AFA 17 Nomination List is Announced!
Veteran Director KUROSAWA Kiyoshi as Jury President! 35 Films Shortlisted to Compete for 16 Awards.
The 17th Asian Film Awards, presented by the Asian Film Awards Academy (AFAA), will continue to be held in Hong Kong. With the support of Create Hong Kong and the Film Development Fund, the Asian Film Awards Ceremony will take place at the Xiqu Centre of the West Kowloon Cultural District on 10th March 2024. The prestigious event will also be streamed live on the AFAA ’s official YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/@AsianFilmAwardsAcademy).
35 films from 24 countries and regions have been shortlisted to compete for 16 awards at this year’s Asian Film Awards. The nominations were announced by Dr. Wilfred WONG, GBM, GBS, JP, Chairman of the AFAA and a cadre of young Hong Kong actors including Peter CHAN, Jessica CHAN, Kevin CHU, MAK Pui Tung, Adam PAK and Mandy TAM.
Notable among the 35 shortlisted films that span a spectrum of genres is 12.12: The Day, one of the most nominated films in this year’s Awards. Based on the real-life “12.12 Military Insurrection” of 1979 in South Korea, the political drama follows the intense struggles of military personnel during the mutiny. The film was nominated for Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Editing and Best Cinematography. Also receiving six nominations is the film Evil Does Not Exist by Japanese director HAMAGUCHI Ryusuke whose earlier work Drive My Car won major accolades at the Cannes International Film Festival. Already awarded the Grand Jury Prize at the Venice International Film Festival, Evil Does Not Exist is a drama that follows a serene rural town with its peaceful existence about to be disrupted by a developer planning to build a “glamping” site in the town. Exploring human conundrums and the blurred line between good and evil, the film is nominated for Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Editing, Best Cinematography and Best Original Music. Snow Leopard directed by Tibetan director Pema Tseden who passed away in May 2023, and Paradise directed by Prasanna VITHANAGE each received four nominations.
Also shortlisted are Hong Kong films Time Still Turns the Pages and The Goldfinger, each with three nominations. Time Still Turns the Pages, a nuanced take on family trauma and academic pressure in Hong Kong, receives nominations for Best Supporting Actor, Best New Director and Best Editing. Set during the opulent times of the 1970s and adapted from a true story, The Goldfinger is nominated for Best Actor, Best Costume Design and Best Production Design. In Broad Daylight, loosely based on news coverage of abuses at a care home for the disabled, receives a nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Fly Me to the Moon which tells a story of reconciliation with one’s parents and oneself is nominated for Best Newcomer. Renowned Japanese director KUROSAWA Kiyoshi will serve as Jury President for this year’s Awards. As the first Japanese director to serve as AFA Jury President, KUROSAWA Kiyoshi is deeply honoured: “Asia is a treasure trove of films. It is a collection of various realities and stories this era holds, which I believe came from the rich diversity flowing among people. At the Asian Film Awards, I look forward to discovering unique and richly captivating films that no one has seen before”. He will lead the Jury and over 200 Voting Members in selecting the winners for this year’s Asian Film Awards.
Dr. Wilfred WONG, GBM, GBS, JP, Chairman of the AFAA said: “Asian cinema is in good hands with the wealth of film talents across Asia, and veteran filmmakers can pass the legacy on to the new generation. Asian Film Awards continues to offer a unique platform for such collaborations and exchanges. Looking ahead, the Academy will remain dedicated to promoting exchanges in film culture among countries and regions, empowering filmmakers to explore future directions of Asian cinema.” NAM Dong-Chul, interim festival director of Busan International Film Festival, said: “The Asian Film Awards have always played a significant role in recognizing the achievements and contributions of Asian film professionals. For the international film industry, the event provides poignant insights on excellence in Asian cinema.” ANDO Hiroyasu, Chairman of the Tokyo International Film Festival commented: “As Asian filmmakers continue to garner great acclaim internationally, it is gratifying to witness how Asian cinema is leaving its mark on the global film landscape.”
