Wong Kar-wai will preside over the jury of the 59th Cannes Film Festival, May 17-28, 2006.

Hong Kong director Wong Kar-wai will preside over the jury of the 59th Cannes Film Festival, May 17-28, 2006. He is the first Chinese president in the Festival's history.

As Tears Go By, about a low-level triad member thinking about leaving the gangster life for love, was the first film presented by Wong at Cannes in 1989.

His next foray at the festival in 1997 with his film Happy Together, a tale of a strained relationship between two Chinese gay lovers living in Buenos Aires, proved successful when he was the first Chinese to be named best director at Cannes.

In the Mood for Love, starring Tony Cheung Chiu Wai and Maggie Cheung as married lovers in a furtive affair in 1962 Hong Kong, was nominated for the Palm d'Or in 2000 and solidified Wong on the International Film circuit. His 2046 screened at the festival in 2004 and was hailed by reviewers as a "sublime exploration of inner time".

"Each city has its own language. In Cannes, it is the language of dreams. Yet it is difficult to judge one's dream much less compare it to another, Wong said in a statement issued by festival organizers.

According to Gilles Jacob, President of the Festival, "We are particularly delighted to have Wong Kar Wai as jury president. His films immediately strike us by their plastic splendour and nostalgic amorous emotion in the great romantic tradition."

"There is an old Chinese saying: One can never...

Glendale, CA  Update: November 17, 2012

The Kollaboration Star 2012 winner is Mike Izon from Kollaboration Honolulu!

The Finale episode will be on YouTube.com/mnetamerica November 29th. 

“Kollaboration Star 2012 – The Finale

A Grand Finale Showcase Featured Winners from Across the Nation on Friday, November 16, 2012 at 8pm at the Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd. Glendale, California. 

“Kollaboration Star 2012 – The Finale” is the grand finale of Kollaboration’s annual talent competition, which finds the best Asian American local talent in 12 cities throughout the United States. 

From these 12 winners, six finalists are selected by a public online poll and one finalist from each region will be chosen by Mnet to represent their area in an ultimate showdown the crowns the winner the best of the best.

The grand prize winner will win $2000 and a trip to Hong Kong, China to attend the acclaimed Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA).  For additional information regarding “Kollaboration Star 2012 – The Finale,” please visit www.kollaboration.org  or connect on Facebook at www.facebook.com/KollaborationStar. 

In addition, Mnet a youth entertainment brand for all things Asian cool, which includes the only national, English-language lifestyle television network in the U.S. for fans of Asian pop culture, followed Kollaboration

Asian Excellence Awards celebrate Dr. David Ho, Ismail Merchant, Quentin Tarantino and Lucy Liu on Jan. 19 at the Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles.

Dr. David Ho, Ismail Merchant, Quentin Tarantino and Lucy Liu will be honored at the Asian Excellence Awards on Jan. 19 at the Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles.

The Asian Excellence Awards www.axawards.com presented by AZN Television and featuring the Remy Martin X.O Honors, shines a national spotlight on Asian Americans who have made a genuine difference. The Awards celebrate and recognize the accomplishments of Asians and Asian Americans. The evening includes a televised Academy Awards style show and after party hosted by THE HOUSE OF GLAM www.glamla.com.

About the Rmy Martin X.O Honorees:
Inspiration - Dr. David Ho, the 1996 Time "Man of the Year" for his tremendous work in the field of HIV/Aids research and development of antiviral cocktails to fight the virus in the early stages of infection

Lifetime Achievement - Ismail Merchant (posthumously) best known for his long collaboration with James Ivory, who together founded Merchant Ivory Productions that have won several Academy Awards.

Bridge - Quentin Tarantino for his renowned admiration and dedication to Asian cinema.

Visibility - Lucy Liu for her continued work in feature films raising the profile and visibility of Asian American actors.

For ticket info visit:
http://www.axawards.com/tickets.html

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2012/11/23/houston-rockets-new-york-knicks-jeremy-lin/1723749/

Mu Performing Arts presents Mu Daiko, Minnesota’s foremost taiko drumming ensemble, as it returns to the Mcknight Theatre At Ordway Center For Performing Arts,345 Washington St. in St Paul, MN., to present its 15th anniversary concert. Starring Hanayui from KODO, legendary Odaiko soloist, Yoshikazu Fujimoto and featuring North American guest artists, Tiffany Tamaribuchi and Megan Chao Smith.

The first weekend of performances (Feb. 9-12) will feature Mu Daiko in concert. The second weekend (Feb. 16-19) will feature Mu Daiko along with special guest appearances including:

Hanayui from KODO: The top founders and artists from legendary group, KODO, come together to bring the best of Japanese taiko to the Minnesota stage. Long recognized as visionaries of the artform world-wide, Hanayui features three top female artists in traditional and fresh new performances of dance, drumming and song. Also featured is Yoshikazu Fujimoto, long-considered the best Odaiko performer in the world.

Tiffany Tamaribuchi: Grand Champion, 2002 All Japan Odaiko Contest. With her two signature strengths of power and form, Tamaribuchi was proclaimed by contest judges to have “a perfect hit.” She brings 22 years experience touring and training professionally with several top companies and folk artists throughout Japan.

Megan Chao Smith: One of a handful of Americans to perform taiko professionally in Japan, Megan Chao Smith was the first foreigner ever to dance in the sacred Hana Matsuri festival...