Internationally Renowned Japanese Actor ABE Hiroshi to receive The Excellence in Asian Cinema Award

ABE Hiroshi will attend the 16th Asian Film Awards Presentation Ceremony in Hong Kong in March to receive the award.

06 February 2023

The Asian Film Awards Academy announced today that the Excellence in Asian Cinema Award at the 16th Asian Film Awards will be presented to renowned Japanese actor ABE Hiroshi (阿部寬, あべひろし). ABE Hiroshi will attend the 16th Asian Film Awards Presentation Ceremony in Hong Kong in March to receive the award.

ABE Hiroshi’s acting career has spanned more than 30 years. His first appearance was in Haikara-san ga Toru in 1987. Since then, ABE has taken on daring and challenging roles, from playing a bisexual Chief Detective officer in The Atami Murder Case to a dissolute husband grappling with family relationships in After the Storm, ABE has successfully integrated himself into each role, giving each character a unique charisma.

Since 1987, ABE has appeared in more than 90 films, both at home and abroad. In 1990, ABE starred in the Hong Kong film Saga of the Phoenix, and was a guest star in the Taiwanese TV series Spring of Miscanthus floridulus (1997). In 2000 he was featured with Hong Kong stars Tony LEUNG Chiu Wai and Ekin CHENG in the action movie Tokyo Raiders. He appears in the impressive Thai action film Chocolate and the Sino-Japanese co-production The Legend of the Demon Cat. As one of the first Japanese actors to develop his career outside Japan, ABE Hiroshi has become famous in the Greater China region and one of the most an influential talents in Asia.

ABE Hiroshi’s delicate and poetic performances in Still Walking and The Blue Bird won him the first Best Actor accolades in his career at the 2008 Mainichi Film Awards. He revealed his comedic talent with a breakthrough performance in Thermae Romae in 2012 which won him multiple nominations and the Japan Academy Film Prize for Best Actor Awards. In 2015, Cape Nostalgia and Snow on the Blades won him the Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role Award and the Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role Award at the Japan Academy Film Prize respectively. ABE Hiroshi’s superlative acting skills and talent have been increasingly recognized by the international film industry and audiences.

“I am very honored to receive the Excellence in Asian Cinema Award,” said Abe. “I am truly surprised to receive such a big award like the AFA. When I heard about the honor, I was so happy and grateful to have my crew by my side, who have been with me all these years, so I could share it with everyone.”

Dr. Wilfred WONG Ying Wai, GBM, GBS, JP, Chairman of the Asian Film Awards Academy, said: “ABE Hiroshi’s position in the Japanese entertainment industry is one of a kind. ABE Hiroshi’s love of acting has brought freshness and vitality to Japanese film and television, and he is a major contributor to the development of Japanese entertainment.”

ANDO Hiroyasu, chairman of the Tokyo International Film Festival, also congratulated ABE Hiroshi: ” ABE Hiroshi has set a benchmark for dedication and openness for the younger generations in the Japanese film and television industry. I hope that he can continue being passionate about the film world, and make further breakthroughs in Asian film and television in the future.”

Asian Film Awards Academy

The Asian Film Awards Academy, a non-profit organization, was founded by Busan, Hong Kong and Tokyo International Film Festivals to celebrate excellence in Asian cinema. Aiming to promote and recognize Asian films and their talents, AFAA highlights, strengthens and develops the 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 worldwide.

The 16th Asian Film Awards Ceremony

Date: 12 March 2023 (Sunday)

Location: Hong Kong Jockey Club Auditorium in the Hong Kong Palace Museum, West Kowloon

Address: 8 Museum Drive, West Kowloon, Tsim Sha Tsui

Latest News

Grand opening of the Hong Kong Film Gala Presentation and Exhibition in Malaysia Actors Kay Tse and Ling Man Lung, directors Kwan Man Hin and Dickson Leung attended various cultural exchange activities, passionately sharing their experiences and insights from their film journeys with Malaysian audiences

The Dynamic Cityscapes of Hong Kong Films Exhibition Invites Bangkok to Experience Hong Kong Cinematic Diversity Following a successful run in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, this exhibition has brought the celebration of Hong Kong’s diverse cityscapes to Bangkok. It showcases memorable scenes from carefully selected films alongside iconic sights from Hong Kong.

Hong Kong Film Gala Presentation and Exhibition in Malaysia! Celebrates Craftmanship of Hong Kong Cinema! Hong Kong Film Gala Presentation in Malaysia to Screen Seven Hong Kong Films "From Idea to Icon" Exhibition Celebrates Craftmanship of Hong Kong Cinema. Four Hong Kong directors and actors are invited to attend the event in Malaysia, including actress Kay Tse from "Out of the Shadow", director Kwan Man Hin and actor Ling Man Lung from “The Remnant” and director Dickson Leung from "YUM Investigation".

Apply NOW! Student Internship Program with Broadway Cinematheque Begin Your Career in the Film Industry with Our Student Internship Program!

Asian Film Awards Academy Presents “Asian Cinerama 2024: Eternal Youth” in September Screening nine outstanding Asian works with three post-screening sharing sessions with talents from different Asian regions.

A Glamorous Gathering at the Grand Opening of Hong Kong Film Gala Presentation in Bangkok, Thailand Actors Kenny Wong, Jozev Kiu, director Herman Yau, and numerous talents and directors from Hong Kong and Thailand graced the event with their presence, making it a star-studded occasion.

Director Herman Yau and Actor Kenny Wong to attend the Hong Kong Film Gala Presentation in Bangkok Director Nick Cheuk (Time Still Turns the Pages), director Ho Miu Ki (Love Lies), and actor Jozev Kiu (Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In) will also go to Bangkok to meet the audience in Thailand!

Hong Kong filmmakers gather in Bali to demonstrate the inheritance of spirits among Hong Kong film industry The Asian Film Awards Academy and the Bali International Film Festival co-organized the "Hong Kong Film Gala Presentation", screening six Hong Kong films from June 1 to 5 at Cinepolis Plaza Renon, including the 4K restored version of "Center Stage", "Fly Me to the Moon" and "In Broad Daylight". Renowned director Stanely Kwan and other Hong Kong filmmakers and professionals in attendance.

Hong Kong filmmakers gathered in Phnom Penh to showcase the unique charm of Hong Kong cinema and foster cultural exchange The "Hong Kong Film Gala Presentation" in Phnom Penh, Cambodia included post-screening sharing sessions, media interviews, and film production conversations. The event caught attention from local audiences, filmmakers, and media, promoting film cultural exchange between Hong Kong and Cambodia.

Hong Kong and Southeast Asian Producers and Distributors Joint to Explore Opportunities in the Asian Film Industry The Asian Film Forum, organized by the Asian Film Awards Academy, invited distributors from Hong Kong, Cambodia and various Southeast Asian countries to discuss the development outlook of the Asian film market and explore opportunities for the overseas distribution of Hong Kong films.