HOLLYWOOD, Calif. /PRNewswire/ — The ninth annual Asian World Film Festival (AWFF) announced its competition winners at a star-studded event on November 17 at the Culver Theater. The Hanging Gardens (Iraq) directed by Ahmed Al-Daradji, won the Snow Leopard Award for Best Film, presented by Vietnamese actress Kieu Chinh (The Joy Luck Club). Michael A. Goorjian garnered the Snow Leopard for Best Actor in Amerikatsi (Armenia). The Snow Leopard for Best Actress went to Mouna Hawa for Inshallah a Boy (Jordan). The Snow Leopard Lifetime Achievement Award, which was given to John Milius, Oscar· nominated screenwriter, film director, and producer celebrating his legendary career including Apocalypse Now, Dirty Harry, Red Dawn and Conan the Barbarian, was presented by actor Martin Kove (Karate Kid, Rambo).

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The 10-day AWFF offered a wide range of more than 50 feature films and special screening programs including 23 Academy Award® and Golden Globe® submissions for Best International Feature Film and Best Motion Picture, Non-English Language respectively from Asia. Several films honored by the AWFF are the official submissions of their respective countries: Armenia – Amerikatsi, Georgia – Citizen Saint, Iran – The Night Guardian, Iraq – Hanging Gardens, Jordan – Inshallah a Boy, Taiwan- Marry My Dead Body.

The AWFF presented a series of exclusive Snow Leopard Film Awards with the assistance of Jury President Jon Amiel. The Panavision Award for Best Cinematography ($60,000 Camera Grant Package) was presented to Krum Rodriguez for Citizen Saint (Georgia) by Pitof, visual effects producer, director (Catwoman, Alien: Resurrection). The Special Jury Award went to The Night Guardian by Reza Mirkarimi (Iran), presented by actress Mai Thu Huyen (Kieu). The Audience Award went to Marry My Dead Body (Taiwan), directed by Cheng Wei Hao. 

The Snow Leopard honorary awards included Outstanding Cinematic Achievement Award was given to Peter Kwong (Big Trouble in Little China), presented by actress Nancy Kwan (The World of Susie Wong).  The Rising Star Award was presented to Anirudh Pisharody (Big Sky, Never Have I Ever, 9-1-1), by Breydan Maniago (Dahmer).

The Winn Slavin Humanitarian Award was given to Le Ly Hayslip, honoring her dedicated efforts to humanitarian relief, education, and development to help rebuild Vietnam, presented by fine art entrepreneur Randall Slavin. The Bruce Lee Award was presented to Tony Jaa, legendary Thai martial arts actor, action director, presented by actor Andy Cheng (Rush Hour, Shanghai Noon).  AWFF New Horizon Best Film Award was given to Berlin, directed by Atul Sabharwal (India), presented by Michelle Sugihara, Executive Director of CAPE (Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment).

“The spirit of our 9^th Year was Discovery and we delivered on a broad range of remarkable Asian films and engaging audience experiences,” stated Georges Chamchoum, AWFF executive director. “With our return to Culver City, we broke our records for movies with 23 Oscar submissions, the filmmakers in attendance, and our loyal audience.”

The Short Films Awards, winners selected from 12 finalists from over 200 entries, include the Grand Prize for Best Film ($2,000 Winn Slavin Fine Art Gallery Award) given to The Old Young Crow by Liam LoPinto (Japan). The Runner-Up Award (Panavision Award of $15,000 Camera Package) went to Our Males and Females by Ahmad Alyaseer (Jordan). A Special Mention was given to Witness by Aida Tebianian (Iran).

The competition and honorary awards were delivered during a music-filled ceremony hosted by Mark LaBella (SWAT) and Charlene Shen (Sky Link TV). Among the evening’s internationally recognized performers were a Muy Thai martial arts exhibition, and an amazing performance from ADEM Show, Vietnamese singer Nguyen Hong Nhung and a colorful finale of Hung Gar Kung Fu and the Lion Dance Academy.

SNOW LEOPARD COMPETITION AWARDEES

• Best Picture: Hanging Gardens directed by Ahmed Al-Daradji (Iraq)
• Best Actor: Michael A. Goorjian in Amerikatsi (Armenia)
• Best Actress: Mouna Hawa in Inshallah a Boy (Jordan)
• Panavision Best Cinematography: Krum Rodriguez for Citizen Saint (Georgia)
• Special Jury Prize: The Night Guardian by Reza Mirkarimi (Iran)
• Audience Award: Marry My Dead Body (Taiwan), Director Cheng Wei Hao

SNOW LEOPARD HONORARY AWARDS

• Lifetime Achievement Award – JOHN MILIUS
• Outstanding Cinematic Achievement – PETER KWONG
• Rising Star Award – ANIRUDH PISHARODY

ADDITIONAL AWARDS

• The AWFF Bruce Lee Award, in partnership with the Bruce Lee Foundation – TONY JAA
• AWFF New Horizon Award: BERLIN by Atul Sabharwal (India)
• Winn Slavin Humanitarian Award – LE LY HAYSLIP

SHORT FILM FINALISTS

• Best Film (Winn Slavin Prize): The Old Young Crow by Liam LoPinto (Japan)
• Runner Up (Panavision grant): Our Males and Females by Ahmad Alyaseer (Jordan)
• Special Mention: Witness by Aida Tebianian (Iran)

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.