AFAA was founded by Busan, Hong Kong and Tokyo International Film Festivals to celebrate excellence in Asian cinema. AFAA highlights, strengthens and develops the Asian film industry through the annual Asian Film Awards and several year-round initiatives to promote and recognize Asian films and their talents.
Four Youth Ambassadors of the 17th Asian Film Awards including Taiwanese actor LIU Kuan-Ting (A Sun, My Missing Valentine), Thai actor Mario MAURER (Love of Siam, Pee Mak), Japanese actor MIYAZAWA Hio (Egoist, Moonlight Shadow) and Hong Kong actor Will OR (Drifting, One More Chance) are confirmed to take the stage together at the Asian Film Awards Ceremony in Hong Kong. They will also meet fans and audience in various occasions such as post-screening Q&A sessions, seminars and sharing sessions. Winners of other AFA awards including the Lifetime Achievement Award, Excellence in Asian Cinema Award, AFA Next Generation Award and Rising Star Award will be announced later, along with details on film roadshow programme “Asian Film Awards – Asian Cinerama” and other official events.
The 17th Asian Film Awards Ceremony
Date: 10 March 2024 (Sunday)
Location: Grand Theatre, Xiqu Centre, West Kowloon Cultural District
Address: 88 Austin Road West, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon
The 17th Asian Film Awards Nomination List
Best Film
12.12: The Day (South Korea)
Evil Does Not Exist (Japan)
Paradise (Sri Lanka, India)
Perfect Days (Japan)
Snow Leopard (Mainland China)
Best Director
KIM Sung-soo | 12.12: The Day (South Korea)
GU Xiaogang | Dwelling by the West Lake (Mainland China)
HAMAGUCHI Ryusuke | Evil Does Not Exist (Japan)
KORE-EDA Hirokazu | Monster (Japan)
Prasanna VITHANAGE | Paradise (Sri Lanka, India)
Best Actor
HWANG Jung-min | 12.12: The Day (South Korea)
WU Kang-Ren | Abang Adik (Malaysia)
SHEN Teng | Full River Red (Mainland China)
YAKUSHO Koji | Perfect Days (Japan)
Tony LEUNG Chiu Wai | The Goldfinger (Hong Kong, Mainland China)
Best Actress
JIANG Qinqin | Dwelling by the West Lake (Mainland China)
JUNG Yu-mi | Sleep (South Korea)
ZHOU Dongyu | The Breaking Ice (Mainland China, Singapore)
Audrey LIN | Trouble Girl (Taiwan)
KIKUCHI Rinko | YOKO (Japan)
Best Supporting Actor
PARK Hoon | 12.12: The Day (South Korea)
Jack TAN | Abang Adik (Malaysia)
NAKAMURA Shido | KUBI (Japan)
PARK Jung-min | Smugglers (South Korea)
Sean WONG | Time Still Turns the Pages (Hong Kong)
Best Supporting Actress
HAMABE Minami | Godzilla Minus One (Japan)
Rachel LEUNG | In Broad Daylight (Hong Kong)
TSUTSUI Mariko | Last Shadow at First Light (Singapore, Japan, Slovenia, The Philippines, Indonesia)
GO Min-si | Smugglers (South Korea)
WAN Fang | Snow in Midsummer (Malaysia, Taiwan, Singapore)
Best New Director
Lkhagvadulam PUREV-OCHIR | City of Wind (France, Mongolia, Portugal, Netherlands, Qatar, Germany)
PHAM THIEN An | Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell (Vietnam, Singapore, France, Spain)
Dominic SANGMA | Rapture (India, Mainland China, Switzerland, Qatar, Netherlands)
Amanda Nell EU | Tiger Stripes (Malaysia, Taiwan, Singapore, France, Germany, Netherlands, Indonesia, Qatar)
Nick CHEUK | Time Still Turns the Pages (Hong Kong)
Best Newcomer
Tergel Bold-Erdene | City of Wind (France, Mongolia, Portugal, Netherlands, Qatar, Germany)
Awat RATANAPINTHA | Doi Boy (Thailand, Cambodia)
Yoyo TSE | Fly Me to the Moon (Hong Kong)
WANG Yibo | Hidden Blade (Mainland China)
