Martial arts movie icon Bruce Lee was named the recipient of the Asian American and Pacific Islander Film Pioneer award at the 18th Chinese American Film Festival in San Gabriel, California. At the Golden Angel Awards ceremony that opened the festival, Lee’s daughter Shannon was on hand to accept the honor.
Variety quoted her as telling the audience, “Thank you for recognizing his impact, his fight for Asian representation in Hollywood, his desire to create and share authentically his culture with the world.”
The 2016 movie Birth of the Dragon, a fictionalized account of Lee’s challenge match with kung fu master Wong Jack Man, previously won a Golden Angel Award.
—Mark Jacobs
THAI FIGHT HOTEL OPENS ITS DOORS
Kickboxing promotion Thai Fight opened what it’s calling the world’s first muay Thai hotel on Koh Samui island off the east coast of Thailand. It features boxing-themed rooms complete with heavy bags, gloves, and traditional muay Thai headbands and armbands.
The luxury beach resort also contains a muay Thai training facility and will offer guests the opportunity to receive one-on-one private instruction from renowned muay Thai champions like Saenchai and Nong-O. According to Thai Fight Hotel’s website, special rates start as per night, which converts to approximately $88.
