The Asian Film Awards Academy set up to organise Asian Film Awards, announces nominations, Jury President and 8th Asian Film Awards in Macau

Hong Kong, 11 February 2014 – The Asian Film Awards Academy announced its establishment today as the official organizer of the annual Asian Film Awards. Details of the 8th Asian Film Awards including nominees and the president jury were also unveiled at the press conference. To mark the new milestone of this prestigious awards ceremony the Academy will be collaborating with City of Dreams Macau to present the Asian Film Awards at the renowned Dancing Water Theater.

Organised for the past seven years by the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society, the Asian Film Awards (AFA) will now be organised by the newly established Asian Film Awards Academy (AFA Academy) that will be based in Hong Kong.

The executive committee of the AFA Academy is chaired by Dr. Wilfred Wong Ying-wai, who is also the chairman of the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society. Committee members include Mr. Lee Yong-kwan, Director of the Busan International Film Festival in South Korea, and Mr. Yasushi Shiina, Director General of the Tokyo International Film Festival and TIFFCOM market from Japan.

“The principal players in getting the AFA Academy off the ground are representatives of the three long established and major film festivals in Asia,” explained Dr. Wilfred Wong, “their experience, involvement and collaboration will help to ensure a broader reach across Asia, and reflect the film industries, trends and audience tastes in the region.”

Mr. Lee Yong-kwan welcomed the new development of the AFA Academy and the AFA, "The new attempt and changes to the organization of the AFA – with the combined effort of Hong Kong, Busan and Tokyo International Film Festivals – will transcend barriers and borders and play an important part in Pan-Asian development and the globalization of Asian cinemas."

Mr. Yasushi Shiina, extended his warm congratulations for the forthcoming 8th Asian Film Awards (AFA). “I hope that the Asian Film Awards Academy will develop further and continue to contribute to cultural development in Asia, and enhance the status of Asian films worldwide,” he said. “Let us continue to build close relationships in the Asian film industry, built on mutual respect and trust, because together we have the power to raise awareness of the AFA Academy around the world.”

Dr. Wong said that additional members, including representatives of other film festivals in Asia, could be included as the AFA Academy develops. He said that further details on the AFA Academy would be announced later.

In the press conference today, The AFA Academy also announced that the 8th Asian Film Awards will be presented by an innovative collaboration with Asia’s leading integrated entertainment resort City of Dreams Macau. The award ceremony will be held on March 27, 2014 at the state-of-the-art Dancing Water Theater, home to the world’s largest water-based extravaganza “The House of Dancing Water”.

“It is indeed our honor to mark a special year for AFA when it is the very first time for this prestigious award ceremony is to be hosted outside of Hong Kong” said Mr. Sunny Yu, Senior Vice President, Entertainment and Projects of Melco Crown Entertainment. “Grounded in the spirit of courage and innovation, Melco Crown Entertainment is renowned for delivering exceptional and diverse entertainment experiences that appeal to the broadest spectrum of visitors in the region. We truly believe that our collaboration with the AFA Academy will further develop Macau as a cinematic magnet that brings together the best cinematic talents and professionals of Asia.

“As a world-class production which is also the flagship entertainment offering at City of Dreams Macau, ‘The House of Dancing Water’ has impressed over two million spectators from all over the world. We are confident that our collaboration with the AFA Academy will impress the whole region when we bring Asian Film Awards to the most spectacular and sophisticated theater in Asia.”

The 8th AFA is organised by the Asian Film Awards Academy and its constituent partners, the Busan International Film Festival, the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society, and the Tokyo International Film Festival. Its local co-organiser is the Macau Media Advancement Association.

The AFA Academy is honoured that the internationally acclaimed filmmaker, Peter Ho-Sun CHAN will serve as Jury President for the 8th Asian Film Awards, heading a panel of international film professionals that will select the winners of these prestigious awards.

“I am thrilled to serve as the President of this year’s AFA jury,” said Mr. Chan. “Over the past seven years, the AFA has helped to recognize and promote Asian cinema and the talents that make it. Unlike a decade ago, Asia now is home to many dynamic film industries with expanding markets and audiences. Each industry, although successful commercially, is becoming more and more localised, catering to the taste of local audiences. As a result there are fewer channels for crossover distribution outside local markets. I think AFA is not only important in its celebration of Asian film and filmmakers, but an event that can bring Asian films together and reaffirm to distributors that as Asians, we are really not that different from each other.”

Among the jurors is well-known actor and leading man Donnie YEN. “I am delighted to participate in the AFA this year,” he said, “I believe that the awards, and the new Academy, can help encourage the next generation of Asian filmmakers. We must develop these new talents who will safeguard the legacy of our cinema and industry into the future.”

The AFA recognises and celebrates the achievements of the preceding year of 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 eligible films across Asia, up to 6 nominations have been selected in each category. The full list (attached) of 73 nominees includes 26 films from 13 countries and regions.

The AFA Academy would like to thank their partners and sponsors for their invaluable support of the AFA. Without their contributions, the AFA would not be the success it is today.

http://www.asianfilmawards.asia/press-room/8th-afa-press/afa-academy-set-up-to-organise-asian-film-awards-announces-nominations-jury-president-8th-afa-in-macau/

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