lifestyle THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2015

Awards Macau rolls out the red carpet for Asian Film Awards

sia’s movie greats converged on romance set during China’s tumultuous the gambling hub of Macau yes- Cultural Revolution era. She goes up Aterday as the city rolled out the against compatriot Tang Wei who stars in red carpet for the Asian Film Awards. “Golden Era”, and Zhao Wei of “Dearest” Fans gathered at the luxurious Venetian which revolves around a father tracking resort for the star-studded event which down his missing son. showcases cinema from across the Also among the nominees for best region, with 42 films competing in vari- actress is Indian actress Kalki Koechlin, of ous categories. The awards, organized by “Margarita, With A Straw”, who said she the Hong Kong International Film was excited to be participating in the Festival and aimed at promoting regional event for the first time. Up-and-coming cinema, are in their 9th year. Movie Korean heartthrob Doh Kyungsoo will vie heavyweights including China and India for the Best Newcomer prize with “Cart”, take on newer talents from Taiwan and while the country’s veteran actor Choi the Philippines this year, with Hong Kong Minsik will compete for best actor with director Ann Hui’s “Golden Era”-a biopic “Roaring Current”. He is pitted against of acclaimed Chinese writer Xiao Hong- Liao Fan of “Black Coal, Thin Ice”, who leading the pack with five nominations. won the top acting prize in Berlin last “You’d better give one to me, at least, year and veteran Hong Kong actor Sean or I will have to walk away with nothing,” Lau Ching-wan for crime thriller she joked when asked about the number “Overheard 3”. — AFP of nominations the movie has. “Blind Massage” from controversial Chinese director Lou Ye, featuring blind amateur South Korean boy band Infinite members pose on the red carpet. actors, has four nominations as does Chinese cop thriller “Black Coal Thin Ice” which won Berlin’s Golden Bear last year. India’s “Haider”, an adaptation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet set in Indian- Japanese actress Ikewaki Chizuru poses after winning the administered Kashmir, and Taiwan’s best supporting actress award at the 9th Asian Film “Paradise in Service”, a story about an Awards in†Macau†yesterday. — AP/AFP photos underground military brothel, also have four nominations each. While the event is likely to be domi- nated by conventional powerhouses in the region, lesser-known cinematic tal- ents are rising to the challenge. “The developing network of filmmakers and film industries in the Asia-Pacific will strengthen the AFA and drive the global- ization of Asian films,” Wilfred Wong Ying- wai, chairman of the AFA Academy, said in a statement.

Cultural Revolution era The Philippines’ Lav Diaz is vying for the best director prize with “From What Is Before”, a black-and-white drama about villagers living in a remote backwater town. Diaz was much lauded at home after winning top prize at the prestigious Golden Leopard awards in Switzerland last year. Prominent Chinese actress Gong Li, who missed out at last year’s Golden Horse Awards in Taiwan despite being a critics’ favorite, will take on her best actress rivals with “Coming Home”, a

Hong Kong director Ann Hui US singer Jermaine Jackson and his sons Taiwanese actress Wan Qian South Korea actor Doh Kyung-soo

South Korean actress Han Ye-ri India actress Kalki Koechlin Japanese actress Miyazawa Rie and Hong Kong actor Aaron Hong Kong actress Ivana Wong Kwok. ‘Court’ wins India’s National Film Award

haitaya Tamhane’s multi-lingual “Court” has won best feature at the Prize at the Viennnale. guage “Jigarthanda” and Baljinder Kaur supporting actress for Haryanvi- Indian government’s annual National Film Awards. The recognition Srijit Mukherji won best director and original screenplay for Bengali- language “Pagdi: The Honour”. Aditya Vikram Sengupta won best debut Cis the latest in a series of accolades for the film including best film language “Chotushkone” and the film also won best cinematography for for “Labour of Love”, a category the film won at Venice too. — Reuters and director at the Mumbai film festival, best Asian feature at the Sudeep Chatterjee. Vijay won best actor for Kannada-language “Nanu Singapore International Film Festival, the Luigi De Laurentiis Award and Avanalla Avalu” and popular Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut best the Venice Horizons Award at the Venice Film festival and the FIPRESCI actress for “Queen”. Bobby Simhaa won supporting actor for Tamil-lan-