Ang Lee to lead jury panel at 50th Golden Horse Awards

The 50th edition of the event, which is hailed as the Chinese equivalent of the Oscars, will kick off on November 23rd in Taipei.

Big news for Asian film lovers: this year's Golden horse awards will soon gallop into action. The 50th edition of the event, which is hailed as the Chinese equivalent of the Oscars, will kick off on November 23rd in Taipei. This time around, two-time Oscar winner Ang Lee is leading the jury panel.

Lee will be among the jurors selecting winners in 22 categories, ranging from Best Feature Film to Best Action Choreography.

Despite being a top prize in the Chinese film scene, Hollywood remains relatively indifferent to the Golden Horse. But, according to Lee, that's nothing to worry about.

"We don't have to. The Chinese-speaking people is probably four times more than the English-speaking people. So I think as long as we are influential in the Chinese speaking world, I think it will prevail. It will ripple out. I think in 10 years time, maybe our market will be bigger than the Hollywood market. So it just comes naturally. I think it's important that we keep doing it. We sustain it and we believe in it. It will have the ups and downs but eventually I think, it will get picked up," he said.

But when it comes to judging the work of others, Lee is less confident.

"I think the hardest part is the pressure of making the decision. You make a film because it's something that cannot be described with just words. You need lights and effects. The aim is to create something that resonates with the audience. So for judges to debate, and choose a best film, that act itself is unreasonable," he said.

China actress Li Bingbing, who continues to make her mark in Hollywood, is also serving as a jury member this year.

"I say this with sincerity, even though I'm not from Taiwan, I've always paid a lot of attention to the Golden Horse Awards. I think out of all the awards ceremonies in Asia, the Golden Horse carries the most weight. It never compromises for any reason. It maintains its character and remains neutral. That's why so many people participate," said Li Bingbing, actress.

Although the Golden Horse Award is based in Taiwan, it has increasing ties with the film industry in the Chinese mainland. And many analysts believe this year's event will be yet another boost for films on both sides of the Strait.