Osaka Asian Film Festival (March 3-12) is presenting this year’s Osaka Asia Star Award to Hong Kong actress Kara Wai.
Wai stars in the festival’s opening film, Mrs K, as well as Herman Yau’s 77 Heartbreaks, which is receiving its world premiere at the festival.
Directed by Malaysian filmmaker Ho Yuhang, Mrs K marks Wai’s long-awaited return to the action genre. The film premiered at the Busan International Film Festival last year.
The Osaka Asia Star Award is given to an artist who is deemed to have played an important role in the Asian film world.
Wai started her international career as a kung-fu actress in the 1970s, starring in many of the Shaw Brothers films. More recently she has won acclaim for her performances in dramas such as At The End Of Daybreak, also directed by Ho Yuhang, Juno Mak’s Rigor Mortis, Fruit Chan’s The Midnight After and Andy Lo’s Happiness.
Wai will participate in an award ceremony and special talk event at the festival’s screening of Mrs K on March 3.