Nominations Announced for the 18th Asian Film Awards ～Seven Japanese films will compete with outstanding films from around Asia～(January 10, 2025 Hong Kong)
【TIFF Grand Prix Winner Teki Cometh receives 6 nominations, including Best Film and Best Director】
Hong Kong/Tokyo (January 10, 2025)
This article is based on information and photos officially released by the organizers.
— The Asian Film Awards Academy (AFA Academy or AFAA) announced
the nominations for the 18th Asian Film Awards (AFA18) and the Jury President for this year in Hong Kong yesterday.
Thirty outstanding films from 25 countries and regions have been shortlisted to compete for 16 awards at AFA18, which celebrates artistic and technical achievements in Asian cinema. The prestigious lineup of nominees from around Asia includes seven Japanese films: Teki Cometh (Director: Yoshida Daihachi, winner of the top three prizes at the 37th Tokyo International Film Festival - TIFF), Desert of Namibia (Yamanaka Yoko), All the Long Nights (Miyake Sho, recipient of the Kurosawa Akira Award at the 37th TIFF), My Sunshine (Okuyama Hiroshi, Official Selection for Un Certain Regard at Cannes), Happyend (Sora Neo), The Box Man (Ishii Gakuryu) and Black Ox (Tsuta Tetsuichiro, 37th TIFF Asian Future Official Selection).
Korean auteur Jang Jae-hyun’s Exhuma received eleven nominations, making it the most nominated film this year.It will compete for Best Film with Yoshida Daihachi’s Teki Cometh, Cannes Grand Prix-winning film All We Imagineas Light (Payal Kapadia), China’s Black Dog (Guan Hu), which was screened in the 37th TIFF Gala Selection, andHong Kong’s Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In (Soi Cheang), which earned nine AFA nominations and was alsoscreened in the 37th TIFF Gala Selection. These five distinctive Asian films from different regions are in a tight raceto win the highest honor of Best Film at AFA18.
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Japanese films and talents were nominated in 15 categories in total*, led by the TIFF standout (Grand Prix, BestDirector and Best Actor) Teki Cometh, which received AFA nominations in six categories, including Best Film, Best
Director, Best Actor (Nagatsuka Kyozo) and Best Supporting Actress (Takiuchi Kumi). Desert of Namibia, which won the FIPRESCI Prize in the Directors’ Fortnight section of the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, is nominated in two
categories, including Best Actress (Kawai Yuumi) and Best New Director (Yamanaka Yoko). Additionally, Sora Neo was nominated for Best New Director and Kurihara Hayato for Best Newcomer for Happyend, an Official Selection in the Orizzonti section at the Venice International Film Festival, while Mitsuishi Ken (All the Long Nights) and Ikematsu Sosuke (My Sunshine) are nominated for Best Supporting Actor.
Among the shortlisted films, many TIFF Competition films, such as My Friend An Delie (Dong Zijian, 37th TIFF Best Artistic Contribution), Papa (Philip Yung), Daughter’s Daughter (Huang Xi) and Cadet (Adilkhan Yerzhanov),received nominations.
The AFAA also announced that the internationally acclaimed film icon and director Sammo Hung will serve as theJury President for AFA18. Hung expressed how honored he was to take the role, saying, “It is my pleasure to serve as the Jury President for the Asian Film Awards. It is a significant responsibility, and I hope to continue working with my peers to support the development of the Asian film industry.” He will lead the jury and collaborate with over 200 voting members to select this year’s award winners.
As the Academy recently announced, Dean Fujioka has been appointed as the AFA18 Ambassador, the first actorto be appointed, while Okada Masaki, who was nominated for the Best Supporting Actor for Drive My Car at the16th AFA, has been appointed as one of the Youth Ambassadors along with three Asian stars. The five actors,representing different regions of Asia, have confirmed their participation in various activities and the awardsceremony. The AFAA will share the latest updates on its official website and social media platforms.
The AFA18, presented by the AFAA, will continue to be held in Hong Kong. With the support of Cultural and CreativeIndustries Development Agency and the Film Development Fund, various exciting events will be held prior to the
Awards Ceremony, including film screenings, masterclass sessions, and sharing, allowing audiences and fans toengage closely with Asian filmmakers. The AFA Ceremony will take place at the Xiqu Centre in the West Kowloon
Cultural District on March 16, 2025. The prestigious event will also be streamed live on the AFAA’s official YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/@AsianFilmAwardsAcademy).
The 18th Asian Film Awards Ceremony
Date: March 16, 2025 (Sunday)
Location: Xiqu Centre, West Kowloon Cultural District
Address: 88 Austin Road West, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon
Dr Wilfred Wong, GBM, GBS, JP, Chairman of the AFAA said: “The Asian Film Awards celebrate the exceptional achievements of Asian filmmakers while providing an important platform for cultural exchange and collaboration. As
Asian cinema continues to shine internationally, the Academy remains dedicated to promoting its growth and nurturing new talent.”
Ando Hiroyasu, Chairman of the Tokyo International Film Festival commented: “Asian cinema has become a global hub of creativity. The Asian Film Awards honor outstanding talent and pave the way for the future of the industry.”
Park Kwang-Soo, Chairman of Busan International Film Festival, said: “The Asian Film Awards plays a vital role in fostering the development of Asian cinema and recognizing its achievements. I am confident this year’s ceremony
will inspire further growth and creativity in the industry.”
Asian Film Awards (AFA)
The Asian Film Awards has been held for 17 years, featuring distinguished awards such as Best Film, Best Director, andBest Actor/Actress. The voting panel, composed of nominees and winners from previous years, participates annually inselecting the winners across all categories for the Asian Film Awards. Panel members also have the opportunity to attendevents organised by the Academy across Asia and worldwide, engaging with industry professionals and audiences.
Asian Film Awards Academy (AFAA)
https://www.afa-academy.com/
Asian Film Awards Academy is a non-profit organisation founded by Busan, Hong Kong and Tokyo International Film
Festivals with the shared goal of celebrating excellence in Asian cinema. In addition to the annual Asian Film Awards, the Academy hosts year-round events and programmes with the objectives to promote Asian films to a broader audience, expand the film market within Asia, and foster connections among film professionals in Hong Kong and beyond.
Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF)
The Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) started in 1985 as Japan’s first major film festival and the only Japanese film festival accredited by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF). Since then, TIFF has grown to become one of the leading film festivals in Asia. Every year for ten days, filmmakers and film fans of all ages gather in Tokyo to enjoy outstanding films from around the world and TIFF’s many colorful events. These include TIFFCOM, the affiliated market of TIFF, seminars for students, professionals and businesspeople, and symposia and workshops for
networking, uniting the world’s film industries, developing international co-productions, and promoting the global film business.