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Hong Kong actor Sammo Hung. Photo from Hung’s Weibo |
Staged in Vietnam for the first time under the theme “Together We Dare to Be Powerful,” the gala will feature onstage conversations with the two stars about their craft and about deepening regional collaboration in cinema.
“Vietnam’s rapidly developing film market has made a strong impression,” said Josie Lin, executive director of the Asian Film Awards Academy. “The audience here is young, energetic, and full of life. Bringing the Hong Kong Film Gala to Vietnam marks an important cultural milestone.”
She added that she hopes the gala will showcase the appeal of Hong Kong action cinema and highlight the continued creativity of its filmmakers.
The gala will spotlight Hong Kong films and filmmakers who embody creativity and boundary-pushing storytelling, promoting greater diversity in cinema. In addition to the opening ceremony, the program features four screenings: “Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In,” “Stuntman,” “Four Trails,” and “Last Song for You.”
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Hong Kong actor Louis Koo. Photo from Koo’s Instagram |
The event is organized by the Asian Film Awards Academy in partnership with the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore, and supported by local partners in HCMC. Previous editions have been held in Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Phnom Penh, and Jakarta.
At 73, Hung remains a seminal figure in martial-arts cinema, celebrated both as an actor and as an action choreographer, with four Hong Kong Film Awards for Best Action Choreography and credits including “The Gambling Ghost,” “The Last Tycoon,” and “Ip Man 2.” He has also served as a longtime fight choreographer for Jackie Chan.
Koo, 55, first rose to fame in TVB dramas such as “The Condor Heroes,” “Detective Investigation Files IV,” and “A Step into the Past,” building a loyal fan base across Asia before moving primarily into film.
