MEDIA RELEASE PR36600
Chart-topping Japanese Star to Headline Asia Pacific Screen Awards Ceremony
BRISBANE, Oct. 15/Medianet International-AsiaNet/--
Japan's chart-topping R&B star AI has been selected as the headline performer for the third annual Asia
Pacific Screen Awards (APSA) ceremony, to be held on Australia's Gold Coast on November 26. The
prestigious ceremony will host more than 500 film industry luminaries from around the globe as awards are
presented across nine categories to leading film practitioners from the Asia-Pacific region.
After more than 4 million downloads of her hit song Story, AI recently completed a 40 venue tour of Japan,
performing sellout shows to 100,000 people. With many top selling albums, and her new Number 1, "BEST
A.I.", she is one of the most dynamic artists in Asia. APSA is a unique collaboration between CNN
International, UNESCO and FIAPF-International Federation of Film Producer's Associations. The Ceremony
will feature in The Screening Room Xtra, to be broadcast globally across CNN's global network from
December 3.
AI will perform the breathtaking feature track from the score of multi-award winning Japanese film, Okuribito
(Departures) during the APSA ceremony. Japan is represented strongly in the 2009 APSAs with seven
nominations - more than any other country competing in the Awards. Okuribito (Departures) has received two
nominations for Best Screenplay and Best Performance by an Actor (Masahiro Motoki). The film opens in
cinemas in Australia today through Madman Entertainment.
The Okuribito score is crafted by renowned Japanese composer, Joe Hisaishi, who wrote the music, and AI
wrote the lyrics. A master of film scoring for more than 25 years, Hisaishi has composed over 100 scores and
solo albums and is most known for his work with animator Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away, Howl's Moving
Castle, Princess Mononoke) and Takeshi Kitano (Kikujiro, Hana-bi).
In addition to Okuribito, AI will open the show with a performance of one of her own songs from her new
album which debuted at Number One on the Japanese charts earlier this month. AI is the first major Japanese
star ever to perform at an international awards ceremony outside of Asia.
Speaking from her home in Tokyo, AI said, "It is a tremendous honour to be invited to perform at the Asia
Pacific Screen Awards. I think film, like music, has the power to tell wonderful stories and transform our lives.
And I am extremely glad and proud to perform at the celemony in Asia-Pacific."
APSA Chairman Des Power said, "the films and filmmakers of Japan are held in the highest regard. We
have had many Japanese nominees in the APSAs since our inception and this year has seen an
unprecedented number of nominees from Japan. AI's performance will further strengthen our relationship with
the creative community of Japan and we look forward to welcoming her to the Gold Coast in November."
To apply for media accreditation and VIP access to the Ceremony, please contact:
Jill Robson: jill@apscreenawards.com / M: +61 458 404 527
To view the 2009 nominees list:
SOURCE: Asia Pacific Screen Awards
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