The Asian Film Awards Academy (AFAA) Unveils Ambassador and Youth Ambassadors for its 18th Edition
The 18th edition of the Asian Film Awards will be led by a distinguished team of ambassadors. Actor Dean Fujioka, renowned for his roles in “Fullmetal Alchemist” and his Best Actor win at the 12th Confidence Drama Awards for “Monte Cristo: A Beautiful Revenge,” will serve as the main ambassador. Fujioka, who began his career in Hong Kong before achieving pan-Asian recognition through Taiwanese dramas, will be joined by four Youth Ambassadors: Aokbab Chutimon (Thailand), Austin Lin (Taiwan), Lo Chun Yip (Hong Kong), and Okada Masaki (Japan). These actors bring a wealth of diverse experience to their roles, having achieved success in various Asian film markets. Chutimon is celebrated for her work in “Bad Genius” (2017) and her International Emmy win for “Hunger,” while Lin boasts two Golden Horse Award nominations for “I WeirDO” and “Marry My Dead Body.” Lo received a Hong Kong Film Award nomination for “Time Still Turns the Pages,” and Okada starred in the Oscar-winning “Drive My Car.”
The awards ceremony, hosted by the AFAA—an organization founded by the Busan, Hong Kong, and Tokyo International Film Festivals—will take place in Hong Kong. The event receives support from the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency and the Film Development Fund. Nominations and the jury president for AFA18 will be announced on January 10th.
Netflix Unveils Trailer for “Single’s Inferno” Season 4
Netflix has released the main trailer for the fourth season of its popular Korean dating series, “Single’s Inferno,” set to premiere globally on January 14th. The trailer showcases the new cast and offers glimpses of the season’s highlights: flirting parties, couple games, and nighttime interactions at the show’s signature “Inferno” location. The returning commentator panel, featuring Hong Jin-kyung, Lee Da-hee, Kyuhyun, Hanhae, and Dex, will offer their insights throughout the season.
Producers Kim Jae-won, Kim Jung-hyun, and Park Su-ji highlight the cast as the core of the show’s success, promising that season four will be the “hottest season yet,” filled with the kind of conflicts found in real-life relationships. Since its debut in 2021, “Single’s Inferno” has become a leading unscripted series for Netflix, evolving from its initial format to incorporate increasingly complex relationship dynamics and plot developments. Season four promises a deeper exploration of the contestants’ emotional journeys through heightened interpersonal interactions.
BookMyShow’s Red Lorry Film Festival Introduces Competition
BookMyShow’s Red Lorry Film Festival (March 21-23) will feature a new competition segment with two categories: “The Front Runners” (Best Film) and “Fresh Frames” (Best Debut Film). The esteemed jury includes filmmaker Vikramaditya Motwane (“Udaan,” “Sacred Games”), director Atul Sabharwal (“Berlin,” “Jubilee”), journalist-author Kaveree Bamzai, PVR-INOX executive director Sanjeev Kumar Bijli, actor-dancer Prachee Shah Paandya, and filmmaker Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari (“Bareilly Ki Barfi,” “Panga”). BookMyShow founder-CEO Ashish Hemrajani will serve as an honorary juror.