HOLLYWOOD (AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE) - China's Huading Awards ceremony was held for the first time in the United States on Sunday, with Hollywood celebrities like Halle Berry and Orlando Bloom receiving film honours.
While the Chinese awards are little known in the United States , W estern film celebrities understand the importance of the burgeoning Chinese market and many were present at the event.
The bilingual show, hosted by Chinese television personality Olivia Xu and Chinese-American actress Lucy Liu, was held in the city's Ricardo Montalban Theatre and broadcast to millions of viewers across the Chinese-speaking world.
Winners were chosen by some 80 million members of the Chinese public who participated via surveys and Internet polling, according to the Beijing-based Global Talents Media Group, which has organi s ed the annual awards since 2007.
Halle Berry, who plays Storm in the X-Men action franchise, won the top honour, the Global Icon Award. "No one is ready to receive a global icon award," said Berry, who appeared flustered as she received her award. She added that she was "happy for the better interpersonal relationship" between the Chinese public and Hollywood stars.
Chinese voters chose Fast & Furious 6, starring Vin Diesel and the late Paul Walker, as the Best Global Movie.
Guillermo del Toro won Best Global Director for his giant robot-and-monster movie Pacific Rim, in which Asian cities and actors are prominent even though the film was made in Canada. "China was very important to me as a kid. It captured my imagination with its landscapes," he said as he accepted his award.
Orlando Bloom won Best Global Actor thanks to his appearance in hits like The Hobbit: The Desolation O f Smaug. "Thanks to the fans that took time to see my movies," he said, as he held up his award.
Jeremy Renner won Best Global Supporting Actor for the Oscar-nominated crime caper American Hustle and Zoe Saldana, Best Global Supporting Actress for the sci-fi movie Star Trek Into Darkness.
Charlie Hunnam won Best Global Emerging Actor for the motorcycle gang television series Sons Of Anarchy.
Chinese viewers also chose The Croods as the Best Global Animated Movie, and honoured film composer Hans Zimmer for a career that includes movies like The Lion King (1994). Last year, 11 of the 20 top grossing movies in China were Hollywood productions, and China's market for movies grew at a stunning 35 per cent.
