The Pusan International FilmFestival has announced that Andy Lau will receive this year's Asian Filmmakerof the Year award.

The festival said it applauded "Lau's dedication ofsearching for Asian filmmaking talents and promoting Asian cinema as a producerand actor'During the past two decades, Lau has proven himself as one of thecelebrities committed to promote Asian cinema."

The actor and singer has appeared in CasinoRaiders, As Tears Go By, Four Kings and Battle of Wits, has invested infilm and supported new talent through the Focus: First Cut project. Previousrecipients of the award include Mohsen Makhmalbaf and Hou Hsiao Hsien.

The festival also named Martial Knaebel,director of the Fribourg International Film Festivalin Switzerland, and Terawaki Ken, former general-directorat Japan Cultural Affairs Department, as the winners of this year's KoreanCinema Award.

That award recognises individualswho have made outstanding contributions in promotion Korean cinemainternationally.