. Each year, the AFA makes presentations in a range of categories such as Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, in recognition of artistic achievements in the cinemas and film industries of the Asian region. The 6^th AFA is one of the Opening Gala events of Entertainment Expo Hong Kong and takes place with two other flagship events of the HKIFFS: the 36^th Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF), and the 10^th Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF).

For more information about the Asian Film Awards, please visit: www.asianfilmawards.asia.

About Hong Kong International Film Festival Society Limited

Uniting the World through Film

The Hong Kong International Film Festival Society (HKIFFS) is a charitable, non-profit, non-government organisation dedicated to the discovery and promotion of creativity in the art and culture of film.

Through its year-round programmes, 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 organises three annual flagship events in March and April: The Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF), the Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) and the 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.

Website: www.hkiff.org.hk

For further information, media only:

Waggener Edstrom Worldwide
Ms. April TSUI / Ms. Vickie CHONG
Tel: +852-2578-2823 / +852-6336-8090
E-mail: HKIFFS-MediaEnquiries@waggeneredstrom.com

The Hong Kong International Film Festival Society
Ms. Helen LUI
Tel: +852-2102-7386 / +852-9031-9876
E-mail: helen_lui@hkiff.org.hk

APPENDIX (1). 附件 (一)

6^th ASIAN FILM AWARDS
THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS
NOMINATION LIST

第六屆亞洲電影大獎
我最喜愛的男女主角
提名名單

My Favourite Actor
我最喜愛的男主角

Hong Kong, 8 February 2012 ― The Hong Kong International Film Festival Society (HKIFFS) announced today that Indonesian director Edwin will receive the Edward Yang New Talent Award at the upcoming 6th Asian Film Awards (AFA). The AFA Presentation Ceremony will be held on 19 March 2012 at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre in Hong Kong. Edwin is only the third filmmaker to receive the Award, which was set up at the 2nd Asian Film Awards in 2008.

Edwin is currently attending the 2012 Berlinale where his latest film, Postcards From the Zoo, is competing for the coveted Golden Bear. He said, “I am excited by the news of this award. It’s both a vindication of what I’ve been doing, and an encouragement to me as a filmmaker. It’s an honour for me and for independent film in Indonesia.”

After the Berlinale, Postcards From the Zoo will compete for the Firebird Awards for Young Cinema at the 36th Hong Kong International Film Festival, also organised by the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society.

Edwin first burst onto the cinema scene with two short films – Kara, Anak Sebatang Pohon (2005) and Trip to the Wound (2007) – which premiered at Cannes and the Berlinale respectively. He became a major talent to watch after his debut feature in 2008 – Blind Pig Who Wants to Fly – travelled extensively on the international film festival circuit. Mosaic like, the film is set within the contemporary social and racial tension of urban Indonesia, following eight characters in their absurdist journeys to live a better life.

Postcards From the Zoo tells the story of a girl growing up among the animals inside Jakarta Zoo after her father has abandoned her. She engages in a romance with a traveling magician, and works as a masseuse telling animal stories to customers. “People go to the zoo for the same reason they might go to any other public gathering place, to see and be seen,” said Edwin. “But the dynamic is more interesting in a zoo because it’s humans and animals looking at each other. In a sense, it’s analogous to cinema, which is also about watching and being watched.”

In the Asian Film Awards’ six-year history, Edwin is the third filmmaker to receive the Edward Yang New Talent Award. The two previous recipients are Japan’s ISHII Yuya (latest film, Mitsuko Delivers) in 2008, and Taiwan’s WEI Te-Sheng (latest film, Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale) in 2010. The Award was initiated at the 2nd Asian Film Awards in 2008, to commemorate the renowned Taiwan filmmaker Edward Yang, who passed away in 2007.

“The aim of the Award is, of course, to encourage emerging talents from the region,” said Mr. Roger GARCIA, Executive Director of the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society. “We are very happy to find in Edwin a most deserving recipient of the Award. His approach to cinema and eternal human issues is at once lyrical, dreamlike, magical, and I’m almost tempted to say mythical. I venture that we are witnessing an auteur in the making, hopefully the evolution of a world class filmmaker.”

