AFA19 Youth Ambassador Night Brings Together a New Generation of Talent
Mean Phiravich, Natalie Hsu and Kent Tsai share their creative journeys alongside strong industry attendance
The 19th Asian Film Awards Youth Ambassador Night, organised by the Asian Film Awards Academy (AFAA) with support from the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) and the Film Development Fund, was held successfully earlier. The event brought together industry guests from across the region, offering a chance to connect with this year’s Youth Ambassadors — Mean Phiravich, Natalie Hsu, and Kent Tsai — and get a closer look at their work and creative journeys.
The evening opened with remarks by AFAA Chairman Dr. Wilfred WONG, GBM, GBS, JP, who said, “The Asian Film Awards Academy has always placed great importance on nurturing the next generation of talent. The Youth Ambassador programme serves as a bridge connecting audiences with the future of cinema.”. He added that a new generation of filmmakers continues to grow through exploration and change, bringing fresh possibilities to Asian cinema.
A teaser of the ambassadors’ newly filmed promotional short was premiered during the event, giving a first glimpse of their on-screen presence and drawing a warm response from the audience.
The evening also featured clips from the ambassadors’ past works, followed by an on-stage sharing session. Thai actor Mean Phiravich spoke first, reflecting on his journey from acting to working behind the scenes. He shared that the film set is where he finds the most joy: “I’m someone who can’t sit still — when I’m at home, I don’t even know what to do. I just want to be on set”. He added that, rather than being remembered as “Mean the actor”, he hopes audiences remember the characters he brings to life.
Hong Kong actress Natalie HSU followed, speaking about her experiences bringing her work to international film festivals. She shared that one of her most memorable moments was at the Far East Film Festival: “The cinema there was incredible, and the audience was so warm — the whole atmosphere really stayed with me.”. She also expressed how much she enjoyed working with the other two ambassadors, noting that film festivals are spaces where people come together and get to know one another.
Actor Kent TSAI from Taiwan then took the stage. Reflecting on returning to the Asian Film Awards as a Youth Ambassador, he described it as feeling “like coming home”, reconnecting with familiar faces while meeting many new ones. Speaking about his work, he noted that he has often taken on lighter, more youthful roles in the past, but is now looking to explore more emotionally complex performances, particularly in romance, as he continues to expand his range. In the future, he hopes to return to the Asian Film Awards with his own work.
The evening concluded with a group toast and photo session. Dr. Wilfred WONG, GBM, GBS, JP, together with director JIA Zhangke and AFAA Executive Director Josie LIN, joined the three Youth Ambassadors and guests on stage to celebrate the occasion.
The event was also attended by a wide range of industry guests, including Hong Kong Film Development Council member Frederick TSUI Foon and Secretary-General Gary MAK; Far East Film Festival President Sabrina BARACETTI and founder Thomas BERTACCHE; New York Asian Film Festival President and Executive Director Samuel JAMIER and Associate Director Claire MARTY; directors Anthony CHEN and Robin LEE; producer Polly YEUNG; Hong Kong directors Albert LEUNG, Kwan Man-hin and Dickson LEUNG; as well as actress Regina LEI and actor MAK Pui Tung, among others.
More than a celebration, the evening offered a glimpse into the paths these young actors are carving out — and the energy shaping the future of Asian cinema.
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.