The AWFF is proudly sponsored by Presenting Partner: Winn Slavin; Additional Sponsors: Bruce Lee Foundation, Tincom Media, Dr J’s, Korean Cultural Center – Los Angeles (KCCLA), Dutcher Crossing, Panavision, Pechanga, Taiwan Academy, Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA), Fifth Atrium, Copacetic, BARCO, Emporium Thai, HC Foods, Hollywood Arab Film Association, Vivenu, DTLA Ayce Korean BBQ and The Dive Oyster Bar, among others. 

ABOUT ASIAN WORLD FILM FESTIVAL (AWFF) go to www.asianworldfilmfest.org

Follow AWFF on: Facebook, Instagram, X (formally Twitter), and YouTube

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SEOUL/PARIS – Hyundai Motor Group (the Group) is rolling out a fleet of art cars in Paris, France, from November 23–28, in a final drive to promote Busan, South Korea’s bid to host the 2030 World Expo. The voting for that honor will take place at the 173^rd General Assembly of the BIE in Paris on November 28.

The Group is providing the Korean delegation with 10 Hyundai IONIQ 6 and Kia EV6, all-electric models, wrapped in a colorful graffiti design featuring symbols of Busan, such as seagulls and the Gwangan Bridge, as well as the slogan ‘BUSAN is Ready.’

The 173^rd General Assembly of the BIE will see final presentations from each of the three candidate cities — Busan, South Korea; Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; and Rome, Italy — elected via secret ballot by each BIE Member State.

For this final campaign, the Group selected IONIQ 6 and EV6 to emphasize Busan’s commitment to hosting a carbon-neutral World Expo under the theme ‘Transforming Our World, Navigating Toward a Better Future.’

The art car fleet will tour major attractions, such as the Arc de Triomphe and the Louvre, as well as areas near the BIE headquarters and the embassies of various countries, promoting Busan’s bid to key officials from BIE member countries and tourists from around the world.

On November 28, the day of the 173^rd General Assembly of the BIE, the Group will operate an art car around Le Palais des Congrès d’Issy, the venue of the General Assembly. It will make every effort to win the support of BIE members until the vote is cast.

The Group is running outdoor video advertisements highlighting Busan’s charms on a large scale through 270 digital screens located in major areas of Paris during the month of November. The art cars were also used during the Busan Expo Symposium and K-POP concert held in Paris last month to further promote Busan’s bid.

In addition, the Group’s art cars traveled to major international events, such as the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week in San Francisco, the UN General Assembly in New York, the G20 Summit in New Delhi, India, and the ASEAN Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The Group has actively promoted the Busan World Expo at home and abroad in the digital realm, publishing more than 90 pieces of global content, such as short form videos and card news, to proclaim that Busan is the best city to host the 2030 World Expo.

The ‘Busan Initiative with the Whole World,’ a promotional video for the Busan World Expo that the Group released last month, exceeded 100 million views within 17 days of its release, contributing to the promotion of South Korea’s desire to host the event and Busan’s competitiveness.

Source: Hyundai

ATLANTA, Nov. 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Anyone who hasn’t heard about Secret Society, they’re apparently living under a rock! This saga has not only dominated the charts as Amazon’s number 1 for two consecutive years but has also received acclaim from A-listers like Young Miami, Yandi Smith, Jennifer Williams, and more, who can’t cease raving about its sheer brilliance. Now, readers are encouraged to brace themselves for the third installment, Secret Society 3 ’til DEATH, featuring Saucy Santana, Romeo Miller, and a reunion with some of their favorite characters from the first two chapters. A roller coaster of emotions awaits, promising an experience that demands replay.

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The Secret Society trilogy, with its gripping narrative and daring exploration of identity, has evolved into a cultural phenomenon. Authored and produced by the visionary Miasha Coleman, this trilogy commenced its journey with the 2006 book, captivating audiences and leaving an indelible mark on literature and cinema alike.

In this climactic third installment, Secret Society 3 ’til DEATH, directed by the talented Jamal Hill, delves even deeper into the glamorous yet tumultuous lives of transwomen Celess (Reyna Love) and Tina (Erica Pinkett). The stakes are higher, the fashion is more breathtaking, and the soundtrack is poised to be unforgettable. As the story unfolds, the film challenges stereotypes surrounding trans individuals, delivering a narrative of empowerment and authenticity.

Returning to assert its dominance on the Amazon charts, the film reunites a stellar cast featuring Adejah Parrish, Vivica A. Fox, Saucy Santana, Romeo Miller, Tyler Hopkins, Vincent De Paul, Jeremy Meeks, Eddie Soto, Nadia Adelay, Frank Guzman, Everlayn Borges, and Felicia Pearson. Each member of the ensemble brings their A-game, promising outstanding performances that will undoubtedly keep audiences hooked.

As the trilogy culminates, Celess and Tina confront new challenges, pushing the boundaries of their friendship and testing the limits of their secret lives. Miasha Coleman, the creative genius behind the series, expressed her excitement about delivering a finale that exceeds expectations. “Secret Society 3 ’til DEATH is the culmination of a journey that began with the 2006 book. The demand for a sequel was overwhelming, and I’m thrilled to bring this trilogy to a close,” she said.

With jaw-dropping plot twists and a narrative that delves deep into the complexities of identity, “Secret Society 3 ’til DEATH” promises to be a must-watch for dedicated fans and newcomers alike. This final installment is poised to leave an indelible mark on cinema history, cementing the Secret Society trilogy as a groundbreaking contribution to the film industry.

The thrilling conclusion to the Secret Society trilogy is set to make its mark on Amazon Prime on December 15^th. The excitement, drama, and celebration of authenticity that Secret Society 3 ’til DEATH brings should not be missed. For further details, interested parties can reach out to the press contact:

SOURCE Secret Society