ZHANG Ziyi to Receive Excellence in Asian Cinema Award, LIU Haoran and Terrance LAU Honoured with AFA Next Generation and Rising Star Awards
Today, the Asian Film Awards Academy (AFAA) announced the recipients of three Special Awards: ZHANG Ziyi, who will receive the Excellence in Asian Cinema Award; LIU Haoran, recipient of the AFA Next Generation Award; and Terrance LAU, who will be honoured with the AFA Rising Star Award. All three awardees will attend the ceremony in person to celebrate the occasion with filmmakers, industry professionals and audiences.
As Asian cinema continues to evolve, each generation of filmmakers brings new perspectives and stories to the screen. Over the years, the Asian Film Awards has honoured filmmakers whose work has shaped and enriched Asian cinema at different stages of their creative journeys.
The 19th Asian Film Awards will take place on 15 March at the Xiqu Centre, WestK in Hong Kong. Today, the Asian Film Awards Academy (AFAA) announced the recipients of three Special Awards: ZHANG Ziyi, who will receive the Excellence in Asian Cinema Award; LIU Haoran, recipient of the AFA Next Generation Award; and Terrance LAU, who will be honoured with the AFA Rising Star Award. All three awardees will attend the ceremony in person to celebrate the occasion with filmmakers, industry professionals and audiences.
ZHANG Ziyi has brought to life many unforgettable female characters across both Chinese-language cinema and the international film scene. On receiving the Excellence in Asian Cinema Award, she said: “An award like this feels less like recognition and more like responsibility. It reminds me why I chose this path — to approach every role with sincerity and discipline. I’m deeply grateful to the senior figures in our industry for entrusting me with this honour. It encourages me to keep moving forward.”.
LIU Haoran, who rose to prominence with the blockbuster Detective Chinatown series, is widely regarded as one of the leading representatives of a new generation of Asian actors. On receiving the AFA Next Generation Award, he shared: “I’m deeply honoured to receive this recognition from the Asian Film Awards. ‘Next Generation’ reminds me to stay grounded and keep working hard. I’m grateful to all the creators of Asian cinema and to every audience member who walks into the cinema — it is through our shared passion that these stories continue to live on.”.
In recent years, Terrance LAU has attracted growing attention through a number of film roles. Speaking about receiving the AFA Rising Star Award, he said: “I’m truly grateful to the Asian Film Awards for this recognition. I would also like to thank my manager, my father, mother, sister, and my wife, Cecilia CHOI, or always being there for me. When I’ve felt lost or uncertain, their love and support have carried me through. As I continue this journey, I hope to keep following my heart and moving forward, one step at a time.”.
ZHANG Ziyi: A Defining Figure in Asian Cinema
Over the course of her career, ZHANG has appeared in many of the most iconic works of Chinese-language cinema. After gaining international recognition with Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, she went on to star in films such as Hero, House of Flying Daggers, and The Grandmaster, becoming one of the most recognisable faces of Chinese cinema for audiences around the world.
ZHANG’s significance lies not only in the films themselves, but in the female characters she has brought vividly to life. From the innocent young woman in The Road Home to the formidable warriors of martial arts epics, the three generations of women in Jasmine Women, and her recent work She’s Got No Name, her performances reveal both strength and emotional depth. Through a series of defining roles, she has broadened the possibilities of female representation in Chinese-language cinema and become a powerful symbol of Asian cinema on the global stage — a spirit that the Excellence in Asian Cinema Award seeks to honour.
LIU Haoran: Seeking Greater Depth Beyond Commercial Success
Since rising to prominence with the blockbuster Detective Chinatown series, LIU has become one of the most prominent young actors in Chinese commercial cinema. At a young age, he joined the ranks of actors whose films have surpassed the RMB 10 billion box office mark, and has since headlined major productions and popular franchises, demonstrating the strong appeal of a new generation of actors in the Asian commercial film market.
In recent years, LIU has also taken on roles that extend beyond pure entertainment, exploring stories with deeper cultural and historical dimensions. In Decoded, he plays a mathematical prodigy caught between national duty and personal destiny, while Detective Chinatown 1900 situates its adventure within a distinct historical setting. From youthful roles to more complex characters, his evolving screen presence reflects the growing role of a new generation of actors in shaping contemporary Chinese and Asian cinema.
Terrance Lau: From Hong Kong to the Wider Asian Stage
A graduate of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Terrance Lau has steadily built his career across stage, television and film. In recent years, his work has drawn increasing attention — from the gentle and understated role in Trouble Girl to the striking screen presence of “Shin” in Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In, revealing an impressive range and versatility as an actor.
In films such as Stuntman, Peg O’ My Heart and The Lychee Road, Lau continues to explore diverse roles, establishing himself as one of the notable faces of a new generation of Hong Kong actors. His charismatic screen presence has also attracted growing international audiences, with Stuntman and Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In gaining particular popularity in Japan. Lau has also begun participating in cross-regional productions, gradually expanding his presence on a broader Asian stage.
Organised by the Asian Film Awards Academy and supported the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) and the Film Development Fund, the 19th Asian Film Awards will take place on 15 March at the Xiqu Centre, Westk in Hong Kong, celebrating outstanding achievements in Asian cinema. In addition to the awards ceremony, AFAA will present a series of programmes around the event, including filmmaker conversations, masterclasses and Asian cinema screenings, offering audiences opportunities to engage with filmmakers and promoting continued exchange within Asian film culture.
ASIAN FILM AWARDS ACADEMY
The Asian Film Awards Academy is a non-profit organization founded by the Busan International Film Festival, the Hong Kong International Film Festival and the Tokyo International Film Festival. In addition to presenting the annual Asian Film Awards, the Academy organizes screenings, exchange programmes and professional development initiatives to promote Asian cinema and nurture industry talent.
Our year-round events and programmes are held with the objectives to promote Asian films to a wider audience, expand the film market within Asia, and build and sustain connections among Hong Kong and international film professionals. Masterclass Series – in conversation with filmmakers, Journey to the fest – Student Visit to International Film Festivals, Asian Cinerama – Film Roadshow, and Young Film Professionals Programme – overseas training and work-placement, are examples of our year-round programmes. These programmes couldn’t have been held successfully without the financial support of the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency and Film Development Fund of the HKSAR Government. AFAA has worked to promote, educate, inform and develop knowledge, skills and interest in Asian cinema among the industry, students and audiences in Asia and beyond with the support of film festivals and cultural organizations.
CULTURAL AND CREATIVE INDUSTRIES DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (CCIDAHK)
Under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) (formerly known as Create Hong Kong (CreateHK)) is a dedicated office, aiming to spearhead the development of cultural and creative industries in Hong Kong.
FILM DEVELOPMENT FUND
The Film Development Fund (FDF) was first set up by the Government in 1999 to support projects conducive to the long-term development of the film industry in Hong Kong, including: part-financing small-to-medium budget film productions; enhancing efforts to promote Hong Kong films in the Mainland and overseas; enhancing initiatives to train talents in various aspects of film production and distribution; and enhancing the interest and appreciation of Hong Kong films by the local audience.
