This May, The LION AWARDS brings together an all-star cast of celebrity judges and co-presenters to celebrate the best in Asian culture. The first ever three-day peoples’ choice awards show that recognizes and uplifts Asian creators, highlights diversity within the Asian experience, and raises money for Hate Is A Virus, one of the top charities supporting AAPI communities. Streaming exclusively on Twitch from May 21st to May 23rd, The LION AWARDS are presented by LIONS SHARE, a creative community and weekly podcast that features the best emerging artists from Asia and the Asian diaspora. Guest judges for the event include actor/director Eugene Lee Yang, artist Yuna, rapper MC Jin, producer/personality Kelly Mi Li, actor/rapper Tim Chantarangsu and chef Tway Nguyen, with many more notable participants to be announced. The event will also include “Culture Breaks,” short interludes highlighting top talent in food, cosplay, dance, fashion, beauty and activism. The LION AWARDS' mission is to amplify Asians’ undeniable creative contributions to the world while embracing the diversity between cultures and experiences. Giving back is also an essential part of this initiative with the aim to raise $50,000 for Hate Is A Virus, supporting mobilizers making a difference on the ground. The event will be produced by OS Studios, a production company founded on the principle of community and content. Presenters for the awards include community organizations Free The Work, MAMA, CAPE, Asian American Collective, Asian Hustle Network and more. The 10 nominees for each award have been selected by these co-presenting organizations and will be voted on by the public via www.thelionawards.com to determine the 5 Finalists for each award to go on to appear in the show. Voting starts today and closes May 17th, when Finalists will be announced. See below for the full list of awards and nominations.
“When we first started working in entertainment, Asians were so few and far between,” shared LIONS SHARE Founders Cathleen Cher and Allyson Toy. “Today there is no shortage of amazing Asian creatives and organizations, but they are often separated and siloed by their creative focuses or regions. Film over there, food over here. Loving Asian films doesn't come at the expense of loving Asian food, so why not bring the communities from both sides together? That's what The LION AWARDS strives to do: be a one stop shop to celebrate, fundraise, empower and inspire Asians worldwide.”
LIONS SHARE was founded in 2020 by music industry professionals Cathleen Cher and Allyson Toy as a way to discover and share amazing music and stories from Asia and the Asian diaspora. After years of making a tangible impact on the music industry, LIONS SHARE offers a way for Cathleen and Allyson to uplift their community and support emerging artists on their way up. Cathleen Cher is a creative consultant and producer with over 10 years experience spanning music touring, video and stage production, creative services, with clients like Kanye West, Frank Ocean, and Megan Thee Stallion. Cher has also lent her versatile creative skillset to the tech and fashion worlds with Google, Spotify, Diesel, MILK Studios, and more. Her global relationships spanning multiple industries and knack for top notch creative storytelling have made her a go-to strategist and connector. Allyson Toy is a music, tech and culture media professional with 10+ years of US and Asia-based experience. Toy currently manages artist/industry relations and partnerships for Twitch’s growing music department, and her past work spans brand partnerships, creative strategy, culture marketing, talent relations, original content creation and event production for The FADER, Red Bull, 88rising, CAA, WME and more. Toy also leads Twitch’s Asian ERG, which strives to empower Asian voices in the workplace, on Twitch and the communities they serve.
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