Asian Film Awards to be held tonight at Macao

(MACAUDAILYTIMES) Astar-studdedwelcomedinnerwasheldlastnightatConradMacau,CotaiCentral,asapreludetotheAsianFilmAwards(AFA)CeremonytobeheldtonightattheVenetianMacao.

ThisyeartheAsianFilmAwardsAcademywillpartnerwiththeacclaimedU.S.luxuryjewelrybrand,HeartsOnFire,topresentthe“HeartsOnFire-AFASpecialAwards”torecognizetheachievementsofoutstandingiconsintheAsianfilmindustry.

TwoRisingStarofAsiaAwardswerepresentedtoHongKongsinger-cum-

actorPakhoChauandKoreanactress,ClaraLee,atlastnight’swelcomedinner.

Receivinghisfirstmovieawardyesterday,Pakhostartedhiscareerasateenagemodelforluxurybrands,andmadehisdebutasasingerbackin2007andhisscreendebutin“LoveisElsewhere”in2008.

Hisrolesasaferventyoungdoctorin“ISellLove,”acheatinghusbandin“SforSex,SforSecret,”andabillionairein“LoveDetective”madealastingimpressiononaudiences.But2015wastherealbreakthroughyearfortheactorafterhewashighlyacclaimedforhisroleasElephantMan,acold-bloodedkillerin“Guilty.”

MeanwhileSwiss-bornBritishactress,ClaraLee,haspreviouslystarredinmanyTVdramaseriessince2005,andmadeherbig-screendebutin“FiveSensesofEros”in2009.

ShealsomadeaspectacularpresenceinHongKongbystarringinherfirstactionfilm,“LineWalker”,andin“Prince,”inwhichshepartneredwithactorsfrommainlandChina,HongKongandTaiwan.

ShetoldreportersthatshehasvisitedMacauafewtimesbefore,butthiswasherfirstvisitforwork.

IconicJapaneseactressKirinKiki,renownedforherworkincinemaandtelevision,wasalsopresentatthewelcomedinner.SheisbeingconsideredfortheLifetimeAchievementAwardtonight,alongsideYuenWoo-ping,amartialartschoreographerandfilmdirectorfromHongKong.

KirinKikitoldreportersattheceremonythatsheadmirestheyoungergenerationofAsianactorsandactresses.

“Theyoungeractorsandactresseshaveamoresubtlewayofacting,Ithinkitisveryimpressive,”shetoldreportersthroughatranslator.“Ithinkitisnowtheirtime.”DB