About the Asian Film Awards

The AFA Presentation Ceremony takes place as part of the Entertainment Expo Hong Kong. Since 2007, the Asian Film Awards (AFA) has sought to highlight the best in Asian cinema to the world, and to promote Asian film culture both regionally and internationally. Eminent filmmakers, distinguished guests and acclaimed talents from around the world are invited to bestow awards upon the winner(s) of each category, making the Ceremony a dazzling extravaganza as well as an influential cultural event that helps position Hong Kong as the hub of Asian cinema. Each year, the AFA makes presentations in a range of categories such as Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, in recognition of artistic achievements in the cinemas and film industries of the Asian region. The 6th AFA is one of the Opening Gala events of Entertainment Expo Hong Kong and will coincide with two other flagship events of the HKIFFS: the 36th Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF), and the 10th Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF).

For more information about the Asian Film Awards and film submission for nomination, please visit: http://www.asianfilmawards.asia

About the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society Limited

Uniting the World through Film

The Hong Kong International Film Festival Society (HKIFFS) is a charitable, non-profit, non-government organisation dedicated to the discovery and promotion of creativity in the art and culture of film.

Through its year-round programmes, 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 organises three annual flagship events in March and April: The Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF), the Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) and the 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.

Website: http://www.hkiff.org.hk

For further information, media only:

Waggener Edstrom Worldwide
Ms. April TSUI / Ms. Vickie CHONG
Phone:    +852-2578-2823 / +852-6336-8090
E-mail:    HKIFFS-MediaEnquiries@waggeneredstrom.com

The Hong Kong International Film Festival Society
Ms. Helen LUI
Phone:    +852-2102-7386 / +852-9031-9876
E-mail:    helen_lui@hkiff.org.hk

Edwin, Writer/Director

Indonesian writer and director Edwin was born in Surabaya in 1978.

In 1999, he left Surabaya to study film at The Jakarta Institute of the Arts. During that time, he participated in film workshops at the Berlinale Talent Campus, and the Asian Film Academy in Pusan, South Korea.

In 2005, he wrote and directed the critically acclaimed Kara, Anak Sebatang Pohon, which became the first Indonesian short film screened at the Director’s Fortnight, Cannes, in 2005. His next short film, Trip to the Wound (2007), was selected for the International Competition at the Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival in February 2008.  Edwin’s third short film, Hulahoop Soundings (2008), a commissioned project for the International Film Festival Rotterdam, screened in the International Competition at the Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival in February 2009.

Blind Pig Who Wants To Fly (2008), Edwin’s feature film debut, made its world premiere at the 13^th Pusan IFF in South Korea and played such festivals as the 38^th Rotterdam IFF, the 11^th BAFICI (Buenos Aires International Independent Film Festival), the 33^rd Hong Kong International Film Festival, the 35^th Seattle International Film Festival, the 44^th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in the Czech Republic, and the  58^th Melbourne International Film Festival. The film also screened at MoMa, the Viennale, Taipei Golden Horse International Film Festival, and the Thessaloniki International Film Festival, amongst others.

Blind Pig Who Wants to Fly won numerous awards including the Fipresci Award, IFF Rotterdam 2009; Special Jury Mention, Singapore IFF 2009; NETPAC, Taipei Golden Horse IFF 2009; Silver Award, Festival of the Three Continents 2009; Youth Film Award, Festival of the Three Continents 2009.

Edwin’s latest feature, Postcards from the Zoo, is currently competing for the coveted Golden Bear at the 2012 Berlinale.

[ ENG | 繁體 | 简体 ]

1 February 2012, Hong Kong – The 36th Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) will be held in Hong Kong from 21 March to 5 April 2012, the 6th Asian Film Awards (AFA) will be held on 19 March 2012 and the 10th Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) will be held from 19 to 21 March 2012. Journalists and industry press are invited to sign up for media accreditation at http://society.hkiff.org.hk/en/app/accreditation/media/apply starting from 3 February 2012.

The 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. It draws thousands of film fans, industry professionals and press from around the world annually.

