Star Asia Awards

The NYAFF will be presenting three Star Asia Awards to actors Western audiences should know more about. The ceremony will take place on opening night, June 25, and the recipients will all be at the festival to receive their awards.

Rising Star of Asia Award

to HUANG BO

One of China's most popular new actors, Huang Bo got his break in Ning Hao's 2006 comedy, CRAZY STONE, and he's gone on to specialize in earthy, foul-mouthed characters. A leading man with a character actor's face, he won a Golden Horse for his performance in COW, and we'll be screening it as part of the NYAFF 2010, as well as his movie CRAZY RACER.

Star of Asia Award

to SIMON YAM

Starting as a character actor in the 1970's, Simon Yam has gone on to become one of Hong Kong's favorite leading men, winning "Best Actor" at the 2010 Hong Kong Film Awards for his performance in ECHOES OF THE RAINBOW, an official selection of this year's New York Asian Film Festival. From his performance as the insane fashion plate, Judge, in Ringo Lam's FULL CONTACT to his turn as the dapper pickpocket, Kei, in Johnnie To's SPARROW, Simon Yam has been one of the world’s best, and most debonair, actors. In this year’s festival, he appears in ECHOES OF THE RAINBOW, STORM WARRIORS and BODYGUARDS & ASSASSINS.

Star Asia Lifetime Achievement Award

to SAMMO HUNG

A special Star Asia Lifetime Achievement Award will go to the legendary actor and director, Sammo Hung, to honor his legacy of onscreen work. Jackie Chan's "older brother" at Master Yu Jim Yuen's Chinese Opera School, Sammo has worked as a producer, director, action-choreographer or stuntman in over 230 films. In this year's NYAFF, Sammo Hung choreographed the action in IP MAN, he co-stars in the festival’s official opening night film, IP MAN 2, and he stars in the cracked action-cooking-comedy KUNG FU CHEFS. There will also be a special screening of his 1987 Vietnam War movie, EASTERN CONDORS, preceded by an onstage chat with the maestro about his career.