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16th Shanghai Film Festival kicks off with star-studded ceremony

  June 20, 2013  
On June 15, the 16th edition of the Shanghai International Film Festival kicked off with a glamorous opening ceremony and the premiere of Pixar's Monsters University at Cultural Square. The ceremony was attended by some of the biggest stars in the Greater China region, including Mini Yang, Wang Xueqi, Xu Zheng, William Feng, Ni Ni, Bai Baihe, Joseph Chang, Vivian Hsu, Huang Xiaoming, Andy Lau, Sammi Cheng, Jay Chou, Donnie Yen, Aaron Kwok and Chow Yun Fat. Filmmakers like novelist Guo Jingming, Barbara Wong, Mabel Cheung, Alex Law, Johnnie To, Tsui Hark, Leos Corax and Oliver Stone also walked the red carpet.

Aired live on local television and the Internet, the opening ceremony began with a speech by Shanghai Vice Mayor Wang Tierui, who voiced her support for the festival as an event that raises the prestige of the city. Jury president Tom Hooper also pointed out in his speech that the city serves an important role in film industry as the birthplace of Chinese cinema.

Two awards were presented at the ceremony: the Outstanding Contribution to Chinese Cinema award to Tsui Hark (he was introduced by his Detective Dee star Andy Lau) and the Lifetime Achievement award to American filmmaker Oliver Stone. Stone has brought many of his films to this year's festival, including his new documentary and a new Ultimate Cut of his big-budget historical epic Alexander. Both Tsui and Stone were jury members at the first edition of the festival in 1993.

The 16th Edition of the Shanghai Film Festival runs from June 14 to 23, 2013.

See photos from the 16th Shanghai Film Festival on YesAsia Facebook.

Text / Rockman

Shinhwa holds first overseas stop of 2013 Grand Tour in Hong Kong

  June 10, 2013  
Korea's longest-running boy band Shinhwa held the first overseas stop of their 2013 Grand Tour The Classic in Hong Kong on June 8, 2013 at the AsiaWorld-Arena. Celebrating their 15th anniversary this year, the group lived up to their legendary status as the first generation of K-pop idols during their first ever concert in Hong Kong.

Shinhwa opened the show with Only One from their 2000 album and delivered pop nostalgia throughout the night with many of their other older hits including Hey Come On, Perfect Man, I Pray 4 U, Eusha Eusha and T.O.P. They also performed songs from their newly released album The Classic like "The Man Who Knows" and New Me. A touching video documenting the group's 15-year career from debut to their first-place win with recent hit This Love was played, segueing right into their vogueing performance of This Love. The group closed the night with their 1999 hit Yo!.

The Shinhwa members chatted up a storm throughout the concert and had no problem interacting with the audience despite the language barrier. Kim Dong Wan especially excited the fans by declaring repeatedly in Cantonese (with some help from a cheat sheet) that "Our heart and your heart are the same." The concertgoers, many of whom were dressed in orange – Shinhwa's official fan color – and brandished orange balloons and light sticks, filled the arena with cheers of "Shinhwa jjang!"

Following the Hong Kong concert, Shinhwa will continue to tour Asia throughout out the summer, including stops in Shanghai, Taipei, Tokyo and Beijing. The Grand Tour will return to Seoul's Olympic Gymnastics Arena on August 3 and 4.

See photos from Shinhwa's Hong Kong concert on YesAsia Facebook.

Text / Sanwei

Glay holds first ever Hong Kong concert for Asia Tour

  May 28, 2013  
Japanese rock band Glay held the Hong Kong leg of their Justice & Guilty 2013 Asia Tour on May 25 at the AsiaWorld-Arena. It was Glay's first ever Hong Kong concert and the band was greeted with great enthusiasm by the towel-swirling audience throughout the two-hour show.

Glay kicked off the performance with two cuts from their 2013 Justice album, gestalt and JUSTICE [from] GUILTY. Other recent tracks like WHO KILLED MY DIVA and Bible and Hanayo Arashiyo from the Guilty album also elicited cheers. The audience sang along especially loudly with older songs like However, the band's 1997 breakout hit which lead singer Teru described as "one of our most important songs."

