(19 March 2008 - Hong Kong) – Mission Hills Group is proud to announce as primary sponsor of the 2008 Asia Film Awards (AFA) that the star-studded celebration ceremony officiated by Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Mr. Frederick Ma that the AFA presented their awards on 17 March 2008 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, kicking off the 4th Entertainment Expo Hong Kong which runs through April 13th, 2008.

In an event hosting 2500 guests from around the world and broadcast live on TVB Pearl (Television Broadcasts Limited), AFA’s official broadcaster, and re-transmitted by other international channels, the AFA’s red-carpet gala and award ceremony paid tribute to 33 nominated Asian films in 12 categories and bestowed two world renowned filmmakers with special accolades. The awards were presented by top regional celebrities and filmmakers.

Winning 3 of the 12 prizes, South Korea’s SECRET SUNSHINE was awarded Best Film, presented by the film’s lead actor Song Kang-ho and AFA 2008 winner Miki Nakatini.  The film also won Best Director for Lee Chang-dong (presented by Joan Chen and Hollywood studio chief Harvey Weinstein) and Best Actress to Jeon Do-yeon.

The Best Actor award went to Tony Leung Chiu-wai (LUST, CAUTION); Best Supporting Actor to Sun Honglei (MONGOL); and Best Supporting Actress to Joan Chen (THE SUN ALSO RISES).

Best Screenwriter was awarded to Au Kin-yee and Wai Ka-fai (MAD DETECTIVE); Best Cinematographer to Liao Pen-jung (HELP ME EROS); Best Visual Effects to Ng Yuen-fai (THE WARLORDS); Best Production Designer to Cao Jiu-ping and Zhang Jian-qun (THE SUN ALSO RISES); Best Editor to David Richardson (EYE IN THE SKY), and Best Composer to Vishal Dadlani and Shekhar Ravjiani (OM SHANTI OM).

In addition to the twelve categories, special tributes were also an integral part of the ceremony with visionary Japanese filmmaker Yuya Ishii receiving The Edward Yang New Talent Award from director Ann Hui and actor Chang Han, while renowned director Hou Hsiao-hsien honored Yamada Yuji with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Mission Hills Group was delighted to lend its support to this spectacular event and in so doing raising substantively the profile of the Asian film industry globally. It is the firm wish of Mission Hills Group that these efforts will produce a galaxy of stars that will light up the international firmament in the many years to come.

About Mission Hills Golf Club

Founded in 1994, Mission Hills Golf Club, China, seeks to create ‘International Goodwill through Golf.’ The Club occupies over 15 square kilometres of land and boasts 12 signature courses designed by golf legends from five different continents. The Jack Nicklaus, Pete Dye, José Maria Olazábal, Ernie Els, Nick Faldo, Zhang Lian-Wei, David Leadbetter, Greg Norman, Jumbo Ozaki, Vijay Singh, Annika Sorenstam and David Duval. Each course is reflective of the designers’ style, offering unique risk / reward challenges to the player.  As a complete golf destination, the Club houses a five star hotel and world class spa and was voted Best Golf Resort in Asia by readers of Asian Golf Monthly in 2006 and Golf Resort of the Year in the Rest of the World category in 2005 by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO). In May 2004, the Club was accredited by the Guinness World RecordsTM as the World’s Largest Golf Facility, making a name for itself in the world of premier golf through its exceptional ability to deliver an unsurpassed level of service excellence. Mission Hills is the proud venue of the OMEGA Mission Hills World Cup for the next consecutive twelve years (2007 – 2018).

Hosting major tournaments has been a regular activity at Mission Hills, China and it all started with the first international golf tournament in China back in 1995, the 41st World Cup of Golf; followed by the Tiger Woods China Challenge in 2001 and the first two editions of the Dynasty Cup in 2003 and 2005.  The Club is also the venue for the Mission Hills Asia Pacific Open Amateur Championship for the next 10 years and the “Home of the Faldo Series Asia.”  Mission Hills was recently voted Golf Resort of the Year for the Rest of the World category by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO).