Ephney Tsai The 18th annual Unforgettable Gala will take place on December 14th at The Beverly Hilton, and it is certainly expected to be a memorable night. Presented by Lexus, this event is a distinguished Asian American awards show created to recognize those making a great impact in the industry.
The host for this year’s festivities will be Simu Liu, who is most well-known for playing Jung on the show “Kim’s Convenience,” and recently made headlines after being cast as the lead for Marvel’s upcoming movie, “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.” Veteran actor Daniel Dae Kim will also be present, acting as the Keynote Speaker for the night. Kim is best known for his portrayal of Jin-Soo Kwon in “Lost” and as Chin Ho Kelly in “Hawaii Five-0.” In addition to the star-studded attendee list, the event will feature performances by Chinese-American singer-songwriter MILCK, Japan’s “Samurai Guitarist” MIYAVI, and Taiwanese-American singer and former K-pop group f(x) member Amber Liu.
This year’s awards will showcase a diverse selection of Asian American entertainers through awards including Actor in TV, Actor in Film, Breakout in TV, Breakout in Film, Director, Digital Influencer, and Comedy. Ali Wong, Hasan Minhaj, Bretman Rock, Justin Chon, Andrew Koji, Randall Park, Steven Yeun, and Awkwafina are just a few among those nominated. Aside from the aforementioned categories, the prestigious Vanguard Award will also be presented to the cast and crew of the worldwide phenomenon “The Farewell,” and professional golfer Kevin Na will receive the Pechanga Athlete on Another Level.
Since 2001, the Unforgettable Gala prides itself in being the only event of its kind, showcasing Asian American icons and change-makers who represent the community. Previous winners and presenters include Arden Cho, John Cho, Ki Hong Lee, Ming-Na Wen, Ken Jeong, Constance Wu, George Takei, Steve Aoki, Chloe Kim, Maggie Q, Sandra Oh, Tan France, and Lana Condor.
