MG Philippines drives to Lipa, Batangas" Abang Adik " ( Malaysia ) Takes Home Snow Leopard for Best Film Wu Kang -ren ( " Abang Adik " ) Named Best Actor Diamond Bou Abboud ( "Arze" ) Wins Best Actress Sergei Bodrov Honored with Lifetime Achievement Award HOLLYWOOD, Calif. , Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The 10th annual Asian World Film Festival (AWFF) announced its winners at a star-studded Closing Night Gala Awards Ceremony Thursday, November 21 , at the Culver Theater. Over 60 films and special screenings, including 24 Academy Award submissions for Best International Feature Film, were presented over the nine days of the AWFF, held November 13 - 21. The ceremony was hosted by Kyrgyz director and actress Elnura Osmanalieva and TV host, Golden Globe member, filmmaker and actor Mico Saad . FOR PHOTOS: CLICK HERE The Main Competition presented a series of exclusive Snow Leopard Awards with the assistance of Iris Wang , Jury President, producer ("Kung Fu Yoga," "The Composer"). Crime/drama " Abang Adik " ( Malaysia ), directed by Jin Ong , won the Snow Leopard Award for Best Film . The film also won the Snow Leopard Best Actor Award for Wu Kang -ren . The Snow Leopard for Best Actress went to Diamond Bou Abboud for the social dramedy "Arze" ( Lebanon ), directed by Mira Shaib . The Snow Leopard Special Jury Prize went to family drama " In the Arms of the Tree" ( Iran ) directed by Babak Khajeh Pasha . The Snow Leopard Panavision Award for Best Cinematography , along with a $45,000 Panavision Camera Package Grant, was awarded to cinematographer Zhanrbek Yeleubek for Kazakhstan's coming of age drama " Bauryna Salu, " and accepted by the film's director Askhat Kuchinchirekov and producer Dias Feld. The Snow Leopard Audience Award went to " The Glassworker " ( Pakistan ), directed by Usman Riaz . Writer, director and producer Sergei Bodrov ("Mongol," "Prisoner of the Mountains") received the AWFF Lifetime Achievement Award . The award was presented by Kazakhstan actress Ayanat Ksenbai ("About Mannequin"). Hong Kong filmmaker Peter Ho-Sun Chan ("Warlords," "Comrades: Almost a Love Story ") was presented with the Outstanding Cinematic Achievement Award by producer Andre Morgan ("The Cannonball Run," "The Warlords"). The Rising Star Award went to Filipino actress Kathryn Bernardo ("The Hows of Us," "Hello, Love, Goodbye") presented by actress Kieu Chinh ("The Joy Luck Club," "Hamburger Hill"). Executive Director Georges N. Chamchoum said, "There is always a beginning and end to everything—except at the Asian World Film Festival. This 10 th Anniversary year was filled with inspiring milestones, discovery, joy, and thrills! The myriads of movies we screened, the special country spotlights and the dedicated filmmaker panels, have brought the richness of our heritage to the forefront. Asia is a wellspring of incredibly talented filmmakers, offering valuable lessons, especially in this age of technology. The AWFF continues to showcase exceptional movies filled with heart, soul, and captivating storytelling. Onward to November 2025!" The Bruce Lee Award , in partnership with the Bruce Lee Foundation, was presented to martial artist and actor Mark Dacascos ("Brotherhood of the Wolf," " John Wick : Chapter 3 – Parabellum") by Lee's daughter Shannon Lee , CEO of the Bruce Lee Foundation. The Asian Vision Best Film Award was given to "Night Courier" ( Saudi Arabia ), directed by Ali Kalthami. The Short Film Jury composed of filmmakers and industry professionals from the U.S. and abroad, was headed by Jury President, Head of HDR Content Workflow, Barco) Joachim Zell . The Best Short Film , with a prize of a $15,000 Panavision Camera Package grant, went to " Lullaby" (UK/ Vietnam ) directed by Chi Thai . The award was presented by producer Zhu Xufang and accepted by actress Mai Thu Huyen ("A Fragile Flower," "Kieu"). A Special Mention was given to " Mar Mama " (Palestine), directed by Majdi El Omari . The complete awards list is as follows: SNOW LEOPARD COMPETITION AWARDEES Best Picture : " Abang Adik " ( Malaysia ) directed by Jin Ong Best Actor: Wu Kang -ren in " Abang Adik " ( Malaysia ) Best Actress: Diamond Bou Abboud in "Arze" ( Lebanon ) Panavision Best Cinematography: Zhanrbek Yeleubek for "Bauryna Salu" ( Kazakhstan ) Special Jury Prize: " In the Arms of the Tree" ( Iran ) directed by Babak Khajeh Pasha Audience Award: " The Glassworker" ( Pakistan ) directed by Usman Riaz SNOW LEOPARD HONORARY AWARDS Lifetime Achievement Award – Sergei Bodrov Outstanding Cinematic Achievement – Peter Ho-Sun Chan Rising Star Award – Kathryn Bernardo ASIAN VISION BEST FILM AWARD: "Night Courier" ( Saudi Arabia ) directed by Ali Kalthami AWFF BRUCE LEE AWARD (in partnership with the Bruce Lee Foundation) Mark Dacascos SHORT FILM FINALISTS Best Short Film: " Lullaby" (UK/ Vietnam ) directed by Chi Thai Special Mention: " Mar Mama " (Palestine) directed by Majdi El Omari The AWFF series of Snow Leopard Awards is bestowed in partnership with The Snow Leopard Trust to raise awareness for the