The Asian Film Awards Academy announced today that world-renowned star Tony LEUNG Chiu Wai will receive the special Asian Film Contribution Award at the 16th Asian Film Awards. The Asian Film Contribution Award recognizes a filmmaker who has made exceptional contributions to the development of film culture in Asia and beyond. The purpose is to encourage mutual openness and communication in order to enrich the vitality of cinema culture in both East and West. On March 12th, LEUNG will attend the 16th Asian Film Awards Ceremony, where the elites of Asian cinema will gather under one roof.

A winner of countless film awards over a 40-year career

In the four decades since his debut, Tony LEUNG Chiu Wai has used his meticulous understanding of stories and characters to create countless memorable characters in many classic films. By taking part in these great films, he has become an indispensable part of Hong Kong film history. Many renowned directors who have collaborated with LEUNG sing his praises. WONG Kar-wai once said that LEUNG doesn’t need words and that he can communicate everything with his eyes. ZHANG Yimou praised LEUNG is an outstanding and representative actor in Chinese cinema, his remarkable work has greatly marked his significant role in Asian cinema of our time. Once called LEUNG a “genius actor”, Ang LEE mentioned that we are lucky to have LEUNG as an actor in Asian cinema, either in a filmmaker or an audience’s perspective. Johnnie TO said he learnt the chemistry of actor and sincere acting from LEUNG, and hope to work with him once again. Also, HOU Hsiao-hsien said that LEUNG can express all the emotions of the world with just his eyes.

LEUNG specializes in the subtle and intricate portrayal of his characters, rendering his characters’ features almost invisible. This introverted performance style enables him to flawlessly take on characters from different eras. His past characters include a man who is hard of hearing, a homosexual man, an undercover police officer, a ruthless spy, an ordinary urbanite, a private detective, an ancient military advisor, a Wing Chun grandmaster and a villain, showing just how versatile of a performer he is.

After years of experiences in the film industry, LEUNG’s talent gradually gained recognition. He has won Best Actor five times at the Hong Kong Film Awards and three times at the Golden Horse Awards with films like Chungking Express and Infernal Affairs. He also won Best Actor at the Asian Film Awards for Lust, Caution. With In the Mood For Love, he even won international recognition by becoming the first Hong Kong actor to win Best Actor at the Cannes Film Festival.

LEUNG has been working with filmmakers across the region as early as the 1990’s. He has been in multiple films directed by renowned Taiwan filmmaker HOU Hsiao-hsien, including Golden Lion winner City of Sadness and Golden Horse Jury Award winner Flowers of Shanghai. He has worked with Academy Award winner Ang LEE and 16th AFA Jury President ZHANG Yimou on Lust, Caution and Hero, which won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival and an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Film, respectively. LEUNG has undoubtedly contributed to Chinese-language cinema and helped position Asian cinema on the world stage.