After the band closed with the trippy ACID HEAD, fans called the members back out for the encore by singing the chorus of I'm in Love. As a surprise gift, the audience held up specially prepared pink banners bearing birthday messages for guitarist and bandleader Takuro, whose birthday was on the following day, and sang "Happy Birthday" to him. Sharing that Glay had long wanted to hold an Asia tour, Takuro said, "Tonight our dream came true... I'll never forget tonight." Backdropped by an entire arena of pink banners, the band even shot a video message onstage for fans in Taiwan, the next stop of their tour. Glay thanked the audience with Zutto Futari de and I'm in Love and promised that they would return to Hong Kong. They came back out one more time and sang Glorious for the second encore.

Celebrating their 20th anniversary next year, Glay is one of Japan's top-selling artists of all time, having sold over 38 million records. From February to May, the band performed 22 concerts in Japan for their Justice & Guilty Arena Tour before embarking on their first Asia Tour. The band's next concert is in Taipei on July 6.

See photos from Glay's Hong Kong concert on YesAsia Facebook.

Text / Sanwei

G-Dragon holds sold-out solo tour in Hong Kong

  May 22, 2013  
Following Big Bang's Alive Galaxy Tour in Hong Kong in December 2012, Big Bang leader G-Dragon successfully held two sold-out solo concerts in Hong Kong on May 17 and 18, 2013. His 2013 One of a Kind tour kicked off at home in Seoul on March 30 before heading overseas to Japan, Beijing, Taipei and then Hong Kong where he thrilled over 24,000 audience members.

Known for his trendy, idiosyncratic fashion, G-Dragon opened the show with a race car driver look – complete with a crystal race car! The energy level stayed high throughout the night as the idol went through a nonstop lineup of hits including Heartbreaker, Crayon, That XX, This Love, his latest single Michi Go and, naturally, One of a Kind. He also offered newly arranged versions of Today and A Boy and his own versions of Big Bang hits Fantastic Baby and Bad Boy. YG Entertainment labelmate Epik High appeared as a special guest for the concerts.

G-Dragon caused fans much worry when he injured his leg earlier at the Osaka concert. As with all things GD, his cane has since turned into a fashion talking point, but he stated at his press conference in Hong Kong that he has largely recovered. G-Dragon also revealed that while he has considered including his dog Gaho in performances, his beloved pet is too big and only listens to his mother.

After Hong Kong, the One of a Kind tour will travel to Shanghai, Nagoya, Bangkok, Jakarta, Kualu Lumpur and Singapore. G-Dragon is the first K-pop solo artist to hold a four-dome tour in Japan, and his Seoul concert was described by Billboard as a "Michael Jackson-level affair."

See photos from G-Dragon's Hong Kong press conference on YesAsia Facebook.

Text / Sanwei

Yoo Jae Suk & Ryu Seung Ryong win Grand Prizes at 49th Baeksang Arts Awards

  May 10, 2013  
Honoring Korea's best in film and television, the 49th Baeksang Arts Awards were held in Seoul on May 9. Awards were evenly distributed across multiple productions, with Ryu Seung Ryong emerging as the Grand Prize winner in film for his performance in the blockbuster prison drama Miracle in Cell No. 7. The period blockbuster Masquerade won Best Film and Best Director for Choo Chang Min, while crime thriller I Am a Murderer nabbed Best Screenplay.

Ha Jung Woo won Best Actor again for the action thriller Berlin File, marking his third win in four years at the Baeksang Arts Awards (he won for Take Off in 2010 and The Yellow Sea in 2011). After winning in 2008 for Hellcats, Kim Min Hee picked up her second Best Actress award this year for the romantic comedy Very Ordinary Couple. Ma Dong Seok won Best Supporting Actor for The Neighbors, while The Concubine's Cho Eun Ji won Best Supporting Actress. In the newcomer categories, Best New Director went to Jo Sung Hee (A Werewolf Boy), Best New Actress to Han Ye Ri (As One) and Best New Actor to child actor Ji Dae Han (A Wonderful Moment).

Dubbed the "Nation's MC," popular host Yoo Jae Suk, whose hit programs include Running Man, Infinite Challenge and Happy Together, took the Grand Prize in television. The acclaimed SBS series The Chaser snagged three top awards – Best Drama, Best Script and Best Actor for Son Hyun Joo – while the melodrama That Winter, The Wind Blows was recognized for Best Directing. A Wife's Credentials' Kim Hee Ae won Best Actress and Lee Hee Joon (You Who Rolled in Unexpectedly) and Jung Eun Ji (Answer Me 1997) won Best New Actor and Actress, respectively. In variety, hot-topic reality show Dad! Where Are We Going? won Best Variety Program, while Kim Byung Man (Law of the Jungle) and Shin Bo Ra (Gag Concert) were named the Best Variety Performers.

