HONG KONG, CHINA -- Award-winning director Brillante Mendoza’s “Lola” will compete in the Best Film, Best Director and Best Editing categories at the 4th Asian Film Awards (AFA) tonight, March 22, 8 p.m.

“Lola” is up against Japan’s “Parade,” South Korea’s “Mother,” Taiwan’s “No Puedo Vivir Sin Ti,” China’s “City of Life and Death” and Hong Kong’s “Bodyguards and Assassins” for Best Film. Mendoza will battle it out with Bong Joon-ho of “Mother,” Yonfan of “Prince of Tears,” Sono Sion of “Love Exposure,” Lu Chuan of “City of Life and Death” and Asghar Farhadi of “About Elly” for Best Director.

“Lola” editor Kats Serraon is nominated together with Lee Chatametikool of “Karaoke” (Malaysia); Kong Chi-leung and Chan Chi-wai of “Overheard” (Hong Kong); Moon Sae-kyung of “Mother” (South Korea); and Tang Hua, Zhang Yifan and Du Yuan of “Crazy Car” (China) in their category.

“Lola” tells of the travails of two grandmothers on the opposite side of the law. It comes on the heels of Mendoza’s Cannes Best Director win in 2009. The film is regarded as a compassionate work with social criticisms, and it is hailed here for its Venice-esque location where people commune by boats and live on stilt houses. “Lola” stars Filipino actors Anita Linda, Rustica Carpio and Tanya Gomez.

In an interview held earlier at Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, Brillante told the international press that “Lola” was physically and technically challenging to do, especially since it was shot during the rainy season in the Philippines.

“Fortunately, all our actors, especially the two lolas (grandmothers), were very professional. We were also blessed with very resourceful crew members who all found ways for us to move around despite the floods that could’ve posed as limitations,” said Mendoza.

He added that though the international recognition he has been getting is important in raising awareness about Filipino films and in encouraging Filipino filmmakers to keep at their craft, “winning awards is not my aim---I just want to make good films.”

Mendoza announced that his next film is action-drama that’s epic in terms of scope and story, and it will feature an international cast including Japanese actors.

“It is, again, not commercial. It’s not likely to be screened in major theaters just like ‘Lola.’

“And I’m fine with that. I don’t mind that my films are screened at select venues as long as they speak to the right audience. I don’t think I am up to doing ‘popcorn’ films,” he said.

The awards ceremony of the 4th Asian Film Awards will be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Over the years, prominent guests, stars and filmmakers have attended the AFA including Oliver Stone, William Hurt, Jet Li, Rain, Michelle Yeoh, John Woo, Harvey Weinstein and many more.

The Asian Film Awards is one of nine major events in this year’s Entertainment Expo in Hong Kong that’s organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. The other events in the expo from March 21 to April 6, 2010 are the Hong Kong Independent Short Film and Video Awards; the IFPI Hong Kong Top Sales Music Award; the Hong Kong International Film and TV Market; the Hong Kong - Asia Film Financing Forum; the Hong Kong Music Fair; the Hong Kong Film Awards Presentation Ceremony; the Digital Entertainment Leadership Forum and the Hong Kong International Film Festival.

The 34th Hong Kong International Film Festival that kicked off last night will present 290 films from over 50 countries, with 24 World Premieres.

Here is the 4th Asian Film Awards nomination list:

Best Film

“Bodyguards and Assassins” (Hong Kong/ China)
“City of Life and Death” (China)
“Lola” (Philippines)
“Mother” (South Korea)
“No Puedo Vivir Sin Ti” (Taiwan)
“Parade” (Japan)

Best Director

Bong Joon-ho, “Mother” (South Korea)
Asghar Farhadi, “About Elly” (Iran)
Lu Chuan, “City of Life and Death” (China)
Brillante Mendoza, “Lola” (Philippines)
Sono Sion, “Love Exposure” (Japan)
Yonfan, “Prince of Tears” (Hong Kong/ Taiwan)

Best Actor

Asano Tadanobu, “Villion’s Wife” (Japan)
Huang Bo, “Cow” (China)
Matsumoto Hitoshi, “Symbol” (Japan)
Song Kang-ho, “Thirst” (South Korea)
Wang Xueqi, “Bodyguards and Assassins” (Hong Kong/ China)

Best Actress

Bae Doo-na, “Air Doll” (Japan)
Kim Hye-ja, “Mother” (South Korea)
Li Bingbing, “The Message” (China)
Matsu Takako, “Villon’s Wife” (Japan)
Sandrine Pinna, “Yang Yang” (Taiwan)

Best Supporting Actor

Eita, “Dear Doctor” (Japan)
Huang Xiaoming, “The Message” (China)
Tou Chung-Hua, “The Warrior and the Wolf” (China)
Nicholas Tse, “Bodyguards and Assassins” (Hong Kong/China)
Won Bin, “Mother” (South Korea)

Best Supporting Actress

Ando Sakura, “A Crowd of Three” (Japan)
Hirosue Ryoko, “Villon’s Wife” (Japan)
Kim kkob-bi, “Breathless” (South Korea)
Wai Ying-hung, “At the End of Daybreak” (Malaysia/Hong Kong/ South Korea)
Yan Ni, “Cow” (China)

Best Newcomer

Sonam Kapoor, “Delhi 6” (India)
Kim Sae-ron, “A Brand New Life” (South Korea)
Li Yuchun, “Bodyguards and Assassins” (Hong Kong/ China)
Ng Meng Hui, “At the End of Daybreak” (Malaysia/ Hong Kong/ South Korea)
Zhu Xuan, “Prince of Tears” (Hong Kong/ Taiwan)

Best Screenwriter

Asghar Farhadi, “About Elly” (Iran)
Hong Sang-soo, “Like You Know It All” (South Korea)
Park Eun-Kyo and Bong Joon-ho, “Mother” (South Korea)
Phan Dang Di, “Adrift” (Vietnam)
Wai Ka-fai and Au Kin-yee, “Written By” (Hong Kong)

Best Cinematographer

Cao Yu, “City of Life and Death” (China)
Cheng Siu-keung, “Vengeance” (Hong Kong)
Chung Chung-hoon, “Thirst” (South Korea)
Ly Thai Dzung, “Adrift” (Vietnam)
Jake Pollock, “Yang Yang” (Taiwan)

Best Production Designer

Hayashida Yuji, “Yatterman” (Japan)
Alain-Pascal Housiaux, Patrick Dechesne and Lee Tian-Jue, “Face” (Taiwan)
Kenneth Mak, “Bodyguards and Assassins” (Hong Kong/ China)
Ryu Seong-hie, “Thirst” (South Korea)
Xiao Haihang and Xang Haoyu, “The Message” (China)