MUMBAI: ActionFest, the one of its kind international film festival devoted exclusively to action cinema will be held at Asheville between 12 to 15 April.
The festival’s opening night film on 12 April will be the regional premiere of Michael J. Bassett’s Solomon Kane, a swashbuckling, visceral medieval epic starring James Purefoy (John Carter, Rome) and Max von Sydow. It is based on legendary stories from the creator of of Conan The Barbarian, Robert E. Howard.
The closing night film on 15 April will be the regional premiere of Wu Xia. The film stars internationally recognized martial arts actor and fight director Donnie Yen who plays a tortured martial arts expert who attempts to begin a life of peace, only to find himself hunted by an obsessed detective and his former master, a ruthless bandit played by old school kung fu cinema icon, Jimmy Wang Yu.
Founded by Bill Banowsky (founder of Carolina Cinemas and co-founder of Magnolia Pictures), famed action director cum producer Aaron Norris and Radius-TWC Co-President Tom Quinn.
This year’s ActionFest Fight Choreographer Award will go to J.J. Perry, who wowed audiences with spectacular fights in Warrior, Underworld: Awakening, and Haywire. One of the most prolific high-profile choreographers in Hollywood, Perry has projects with Jason Statham, Sylvester Stallone, Mel Gibson and Quentin Tarantino slated for future release.
ActionFest will also honour legendary stuntman Mickey Gilbert (of Ben Hur and The Wild Bunch fame) with the Lifetime Achievement Award and pioneer in women‘s MMA and Haywire star Gina Carano with the Chick Norris Award.
ActionFest was founded by Bill Banowsky, Aaron Norris, Dennis Berman and Tom Quinn. Colin Geddes, International Programmer for the Toronto International Film Festival, is the Festival Director.