The AFA seeks to highlight the best in Asian cinema to the world, and to promote Asian film culture both regionally and internationally. Eminent filmmakers, distinguished guests and acclaimed talents from around the world are invited to bestow awards upon the winners of each category, making the ceremony a dazzling extravaganza as well as an influential cultural event that helps position Hong Kong as the centre of Asian cinema.

The HAF is widely recognised as the most important film-financing platform in Asia, matching Asian film projects with top producers, financiers and distributors for co-production ventures.

The deadlines for media accreditation are as follows:

The 36th Hong Kong International Film Festival:
24 February 2012

The 6th Asian Film Awards:
2 March 2012

The 10th Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum:
2 March 2012

The processing of media passes will take approximately two weeks. Any late applications may not be guaranteed entrance to the events. The Festival reserves the right to approve or deny accreditation.

For more information, please check out the FAQ for media accreditation in respective events media accreditation website. If you have any questions, please contact:

The 6th Asian Film Awards announces nominations in 14 categories as Singaporean director Eric KHOO is named Jury President

Hong Kong, 17 January 2012 – The Hong Kong International Film Festival Society (HKIFFS) announced today the nominees in the 14 categories and the jury for the 6th Asian Film Awards (AFA). Eric KHOO, Singapore-based director and producer, will take up the mantle of Jury President, heading the panel of international film community notables who will select the winners of these prestigious awards. The Asian Film Awards Presentation Ceremony will be held at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre Grand Hall on 19 March 2012.

Organised by the HKIFFS and funded by CreateHK and the Film Development Fund, supported by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, the AFA recognises and celebrates the achievements of the preceding year in Asian film through 14 award 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, and Best Costume Designer.

From over a thousand of eligible films, up to six nominees in each category have been selected throughout the Asian regions. The full list of nominations includes 32 films from 11 countries and regions, all chosen for their outstanding contribution to Asian cinema in 2011. The nominations this year come from a dazzling array of Asian films, from major mainstream action blockbusters such as The Flying Swords of Dragon Gate and romances such as You Are the Apple of My Eye, to festival favourites that have won tremendous critical acclaim, including Nader and Simin: A Separation and The Mirror Never Lies.

“In the past year, we have seen Asia’s film industry grow, prosper and truly shine in every way,” said Mr. Wilfred WONG, SBS, JP, Chairman of the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society (HKIFFS). “Not only on the screen, but behind the scenes as well, where directors, producers, composers and designers, have spent countless hours working tirelessly to create films they love and want to share with the world.”

The 6th Asian Film Awards will also recognise the outstanding efforts and careers of professionals in the Asian film industry with three special awards: the Lifetime Achievement Award, the Edward Yang New Talent Award and the Award for 2011’s Top-Grossing Asian Film.

The award-winning director of critically acclaimed hits Mee Pok Man, 12 Storeys and Be With Me, Jury President Eric KHOO, helped to put Singapore on the international film map. He will lead a jury consisting of 12 film professionals with internationally recognised experience and expertise in cinema.

To introduce the AFA to more people and places, the HKIFFS has prepared two major promotions in the run-up to the AFA Presentation Ceremony. The People’s Choice Awards is open to the public, enabling people from all overseas countries to vote for the Asian film actor and actress they feel most deserve recognition for their work in 2011. The voting period will be from 6 February 2012 to 5 March 2012 on the official AFA website (http://www.asianfilmawards.asia/2012/). Air tickets and hotel accommodations will be awarded to the winners to travel to Hong Kong and attend the AFA Presentation Ceremony on 19 March 2012.

The build-up to the Asian Film Awards Presentation Ceremony will also feature the Road to AFA video series, featuring nominees and behind the scenes footage, special award recipients and film industries of selected regions including Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, India, and Southeast Asia to provide greater insight into the work that the AFA recognises and to raise public awareness of the awards.

The organisers of the AFA would like to thank their partners and sponsors for their invaluable support. Without their contribution, the AFA would not be the success they are today.

The complete list of nominations for the 6th AFA is attached as Appendix I.

The complete jury list for the 6th AFA is attached as Appendix II.

