The 19th Asian Film Awards honored three of the region’s most recognizable stars Sunday night at Hong Kong’s Xiqu Centre as Zhang Ziyi was presented with the Excellence in Asian Cinema Award, Liu Haoran the AFA Next Generation Award and Terrance Lau the AFA Rising Star Award.
The AFAs customarily take the form of a full-scale Oscars-style awards ceremony, but the pageantry was radically scaled back this year in deference to the devastating apartment building fire that claimed 168 lives in Hong Kong last fall. The event opted to present special awards “in a dignified and minimalist manner” rather than hold the usual contest of best film, director and acting prizes.
The ceremony, held at the Grand Theatre of the Xiqu Centre in West Kowloon, also opened its doors to members of the public for the first time, allowing ticket-buying film lovers to attend alongside industry guests.
In the lead-up to the event, the Asian Film Awards Academy hosted a trio of masterclasses featuring Squid Game director Hwang Dong-hyuk, Chinese auteur Jia Zhangke and Zhang, who returned to the stage later that evening to accept the Excellence in Asian Cinema honor.
Lau, star of recent hit Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In and one of Hong Kong cinema’s fastest-rising young leads, used his remarks to speak candidly about the private insecurities that have been a quiet part of his public climb to fame.
“People may think actors always look glamorous, but that’s because of makeup. In reality, we are often fragile and full of self-doubt,” he said. “I’ve questioned many times whether I am a good actor. But I still believe cinema is beautiful, and I hope to be someone who continues to give back to it.”
Chinese actor Liu Haoran, presented with the AFA Next Generation Award, framed his own career rise alongside the broader expansion of Asian cinema’s global reach.
“My twelve years as an actor have coincided with twelve years of rapid growth for Asian cinema,” he said. “Through projects like Detective Chinatown, I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with many outstanding filmmakers across Asia. I will continue to work hard and hope to leave my own mark on this new era of Asian moviemaking.”
Zhang’s tribute looked back on more than two decades of landmark performances — in hits like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Hero and The Grandmaster — and her role in bringing contemporary Chinese cinema to international audiences.
“I have spent over twenty years growing through cinema, and it has shaped every stage of my life,” she said. “I am grateful to all the directors, actors, and crew members I have worked with, and to audiences whose support continues to inspire me. Asian culture holds a profound and enduring heritage, filled with stories waiting to be told. I hope filmmakers across Asia will continue to work together to create films that express the strength and spirit of our culture.”
The ceremony opened with remarks from Asian Film Awards Academy chairman Dr. Wilfred Wong, who positioned the event within the organization’s broader year-round mission, including screenings, masterclasses and talent development initiatives across the region. Asia’s most prestigious film honors, the AFAs are supported jointly by the Busan, Hong Kong and Tokyo International Film Festivals.
