Traditional Maori dance is performed at the opening ceremony of 2019 New Zealand Asia Pacific Film Festival in Aukland, New Zealand, on Nov. 1, 2019. (Xinhua)
"I am appreciated the objective of the film festival to help New Zealanders to understand the Asian culture, society, politics and economic development, from art," said Jian Yang, New Zealand's National Party MP.
AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- The 2019 New Zealand Asia Pacific Film Festival kicked off in Auckland to showcase multi-cultural diversity.
It is the seventh Asia Pacific Film Festival, hosted by New Zealand Maori Tourism and NZ Asia Trust.
The opening ceremony started on Friday evening with traditional Maori dance and the entire program includes congratulatory speeches, film award-giving, and entertainment shows.
Glen Katu, board member of New Zealand Maori Tourism said, "film and tourism have much in common. Both tell stories, carrying the power to teach, influence and inspire."
Jensom NG, a Malaysian director, with a Chinese drama movie "Reunion Romance," won the New Talent Director Award. The Acting Award went to Sanok Kim from South Korea, whose movie "Original Sin" is a crime thriller.
The New Actor Talent Award went to Yoson An, a 26-year-old New Zealand rising star, whose family (including three sisters) arrived in New Zealand from China when he was just seven. An played the love interest of Disney's remake of Mulan, after he acted a key role in the TV adaptation of Eleanor Catton's Booker Prize-winning novel The Luminaries.
"Daffodils," a New Zealand musical drama, won "The Best Music Film Award."
Li Bo, chairman of the New Zealand Asia Pacific Film Festival and NZ Asia Trust, highlighted that "film art speaks a unique language that goes across all people, regardless of their national, cultural or social backgrounds."
"Asia Pacific Film Festival is the platform that has allowed people from the film industry to show their works and achievement, it helps them lift the profile by the great media exposure," Li added.
Jian Yang, New Zealand's National Party MP, said, "I am appreciated the objective of the film festival to help New Zealanders to understand the Asian culture, society, politics and economic development, from art."
"New Zealand is generally Maori culture society, and this festival has become a very important event on New Zealand's multicultural calendar," Yang added.
Labour Party MP Raymond Huo said, "We have more than 100 different ethnic groups living in Auckland. It is great to see today we have films not only from New Zealand, but also from China, Japan, South Korea and many other places."
According to the organizers, approximately 500 audiences participated in the gala event. The selected films from China, Japan, South Korea, and New Zealand will on show at Hoyts Cinemas on Auckland Sylvia Park in the next two days.■
