TONY Leung Chiu-wai, Hong Kong actor, will be the first Chinese actor to be honoured with a Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the 80th Venice Film Festival.
“I am overwhelmed and honoured with the news from the Biennale di Venezia. I hope to celebrate this award with all the filmmakers I have worked with. This award is a tribute to all of them as well,” the 60-year-old veteran performer said.
The news came on Monday, ahead of this year's Venice Film Festival, which will take place from August 30 to September 9.
Leung received the best actor award at the Asian Film Awards earlier this month for his role in the criminal thriller ‘Where the Wind Blows’, as well as a special contribution award.
Alberto Barbera, the festival's director, praised Leung as "a charismatic performer" with a spectacular global career.
“Not only has Tony Leung’s roles spanned a great variety of genres, but they also have bridged television, popular culture and art-cinema at different latitudes,” Variety quoted Barbera as saying.
Leung expressed his gratitude and honour at the news.
The historic victory occurred only two weeks after Michelle Yeoh, who began her film career in Hong Kong, became the first Asian woman to win an Oscar for best actress for her portrayal in the 2022 sci-fi action picture Everything Everywhere All at Once.
The 60-year-old actor has appeared in numerous films including A City of Sadness (1989), Cyclo (1995) and Lust, Caution (2007), where all three films won the Golden Lion awards at the Venice Film Festival.
In a statement on Monday, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung Yun-hung expressed his excitement about Leung’s achievement.
“As a household name in Hong Kong, Leung started his career in Hong Kong’s television industry before advancing to the big screen,” he said.
“Leung’s exquisite acting skills had earned him many awards and brought him onto the global stage with flying colours.”
The minister also commended the star's acting abilities as well as Hong Kong's cultural diversity, saying Leung's never-ending pursuit of a better level of creative performance over the previous few decades was outstanding.
In addition to Leung, Italian director Liliana Cavani received the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice Film Festival.
The festival will take place from August 30 through September 9. – The Vibes, March 29, 2023
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