endangered snow leopard and their Asian ecosystem. AWFF SPONSORS The Asian World Film Festival is proudly sponsored by Aitysh Film, Pechanga Casino Resort, Panavision, Bruce Lee Foundation, Korean Cultural Center ( Los Angeles ), Korean Film Council (KOFIC), Taiwan Academy ( Los Angeles ), Hollywood Arab Film Association ( Los Angeles ), Vietnam Cinema Association ( Hanoi, Vietnam ), Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office, Kyrgyz Film, Ministry of Culture & Tourism Republic of Turkiye, Directorate General of Cinema (Turkiye), Republic of Turkiye Los Angeles Consulate General, Beirut Film Association ( Lebanon ), Meihodo ( Japan ), MoRedii, Culver City Arts Foundation, CAPE ( Los Angeles ), AARP ( California ), Blackmagic Design, Emporium Thai ( Los Angeles ), NAMOO ( Marina Del Rey ), Jackson Market & Deli (Culver City, Shin Beijing ( Los Angeles ), H.C. Foods and Asahi Beer , among many others. ABOUT THE ASIAN WORLD FILM FESTIVAL (AWFF) Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2024, the Asian World Film Festival (AWFF) was founded by Kyrgyz public figure Sadyk Sher-Niyaz to bring the best of Asian cinema to Los Angeles and to strengthen ties between the Asian and Hollywood film industries. The festival screens feature films from more than 50 countries, spanning from Japan to Turkey and Russia to India and Southeast Asia . As of 2024, AWFF is the only Los Angeles -based festival that showcases most Asian submissions Academy Award ® and Golden Globe ® for Best International Feature Film and Best Motion Picture - Non-English Language respectively. AWFF is a non-profit organization under Aitysh USA . Follow AWFF on: Website: https://www.asianworldfilmfest.org/ X (formally Twitter): https://twitter.com/asianworldff Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AsianWorldFilmFest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asianworldff/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@asianworldfilmfestival3974 Media Contact: Rick Markovitz 818-421-3334 [email protected] SOURCE Asian World Film Festival
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CHANGSHA, China , Dec. 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Modern China's rural revitalization strategy is crafting a remarkable narrative of transformation across the countryside, while progressive opening-up policies encourage foreign visitors to delve deeper into the nation's heartland. On December 26th , VOC.com.cn premiered the second season of its acclaimed series, I Am in Rural China. The show follows Teona Kvartskhava, an international guest, as she explores the villages of Hunan Province , offering viewers a firsthand look at the dynamic implementation of comprehensive rural revitalization. This captivating series invites a global audience to witness the dawn of a new era in China's rural landscapes, showcasing the country's evolving countryside to viewers worldwide. Rice field came as the first surprise. Hunan is the largest rice grower and producer in China . Hunan provides the high-quality and tasty rice. Teona Kvartskhava, a foreigner hardly feeding on rice, was tempted to have plenty of it. In Qunle Village, Lixian County, Changde, she also experienced "Double Rush", which is a time-honored agricultural event in China . An event that used to call for the joint efforts of all family members, has now become much easier thanks to technology. Departing from Lixian County for the moment, Teona Kvartskhava embarked on an exciting trip of tastes in Rucheng, Chenzhou , Southern Hunan . Hunan people are keen and expert on peppery food and spicy taste dominates the Hunan cuisine. Hunan is also rich in varieties of peppers. Jingpo town, a well-known town where spicy food prevails. It is a producer of red cluster pepper, officially one of the hottest peppers in China . From the crowded market, to the red and yellow pepper planting base, and then to the modern processing pepper workshop, the small cluster pepper strung up all corners of the town, so that the original ordinary mountain town has become extraordinarily lively and affluent. Of course, the "star" of the countryside here is not only agriculture, but also culture, which has also blossomed in this ancient land. As the birthplace of papermaking, China has preserved a unique handmade papermaking technique, which is used to make some "special" papers. In Shanghong Village, Liuyang, Teona Kvartskhava was lucky to meet two Chinese masters, who showed her hands-on experiences of "Gushan Tribute Paper" and "Floral Paper". As the process progresses, the paper took shape in her hands, as if history and culture were meeting in front of her eyes, and became the "first paper" in Teona Kvartskhava's life. So,What's rural China like? It's about hospitable peasants, about various agricultural produce, about profound history and culture, about colorful intangible cultural heritage. It's like a book telling numerous absorbing stories. Hopefully Teona Kvartskhava'll be luckier to visit more villages for their unique interest and charm.
