MACAU | Filipino actor Piolo Pascual will be one of the eight recipients of the Variety Asian Stars: Up Next special award to be presented at the ongoing 2nd International Film Festival & Awards Macao.
In a gallery feature called “Asian Rising Stars: Big Screen Talent for Global Breakthrough,” Variety identified the seven other honorees as Hong Kong’s Celina Jade, South Korea’s Ahn Seo-Hyeon, Thailand’s Chutimon ‘Aokbab’ Chuengcharoensukying, Japan’s Shioli Kutsuna, China’s Ludi Lin, Taiwan’s Eddie Peng and India’s Rajkummar Rao.
In citing Piolo, Variety took note of his breakout roles in “Manila,” an indie film directed by Raya Martin and Adolfo Alix, Jr. in 2009; and in Erik Matti’s “On The Job” in 2013.
“Not only popular with audiences but also critically lauded, Pascual has won multiple awards over the years…At 40, Pascual is a veteran, but his career is still on the rise. Last year, he starred in Filipino helmer Lav Diaz’s 485-minute ‘A Lullaby to the Sorrowful Mystery,’ which screened at the Berlinale won the Alfred Bauer Prize,” the Hollywood trade publication further noted.
Piolo will personally receive the honor in Macau on Thursday, December 14. He is accompanied on his trip by filmmaker and business partner Joyce Bernal.
The 2nd International Film Festival & Awards Macao will run until December 14.