SHIRATA Mihaya | Last Shadow at First Light (Singapore, Japan, Slovenia, The Philippines, Indonesia)
Best Screenplay
HAMAGUCHI Ryusuke | Evil Does Not Exist (Japan)
SAKAMOTO Yuji | Monster (Japan)
Prasanna VITHANAGE, Anushka SENANAYAKE | Paradise (Sri Lanka, India)
Jason YU | Sleep (South Korea)
Pema Tseden | Snow Leopard (Mainland China)
Best Editing
KIM Sang-bum | 12.12: The Day (South Korea)
HAMAGUCHI Ryusuke, YAMAZAKI Azusa | Evil Does Not Exist (Japan)
Matthieu LACLAU | Only the River Flows (Mainland China)
A.Sreekar PRASAD | Paradise (Sri Lanka, India)
Nick CHEUK, Keith CHAN Hiu Chun | Time Still Turns the Pages (Hong Kong)
Best Cinematography
LEE Mo-gae | 12.12: The Day (South Korea)
KITAGAWA Yoshio | Evil Does Not Exist (Japan)
CHENGMA Zhiyuan | Only the River Flows (Mainland China)
Azamat DULATOV | Qas (Kazakhstan)
Matthias DELVAUX | Snow Leopard (Mainland China)
Best Original Music
UMEBAYASHI Shigeru | Dwelling by the West Lake (Mainland China)
ISHIBASHI Eiko | Evil Does Not Exist (Japan)
Akmaral MERGEN | Qas (Kazakhstan)
Anon Ch Momin | Rapture (India, Mainland China, Switzerland, Qatar, Netherlands)
LEE Dong-june | Road to Boston (South Korea)
Best Costume Design
Tim YIP | Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms (Mainland China)
KUROSAWA Kazuko | KUBI (Japan)
YOON Jung-hee | Smugglers (South Korea)
Elaine NG | Snow in Midsummer (Malaysia, Taiwan, Singapore)
MAN Lim Chung | The Goldfinger (Hong Kong, Mainland China)
Best Production Design
CHO Hwa-sung | Concrete Utopia (South Korea)
MITSUMATSU Keiko | Monster (Japan)
ZHANG Menglun | Only the River Flows (Mainland China)
Daktse Drundrup | Snow Leopard (Mainland China)
Eric LAM | The Goldfinger (Hong Kong, Mainland China)
Best Visual Effects
EUN Jae-hyun | Concrete Utopia (South Korea)
Douglas Hans SMITH, Joshua BRYER, Jeremy BALL | Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms (Mainland China)
YAMAZAKI Takashi, SHIBUYA Kiyoko, TAKAHASHI Masaki, NOJIMA Tatsuji | Godzilla Minus One (Japan)
JIN Jong-hyun | The Moon (South Korea)
Allen WEI, Ahdee CHIU, DING Yanlai, Eric XU | The Wandering Earth II (Mainland China)
Best Sound
KIM Suk-won, KIM Eun-jung | Concrete Utopia (South Korea)
YANG Jiang, ZHAO Nan | Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms (Mainland China)
INOUE Natsuko | Godzilla Minus One (Japan)
Vuong Gia Bao, TOH Xander | Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell (Vietnam, Singapore, France, Spain)
TU Duu-Chih, WU Shu-Yao | Snow in Midsummer (Malaysia, Taiwan, Singapore)
Asian Film Awards Academy
The Asian Films Awards Academy, a non-profit organization, was founded by Busan, Hong Kong and Tokyo International Film Festivals with the shared goal of celebrating excellence in Asian cinema. Aiming to promote and recognize Asian films and its talents, AFAA highlights, strengthens and develops Asian film industry through the annual Asian Film Awards and several year-round initiatives.
The Asian Film Awards was inaugurated in 2007, where members of AFAA are drawn from its past nominees and winners. The category of awards includes Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Actress. Members vote for the Asian Film Awards and participate in various AFAA activities involving film professionals and audiences in Asia and around the world.
Please contact us if any questions,
Email: info@afa-academy.com
Tel: +852 3195 0609
Website: www.afa-academy.com
