Payal Kapadia’s Indian co-production All We Imagine as Light won Best Film at the 18th Asian Film Awards in Hong Kong, marking a triumphant journey that began with its Grand Prix win at Cannes last year.
Yoshida Daihachi secured the Best Director award for Teki Cometh, while Sean Lau won Best Actor for Papa, and Shahana Goswami was named Best Actress for Santosh. Sandhya Suri earned the Best New Director honor for Santosh, highlighting a strong year for Indian co-productions at the event.
Awards Spread Across Diverse Films
The awards were evenly distributed among standout films, with Exhuma, Stranger Eyes, and Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In each securing multiple wins.
Dr. Wilfred Wong, chair of the Asian Film Awards Academy, acknowledged the evolving challenges in global cinema. “The viewing habits of audiences, the rise of streaming platforms, and more cautious investor attitudes all contribute to a changing business environment,” he said. “However, we remain committed to nurturing young talent and promoting global awareness of Asian cinema.”
The AFA Next Generation Award was presented to Abang Adik actor Wu Kangren, while Touch star Koki received the Rising Star Award. The Excellence in Asian Cinema Award honored actors Tang Wei (Decision to Leave) and Jang Dong-gun (Dangerous Liaisons). The highest-grossing Asian film of 2024 was Yolo, and Perfect Days star Yakusho Koji received the Lifetime Achievement Award.
A Celebration of Asian Cinema
The ceremony, held at Hong Kong’s Xiqu Centre, featured 30 films from 25 countries competing across 16 categories. The Asian Film Awards kick off a month of cinematic events in Hong Kong, leading up to the Hong Kong International Film Festival in April.
The Asian Film Awards Academy was founded by the Busan, Hong Kong, and Tokyo International Film Festivals to foster industry connections and celebrate excellence in Asian filmmaking.
Complete List of Winners
Best Film
- All We Imagine as Light (India, France, Netherlands, Luxembourg) – Payal Kapadia
- Black Dog (Mainland China)
- Exhuma (South Korea)
- Teki Cometh (Japan)
- Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In (Hong Kong)
Best Director
- Payal Kapadia (All We Imagine as Light)
- Guan Hu (Black Dog)
- Jang Jae-hyun (Exhuma)
- Rithy Panh (Meeting with Pol Pot)
- Yoshida Daihachi (Teki Cometh) – Winner
Best Actor
- Eddie Peng (Black Dog)
- Choi Min-sik (Exhuma)
- Sean Lau (Papa) – Winner
- Nagatsuka Kyozo (Teki Cometh)
- Michael Hui (The Last Dance)
Best Actress
- Kani Kusruti (All We Imagine as Light)
- Sylvia Chang (Daughter’s Daughter)
- Kawai Yuumi (Desert of Namibia)
- Kim Go-eun (Exhuma)
- Shahana Goswami (Santosh) – Winner
Best Supporting Actor
- Mitsuishi Ken (All the Long Nights)
- Ikematsu Sosuke (My Sunshine)
- Lee Kang-Sheng (Stranger Eyes) – Winner
- Chu Pak Hong (The Last Dance)
- Philip Ng (Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In)
Best Supporting Actress
- Maggie Li Lin Lin (All Shall Be Well)
- Divya Prabha (All We Imagine as Light)
- Lim Ji-yeon (Revolver)
- Takiuchi Kumi (Teki Cometh)
- Yang Kuei-Mei (Yen and Ai-Lee) – Winner
Best New Director
- Yamanaka Yoko (Desert of Namibia)
- Sora Neo (Happyend)
- Dong Zijian (My Friend An Delie)
- Sandhya Suri (Santosh) – Winner
- Truong Minh Quy (Viet and Nam)
Best Screenplay
- Wada Kiyoto, Miyake Sho (All the Long Nights)
- Payal Kapadia (All We Imagine as Light)
- Jang Jae-hyun (Exhuma)
- Pierre Erwan Guillaume, Rithy Panh (Meeting with Pol Pot)
- Mohammad Rasoulof (The Seed of the Sacred Fig) – Winner
Best Cinematography
- Hong Kyeong-pyo (Harbin) – Winner
- Lv Songye (My Friend An Delie)
- Aziz Zhambakiyev (Shambhala)
- Shinomiya Hidetoshi (Teki Cometh)
- Cheng Siu Keung (Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In)
Best Editing
- Clément Pinteaux (All We Imagine as Light)
- Rithy Panh, Matthieu Laclau (Meeting with Pol Pot)
- William Chang Suk Ping (My Friend An Delie)
- Jojo Shek (Papa)
- Cheung Ka Fai (Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In) – Winner
Best Original Music
- Hi’Spec (All the Long Nights)
- Kim Tae-sung (Exhuma)
- Katsumoto Michiaki (The Box Man)
- Chu Wan Pin (The Last Dance) – Winner
- Kawai Kenji (Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In)
Best Visual Effects
- Danny Yin (Black Dog)
- Sato Fumiro, Kobari Yasuhiro (Black Ox)
- Tomi Kuo, Chiu Chun-Yi (Dead Talents Society)
- Kim Shin-chul, Daniel Son (Exhuma) – Winner
- Lin Chun Yue Jules, Ma Siu Fu, Garrett K Lam, Yee Kwok Leung (Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In)
Best Sound
- Zurab Kurmanbayev (Cadet)
- Kim Byung-in (Exhuma)
- Tu Duu-Chih, Tu Tse-Kang (Stranger Eyes) – Winner
- Yiu Chun Hin, Cheung Man Hoi, To Burnard Davy (Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In)
- Vincent Villa (Viet and Nam)
With All We Imagine as Light securing top honors and a diverse range of films recognized across categories, the 18th Asian Film Awards reaffirmed the strength and creativity of Asian cinema on the global stage.