Gene Yuxin Chen is the LABA Icon Award Winner for Best Visionary Entrepreneur

Gene Yuxin Chen

Gene Yuxin Chen is a winner of the Los Angeles Beverly Arts Icon Award for Best Visionary Entrepreneur. He completed his studies at a professional drama university in Shanghai in 1989, and has been a visionary leader in both entertainment and business, developing many successful companies. He has worked as a stage and film actor, as well as a movie director and producer. He established a Chinese language center, a martial arts center, and taught Chinese Kung Fu. He also founded a number of successful companies - an import and export business, an e-commerce enterprise, a multi-level marketing company, and a blockchain universal business.

The Beverly Arts News is sponsored by Cynthia Clarté, MDSUN, Youben Hu Art Studio, En Guangzhi Art Studio, and The Beverly Arts Foundation

Wai Man Yip is the LABA Icon Award Winner for Best Visionary Entrepreneur

Wai Man Yip

Wai Man Yip has had an extensive career in international finance and has been a visionary leader in his field, serving as the CEO of White Fox Holding Limited and an advisor for Vista Global Group in Hong Kong. This year the Los Angeles Beverly Arts has chosen him to be the LABA Icon Award winner for Best Visionary Entrepreneur. He invests in films, antiques, and literary and artistic works. He held positions as a dealer and treasurer at institutions such as Kleinwort Benson Ltd., Standard Chartered Asia Ltd., Traditional Asia Ltd., BNP-Daiwa (HK) Ltd., Westdeutsche Landesbank, Jardine Fleming Co. Ltd., and Banque de L’Indochine et de Suez.

With over 40 years of experience in the financial market, he founded the Macau Financial Market Association and was a director of the Hong Kong Financial Market Association. During his time working with banks, his business areas encompassed corporate finance, foreign exchange and bullion trading, private banking, and fund management. In 1998, he was included in The International Who’s Who.

The Beverly Arts News is sponsored by Cynthia Clarté, MDSUN, Youben Hu Art Studio, En Guangzhi Art Studio, and The Beverly Arts Foundation

LABA Attends the 77th Annual Directors Guild of America (DGA) Awards

Director/filmmaker Harrison Engle, TV host Joey Zhou, founder of LABA, guest, director Ang Lee (DGA Lifetime Achievement Award), and Freda Ou, chairman of LABA South China

Beverly Hills, California, USA. 8th February, 2025. The 77th Annual Directors Guild of America (DGA) Awards were held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. The evening’s top prize category, Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film went to Sean Baker for “Anora", the Michael Apted First-Time Theatrical Feature Film award went to RaMell Ross for “Nickel Boys,”and the Documentary film award went to Brendan Bellomo and Slava Leontyev for "Porcelain War." In television, the Dramatic Series award went to Frederick E.O. Toye for “Shogun,” and the Comedy Series award went to Lucia Aniello for “Hacks.” Actress Michelle Yeoh presented the DGA’s 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award to renowned director Ang Lee for his distinguished achievement in feature films.

For a complete list of the award winners, go to the DGA website.

Director/filmmaker Harrison Engle, director Ang Lee (DGA Lifetime Achievement Award), and TV host Joey Zhou, founder of LABA

Slava Leontyev and Brendan Bellomo (R) holding porcelain figure of "Porcelain War," (Documentary film winners) with director/filmmaker Harrison Engle (center)

Judd Apatow hosted the ceremony before an audience of more than 1,000 guests. Presenters included (in alphabetical order): Maude Apatow, Ike Barinholtz, Adrien Brody, Marie Cantin, Colman Domingo, Paul W. Downs, Ayo Edebiri, Elle Fanning, Ralph Fiennes, Justine Lupe, Mikey Madison, Kathleen McGill, Demi Moore, Christopher Nolan, Zoe Saldana, Timothy Simons, Sebastian Stan, Taylor Tomlinson, Jessica Williams, Bowen Yang, and Michelle Yeoh.

Director/filmmaker Harrison Engle, Talk show host/LABA Board member Carlos Amezcua of Beond TV

TV host Joey Zhou, founder of LABA, attended the ceremony as a guest of Harrison Engle, a DGA member who has directed and produced over 80 films and TV shows, and won many awards. Engle is also a LABA Board member and co-chairman of the LABA Biennial International Art Festival. Freda Ou, chairman of LABA South China, talk show host/LABA Board member Carlos Amezcua of Beond TV, model/actress Dustin Quick, and others stopped by to enjoy the festive atmosphere of the event.

Model/actress Dustin Quick and TV host Joey Zhou, founder of LABA

Director/filmmaker Harrison Engle and Freda Ou, chairman of LABA South China

TV host Joey Zhou, founder of LABA

The Beverly Arts News is sponsored by Cynthia Clarté, MDSUN, Youben Hu Art Studio, En Guangzhi Art Studio, and The Beverly Arts Foundation