In the Popularity Award categories, Kim Dong Wan (Deranged), Park Shin Hye (Miracle in Cell No. 7), Kwon Yuri (Fashion King) and Park Yoo Chun (I Miss You) topped the polls. Legendary actor Ahn Sung Ki was also specially honored with the Social Contribution Award.

Text / Sanwei

13th Top Chinese Music Awards

  April 15, 2013  
The 13th Top Chinese Music Awards, China's leading music award show, was held in Shenzhen on April 14. Laure Shang swept the electronic music categories of Best Electronic Album and Best Electronic Artist on her way to winning Best Album with Ode to the Doom. Fellow former Super Girl Jane Zhang proved to be a hit with both judges and fans, as she picked up both Best Female Artist and Most Popular China Female Artist. Eason Chan was the sole Hong Kong representative among the top award winners, taking Best Male Artist for the fifth time, while S.H.E was awarded Best Group and Wei Chen's V Space was named the Best EP. Phenomenal newcomer Qu Wanting's "You Exist in My Song" garnered her Best Song, Best Composer and Best New Artist. Deserts Xuan also took home multiple awards including Best Singer-Songwriter, Best Lyrics and Best Song Producer for "Rose-Colored You."

In the netizen-voted categories, Han Geng was crowned Most Popular China Male Artist, on top of winning awards for Best Dance Artist, Best Album Planning (Han Geng), Best Dance Song and Best Music Video (both for "Clown Mask"). Jay Chou and Angela Chang topped votes for Most Popular Hong Kong/Taiwan Male and Female Artists. Liu Xin was voted the Most Popular Newcomer and EXO-M, who made their debut at last year's Top Chinese Music Awards, returned this year to win Most Popular Group.

Singer-songwriter Xu Wei took Best Rock Artist as well as Best Arrangement (for "Paradise) honors, while bands Escape Plan and The Life Journey split the remaining rock category awards. The former won Best New Rock Artist and Best Rock Album (World), and the latter, Best Rock Band and Best Rock Song ("Beijing Summer Night"). In folk music, Taiwan legend Kimbo Hu won both Best Folk Artist and Best Folk Album (Sky High Mountain Blues), June Zhu's "Lugu Lake Love Song" won Best Folk Song and Song Dongye won Best New Folk Artist.

Other winners of the night include Khalil Fong (Best Album Producer for Back to Wonderland), Yoga Lin (Best Soundtrack Song for "Fool") and Huang Qishan (Jury's Recommendation Artist). Wang Feng and Yu Quan were also recognized with the Most Influential Artist and Group awards.

Text / Sanwei

Louis Koo, Angelica Lee at press con of Pang Bros firefighter film Inferno 3D

  March 21, 2013  
The press conference for the upcoming Hong Kong disaster movie Inferno 3D directed by the Pang Brothers was held on March 19, 2013. Directors Oxide and Danny Pang and cast members Louis Koo, Angelica Lee, Eddie Cheung and Terence Siufay introduced the film at the press conference during which a teaser and new poster image were also revealed.

Touted as the first 3D Chinese firefighter movie, the HK$150 million-budgeted production stars Louis Koo and Lau Ching Wan as estranged firefighter brothers who reunite amid disaster when a massive fire breaks out in a building, trapping the people within including Louis Koo and Angelica Lee (who plays Lau Ching Wan's wife). Both Lau and Koo have played firefighters before, the former in Johnnie To's Lifeline (1997) and the latter in the 1998 TVB drama Burning Flame.

At the press conference, Louis Koo said that he originally thought there would be no actual fire and only special effects, but the situation turned out to be different on set. He recalled one fire scene for which the directors' instruction for him was simply to stick it out as long as he could, but the heat from the fire was too unbearable. Even for the Pang Brothers, who have ample experience in 3D filmmaking, shooting Inferno 3D presented new challenges they had not calculated, such as the fact that fire and smoke could also create outtakes.

Lau Ching Wan was unable to attend the press conference as he is currently in Thailand filming Benny Chan's Metamorphosis (which also co-stars Louis Koo). Lau, however, did shoot a video greeting for the press conference. In the video, he commented that the Pang Brothers were actually very humorous on set and suited for comedies. He cheekily suggested that the Pangs should shoot a comedic version of Inferno 3D.

Inferno 3D is expected to open in October 2013.

