6th AFA announces 14 nominations and Jury President

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