The list of key sponsors for the 6th AFA is attached as Appendix III.

High-resolution pictures can be downloaded from the link:

https://picasaweb.google.com/6thAsianFilmAwards

Welcome speech by Mr. Wilfred WONG, SBS, JP, Chairman of the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society (HKIFFS).

Welcome speech by Mr. Wilfred WONG, SBS, JP, Chairman of the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society (HKIFFS).

Speech by Mr. Eric KHOO, Jury President of the 6th Asian Film Awards.

(From left) Mr. Roger GARCIA, Executive Director of the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society; Mr. Michael WERNER, the 6th AFA Steering Committee Member; Mr. Jack SO, GBS, OBE, JP, Chairman of Hong Kong Film Development Council; Mr. Eric KHOO, Jury President of the 6th AFA; Mr. Wilfred WONG, SBS, JP, Chairman of the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society; Mr. Peter LAM, Vice Chairman of Hong Kong Film Development Council and Ms. Winnie TSANG, the 6th AFA Steering Committee Member.

(Upper row from left) The 6th AFA Technical Partner – Ms. Aaron S.P., Director of Communications of DotAsia Organization; Ms. Ruby TANG, Regional Marketing Director of Moet Hennessy Asia Pacific; Funder – Mr. Jerry LIU, Head of CreateHK and Film Development Council; Supporter – Miss Anna CHEUNG, Senior Service Promotion Manager of Hong Kong Trade Development Council; Official Hotel – Ms. Jan Lee, Associate Director of Sales of Grand Hyatt Hong Kong; and Partner Hotel – Mr. Silvano DRESSINO, Resident Manager of JW Marriott Hong Kong.(Bottom row from left) Mr. Roger GARCIA, Executive Director of the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society; Mr. Michael WERNER, the 6th AFA Steering Committee Member; Mr. Jack SO, GBS, OBE, JP, Chairman of Hong Kong Film Development Council; Mr. Eric KHOO, Jury President of the 6th AFA; Mr. Wilfred WONG, SBS, JP, Chairman of the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society; Mr. Peter LAM, Vice Chairman of Hong Kong Film Development Council; and Ms. Winnie TSANG, the 6th AFA Steering Committee Member.

About the Asian Film Awards

The AFA Presentation Ceremony takes place as part of the Entertainment Expo Hong Kong. Since 2007, the Asian Film Awards (AFA) has sought to highlight the best in Asian cinema to the world, and to promote Asian film culture both regionally and internationally. Eminent filmmakers, distinguished guests and acclaimed talents from around the world are invited to bestow awards upon the winner(s) of each category, making the Ceremony a dazzling extravaganza as well as an influential cultural event that helps position Hong Kong as the hub of Asian cinema. Each year, the AFA makes presentations in a range of categories such as Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, in recognition of artistic achievements in the cinemas and film industries of the Asian region. The 6th AFA is one of the Opening Gala events of Entertainment Expo Hong Kong and will coincide with two other flagship events of the HKIFFS: the 36th Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF), and the 10th Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF).

For more information about the Asian Film Awards and film submission for nomination, please visit: www.asianfilmawards.asia.

About Hong Kong International Film Festival Society Limited

Uniting the World through Film

The Hong Kong International Film Festival Society (HKIFFS) is a charitable, non-profit, non-government organisation dedicated to the discovery and promotion of creativity in the art and culture of film.

Through its year-round programmes, 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 organises three annual flagship events in March and April: The Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF), the Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) and the 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.

Website: www.hkiff.org.hk

For further information, media only:

Waggener Edstrom Worldwide

April TSUI

Tel: +852-6336-8090

E-mail: atsui@waggeneredstrom.com

Miranda KWOK

Tel: +852-9612-1607

E-mail: mkwok@waggeneredstrom.com

The Hong Kong International Film Festival Society

Catherine LIU

Tel: +852-2102-7391 / +852-9621-7430

E-mail: catherine_liu@hkiff.org.hk

June LUI

Tel: +852-2102-7392 / +852-9642-6576

E-mail: june_lui@hkiff.org.hk