See more photos from the press conference on YesAsia Facebook.

Text / Sanwei

Startling by Each Step follow-up begins shooting with Cecilia Liu and Nicky Wu

  March 11, 2013  
The hit 2011 Chinese time-travel period romance series Startling by Each Step, or Bu Bu Jing Xin, is getting a modern-day follow-up titled Bu Bu Jing Qing. Speculation surrounding the Bu Bu sequel has been rampant ever since the blockbuster series ended, and after a two-year wait, the new series finally began shooting on March 2 in Tianjin, albeit with a slightly different cast than the original series.

Production company Chinese Entertainment Shanghai recently unveiled the first official stills of Bu Bu Jing Qing featuring the main cast and the tagline: "If you leave this place one day, I will go to your world to find you." Startling by Each Step's heroine Cecilia Liu and 4th Prince Nicky Wu return as the leads, as do veteran actor Damian Lau and Ye Zuxin (10th Prince). Kevin Cheng, Yuan Hong and Lin Gengxin, who played the 8th Prince, 13th Prince and 14th Prince in Startling by Each Step, however, are notably absent from the cast. Instead, Ipartment star Sun Yizhou, Xuan Yuan Sword lead Jiang Jingfu and actor-singer Chen Xiang will join the production.

Unlike Startling by Each Step, Bu Bu Jing Qing is not based on Tong Hua's work and does not involve time travel. Cecilia Liu still plays a character named Zhang Xiao (the name of Startling by Each Step's protagonist), a Beijing white-collar worker who enters a large corporation by chance and experiences many setbacks at work. She becomes involved in a romantic triangle with her superior Yin Zheng (Nicky Wu) and Kang Sihan (Sun Yizhou), who are rival successors of the corporation.

Chinese Shanghai Entertainment also has a Tong Hua-based period drama waiting for broadcast. The epic period romance Da Mo Yao starring Cecilia Liu, Hu Ge, Eddie Peng, Fala Chen and Han Dong wrapped shooting last year and is slated to air in summer 2013. Meanwhile, another Tong Hua novel Yun Zhong Ge, the prequel to Da Mo Yao, has been picked up for adaptation by Gong producer Yu Zheng and is expected to start filming in late March.

Text / Sanwei

The Warlords Takes Top Honors at Hong Kong Film Awards

  April 15, 2008  
The Warlords defeated the competition at the 27th Hong Kong Film Awards held on April 13, 2008. Peter Chan's period war epic bagged eight awards including Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction, Best Visual Effects, Best Costume Design and Makeup, and Best Sound Design. In his acceptance speech, Chan noted that though making The Warlords was a grueling experience, he believed that presenting a film of such scale was the only way to get audiences back in movie theaters. Both top acting awards went to Mandarin speakers this year, with Jet Li taking Best Actor for the first time and The Postmodern Life of My Aunt's Siqin Gaowa receiving her second Best Actress trophy since winning in 1985 with Homecoming.

Though Andy Lau lost out on Best Actor to Warlords co-star Jet Li, he triumphed in the star-studded Best Supporting Actor category for his druglord role in Protege. Derek Yee's Protege, which garnered the most nominations (15), only managed one other win for Best Editing. Johnnie To's acclaimed Mad Detective only received one award for Best Screenplay, but the To-produced Eye in the Sky managed two, with Yau Nai Hoi taking Best New Director and Kate Tsui beating out fellow TVB starlet Linda Chung for Best New Artist. Other winners of the night include veteran Susan Shaw for Best Supporting Actress (The Pye-Dog), action star Donnie Yen for Best Action Design (Flash Point), singer Kary Ng for Best Original Song ("Forced Too Close", Love is Not All Around), and renowned composer Hisaishi Joe for Best Original Film Score (The Postmodern Life of My Aunt). Best Asian Film went to Ang Lee's Lust, Caution. Late icon Lydia Shum was honored with the Professional Achievement Award, while Golden Harvest founder and producer Raymond Chow Man Wai received the Lifetime Achievement Award.

The awards presentation was hosted by the all-female trio of Carol Cheng, Sandra Ng, and first-time emcee Sammi Cheng. Though he wasn't in the running this year, Tony Leung Chiu Wai started the ceremony with a short welcome as the Hong Kong Entertainment Ambassador. Presenters for the night included Shu Qi, Guey Lun Mei, Stephen Fung, The Wynners, Hu Jun, Eric Tsang, Chapman To, Michael Hui, Cheng Pei Pei with daughters Eugenia and Marsha Yuan, and Wong Jing with father Wong Tin Lam and daughter Wong Chi Hom.

