Asian filmmakers and stars set to visit Vancouver International Film Festival

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      Alert: Hong Kong pop superstar Aaron Kwok is coming to Vancouver!

      Well, sort of.

      To clarify that statement, he is coming to the Vancouver International Film Festival but only on screen.

      Kwok, who is known as one of Hong Kong's "Four Heavenly Kings" of pop, stars in the gritty feature Port of Call as a cop seeking to understand why a delivery man killed a prostitute.

      However, the film's director, Phillip Yung (Glamourous Youth), will be attending the festival.

      This year's Dragons and Tigers series promises a number of visits from Asian filmmakers but unless Kwok unexpectedly turns up in person, we're unlikely to see a fan frenzy reaching the levels of insanity witnessed at last year's festival for the Vancouver Asahi world premiere with its J-Pop stars Kamenashi Kazuya and Tsumabuki Satoshi . 

      That said, the screening of Japan's Gonin Saga will be graced with a visit from heartthrob Higashide Masahiro. On January 1, he married Anne Watanabe, the daughter of Japanese star Ken Watanabe. Higashide will be coming to Vancouver along with adirector Ishii Takashi.

      Meanwhile, renowned director Mabel Cheung (along with her husband and producer Alex Law) will attend the special presentation of A Tale of Three Cities, the story of Jackie Chan's parents whose enduring love survived numerous obstacles, separations, and hardships.

      The Name of the Whale actors Hirabuki Masana and Kimura Yuki will accompany director Fujikawa Fumito from Japan.

      Other Dragons and Tigers filmmakers who'll be visiting include All Eyes and Ears (China/USA), Kaili Blues (China), Tharlo (China), 31st October (India), Reflection (Japan), Tandem (Philippines), Alice in Earnestland (South Korea), The Piper (South Korea), and Love and… (South Korea).

      And although she isn't scheduled to appear at the festival, Vancouver-born and -raised Hong Kong pop star and singer Karena Lam is a lead in the Taiwanese film Zinnia Flower

      For full details on the Dragons and Tigers series, visit the VIFF website.

      Check out this year's film schedule and visit our guide for complete VIFF coverage.

      You can follow Craig Takeuchi on Twitter at twitter.com/cinecraig.

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