Mumbai: Star will be the producer and host broadcaster of the 45th Golden Horse Awards and its preceding red carpet show in Taichung City, Taiwan on 6 December.

"It is a huge honour to once again play host to the Golden Horse Awards. Star has been a strong supporter of the Asian film industry – from actively acquiring Bollywood and Chinese film titles for broadcast across our network to setting up Fox Star Studios, a joint venture with 20th Century Fox to produce and distribute Asian language films. Hosting the Golden Horse Awards, the most prestigious awards ceremony for Chinese cinema, further underscores our commitment to play our part in the development of the movie industry across the region," said Star CEO Paul Aiello.

For the second year running, Star will produce and broadcast the Star-studded annual award show, one of the most influential events of the Chinese film industry and among Chinese audiences worldwide. With a production cost of NT$30 million, the event has lined up Stars including Eric Tsang, Karena Lam and Karen Mok from Hong Kong, Lin Chiling from Taiwan, Zhou Xun and Vicki Zhao Wei from mainland China, and Cesar Award winning actor and director Mathieu Amalric from France.

Star’s VJ Blackie is set to reassume MC duties with Hong Kong showbiz icon Do Do Cheng while pop Star Coco Lee will perform songs written for and dedicated to filmmakers and fans.

Having garnered a leading 10 nominations, Taiwan’s highest grossing local film Cape No. 7 is widely expected to be the big winner of the night. Other top contenders include The Warlords, Red Cliff and Assembly.

Star will telecast the event on Star Chinese Movies in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and the Philippines, and on Xing Kong in mainland China.