Text / Sanwei

2nd Asian Film Awards

  March 26, 2008  
The 2nd Asian Films Awards were held in Hong Kong on March 17, 2008. Korean director Lee Chang Dong's Secret Sunshine emerged as the big winner of the night, sweeping three of the top awards including Best Film, Best Director, and Best Actress for Jeon Do Yeon, who adds to her Cannes and Blue Dragon laureates. Tony Leung beat out Jet Li, Odagiri Joe, Kase Ryo, Jack Kao, and last year's winner Song Kang Ho to take Best Actor for Lust, Caution. Best Supporting Actor and Actress awards went respectively to Mainland actor Sun Honglei for Mongol and Joan Chen for The Sun Also Rises.

Jiang Wen's The Sun Also Rises was the only film other than Secret Sunshine to win more than one trophy, the second being Best Production Designer. Other winning films of the night included Johnnie To's Mad Detective for Best Screenwriter, Lee Kang Sheng's Help Me Eros for Best Cinematographer, Yau Nai Hoi's Eye in the Sky for Best Editor, Peter Chan's The Warlords for Best Visual Effects, and Farah Khan's Om Shanti Om for Best Composer. Although Japan was shut out of the main award showcase, both special awards of the night were presented to Japanese filmmakers. Renowned director Yamada Yoji, best known for the Tora-san series and his "samurai trilogy", was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award. The inaugural Edward Yang New Talent Award was given to up-and-coming maverick Ishii Yuya, the director of Bare-assed Japan and Of Monster Mode.

The 2nd Asian Film Awards were emceed by Hong Kong television host Derek Lee, and Singapore diva Stefanie Sun performed a medley of Asian film theme songs. Presenters and stars in attendance included last year's winners Song Kang Ho and Nakatani Miki; Best Actor nominees Kase Ryo and Jet Li; Japan's Asano Tadanobu, Yakushimaru Hiroko, and Yamazaki Takashi; Hong Kong's Lau Ching Wan, Shawn Yue, Jaycee Chan, Stephy Tang, and Miriam Yeung; Korea's Song Hye Kyo; Taiwan's Shu Qi, Chang Chen, and Vivian Hsu; China's Dong Jie and Liu Yifei; Thailand's Mario Maurer and Apinya Sakujaroensuk; and renowned directors Suo Masayuki, Hou Hsiao Hsien, and Tsai Ming Liang.

Text / Sanwei

2008 Korean Music Awards

  March 18, 2008  
Dubbed the "Korean Grammy Awards", the fifth annual Korean Music Awards drew its curtains on March 5, 2008. Hosted by veteran singer Kim Hyun Chul, the star-studded event summed up the music accomplishments of 2007. Lee Juck was crowned the night's biggest winner with four major awards. The exuberant singer-songwriter thanked his wife in his acceptance speech for inspiring him to write his recent hit "Fortunate" which won Song of the Year and Best Pop Song awards. Adding to his collection, Lee's latest album "A Song Made From a Tree" snagged Album of the Year and Best Pop Album awards.

Yi Sung Yol, formerly of U&Me Blue, humbly accepted two statuettes for Musician of the Year and Best Modern Rock. Double honors were given to Epik High in the categories of Best Hip-Hop Album and Netizen's Choice Best Musician of the Year, and also to Younha who bagged the New Artist of the Year and Netizen's Choice Best Artist in Pop awards. Nominated in five categories, Wonder Girls had to settle for one win in the category of Excellence in Dance & Electronic Song for their signature hit Tell Me. Despite some controversies surrounding Big Bang's apparent exclusion from major category nominations, the popular boy band was able to snag the Netizens' Choice for Excellence in Dance Performance Award. Spicing up the event as presenters were Uhm Jung Hwa, No Brain, Park Sun Joo, Hollow Jan, Romantic Couch, and many more. Stunning stage performances were carried out by artists like YB band, Lee Juck, Romantic Couch, and jazz artist Woong San.

In the past, the Korean Music Awards has been accused of straying too far from the mainstream as evident in the past awarding of indie and modern rock bands like The The, My Aunt Mary, Swallow, and Second Moon. This year's event has proven otherwise with honorees like Lee Juck, Wonder Girls, Younha, and Epik High.

Text / UniG

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