The Borneo Post

‘IP Man’ hero Donnie Yen to meet Kuching fans at Aiffa

- By Anasathia Jenis reporters@theborneop­ost.com

KUCHING: AsianandHo­llywood’s favourite martial arts hero Donnie Yen will make his first appearance at this year’s Asean Internatio­nal Film Festival and Awards (Aiffa) to take place on May 4 to 6.

The star of the worldwide hit movie franchise ‘IP Man’ and scifi blockbuste­r ‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’ will meet local fans at the Old Courthouse here this May 6 from 2pm.

Assistant Minister for Tourism. Datuk Lee Kim Shin announced this at a press conference on the event held here on Thursday night. He said the Hong Kong actor would also celebrate his 35 years in show business with his fans here.

“The state government and Aiffa are ready to roll out the red carpet next week (with) many exciting events and activities (in store) for Kuching folks and the Asean community.

“Free concerts and movie screenings, educationa­l film talks and creative sharing sessions await everyone,” he said.

Lee said the event had generated internatio­nal interest and received many requests for invitation­s from Japan, China, Australia, Europe and even Hollywood ( US).

“Donnie Yen – one of the world’s biggest film stars – will celebrate the anniversar­y of his three decades in the film industry in Kuching.”

The hype surroundin­g Aiffa this year has been felt since April, with several pre- event activities like

The state government and Aiffa are ready to roll out the red carpet next week (with) many exciting events and activities (in store) for Kuching folks and the Asean community.

the Aiffa roadshows at capital cities across Asean, ‘Kuching-Asean Songbird Karaoke’ competitio­n, schoolchil­dren’s colouring contest and the weekly Kuching Waterfront Asean movie screenings.

“We want to expose members of the public to various forms of arts, films, music and creativity that are full of positive messages,” said Lee.

Aiffa 2017 director Livan Tajang promised that the event would be star-studded one.

“From May 4, delegates and film enthusiast­s from Malaysia, Asean and beyond will enjoy the educationa­l ‘Cafe Crawl’ – a threeday film screening at selected cinemas and also the opening night at Kuching Amphitheat­re, where the audience get to see Singapore’s ‘ Phua Chu Kang’ and popular Malay cartoon twins ‘ Upin & Ipin’, as well as songstress Dayang Nurfaizah and the legendary Datuk David Arumugam of Alleycats.”

Permanent Secretary to Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Datu Ik Pahon Joyik was present at the press conference.

Datuk Lee Kim Shin, Assistant Minister for Tourism

 ??  ?? Lee (seated left) joins Ik Pahon (seated right), Livan (standing second left) and other members of the committee in holding up leaflets and posters highlighti­ng Donnie Yen’s first-time appearance in Kuching in conjunctio­n with Aiffa 2017.
Lee (seated left) joins Ik Pahon (seated right), Livan (standing second left) and other members of the committee in holding up leaflets and posters highlighti­ng Donnie Yen’s first-time appearance in Kuching in conjunctio­n with Aiffa 2017.

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