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Tait-Jones scores 21 as UC San Diego defeats James Madison 73-67Huawei has more than 15,000 applications based on Harmony that can meet consumers' basic needs, but the ecosystem requires more personalised and boutique apps. China's Huawei, blacklisted by the US, said on Saturday it is targeting 100,000 applications for its Harmony operating system in coming months as it seeks widespread help to achieve self-reliance. The tech giant has more than 15,000 applications based on Harmony that can meet consumers' basic needs, but the ecosystem requires more personalised and boutique apps, Huawei Chairman Xu Zhijun told a conference on Saturday. "Based on our analysis, for the Harmony ecosystem to be mature in meeting consumer needs, 100,000 apps is the milestone, and that is the key objective over the next six to 12 months," Xu said in a speech posted on the WeChat messaging app. The ambitious app target highlights the urgency in developing home-grown technologies as China faces elevated tensions with the US in areas ranging from trade to technology as President-elect Donald Trump threatens to be tougher on China. Huawei launched its operating system five years ago after US sanctions cut off support for Google's Android. The Shenzhen-based company, which sells products ranging from smartphones to laptops, later developed an open-source version of the Harmony system. Due to the US sanctions, "Huawei has been forced to accelerate developing its own operating system," Xu said. Although much progress has been made, "for any operation system, no matter how advanced it is, it would be of no value if no one uses it." Xu expressed hope that developers could work hard to enrich app offerings and called on government agencies, state companies and social organisations to use Harmony as their operating system at work. He asked consumers to be tolerant of the system's immaturity, saying, "The more people use it, the more quickly it will become mature." Huawei unveiled Harmony in August 2019, three months after Washington placed it under trade restrictions over alleged security concerns. Huawei denies its equipment poses a risk. "No way back leads to victory," Xu said. “Huawei will unwaveringly invest in developing the Harmony ecosystem, and strive to make the impossible possible.” Published 22:04 IST, November 24th 2024A study is currently underway to identify the prevalent factors holding back female participation within local council elections and to come up with recommendations to try and eliminate this political gender imbalance, the Parliamentary Secretariats for Reforms and Equality as well as for Local Government said. This scientific research was revealed by the two Parliamentary Secretaries during a joint press conference. Parliamentary Secretaries Rebecca Buttigieg and Alison Zerafa Civelli said that during the local council elections held earlier this June, female candidates made up just around 27% of the field, and that from those elected, only 28% of councillors were women. Parliamentary Secretary Zerafa Civelli expressed her commitment to seeing more just representation between the sexes in politics, even on a local government basis. She also mentioned that this would be fulfilling measure 971 of the government's manifesto. She described that the government shall continue to support local councils and work against this issue by providing the necessary tools to allow these people to be drivers for societal change. "This research should therefore be paired with a series of other activities that encourage the increased visibility of women in political life, because we truly believe in the potential of women for important decisions," Zerafa Civelli said. Parliamentary Secretary Rebecca Buttigieg stressed the importance of having a female perspective in local councils. She also noted that there are currently six localities that have no female representation. Buttigieg added that the parliamentary secretariat is implementing a proposal put forward by the technical committee that carried out a preliminary evaluation on the candidacies and results of the local council elections held earlier this year. This study should be concluded by the coming September and is being headed by Professor Carmen Sammut. She said that the gender corrective mechanism that was first implemented in the 2022 general election cannot necessarily be implemented in local council elections. Sammut concluded that based on research, other methods can be identified to ensure a more "appropriate" balance in local councils.