For this year's Asian Film Awards, a total of 36 films produced in eight Asian regions will compete for 16 prizes
The Asian Film Awards (AFA) is a celebration of filmmakers who have cultivated the Asian film industry. This year’s edition will take place on October 8 where a total of 36 films produced in eight Asian regions will compete for 16 prizes.
Leading the nominations is director Lee Joon-ik’s The Book of Fish, which received a nod in four categories: Best Film, Best Director, Best Costume Design and Best Production Design. The movie took home the Daesang (grand prize) at the recent Baeksang Arts Awards. Other notable movies include Japan’s Wife of a Spy, South Korea’s Voice of Silence, Kazakhstan's Yellow Cat and China’s One Second.
Meanwhile, this year’s Jury President is Korean director, Lee Chang-dong. The master director has been at the forefront of advancing Korean cinema onto the world stage and was a Lifetime Award recipient at last year's awards. The 2021 Asian Film Awards will be held alongside the Busan International Film Festival. The ceremony will take place on October 8 in a hybrid form that combines attendance in Busan and online.
Read on to find out the full list of nominees of the prestigious awards show in Asia.
See also: 10 Baeksang Awards-Nominated Dramas and Movies to Watch
Best Film
- One Second (China)
- The Book of Fish (South Korea)
- The Disciple (India)
- Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy (Japan)
- Wife of a Spy (Japan)
Best Director
- Zhang Yimou for One Second (China)
- Lee Joon-ik for The Book of Fish (South Korea)
- Ryusuke Hamaguchi for Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy (Japan)
- Kiyoshi Kurosawa for Wife of a Spy (Japan)
- Adlkhan Yerzhanov for Yellow Cat (Kazakhstan/France)
Best Actor
- Mo Tzu-Yi for Dear Tenant (Taiwan)
- Lam Ka Tung for Limbo (Hong Kong)
- Zhang Yi for One Second (China)
- Yakusho Yoji for Under the Open Sky (Japan)
- Yoo Ah-in for Voice of Silence (South Korea)
Best Actress
- Chen Shu-Fang for Little Big Women (Taiwan)
- Zhang Zifeng for Sister (China)
- Jun Jong-seo for The Call (South Korea)
- Assel Sadvakassova for Ulbolsyn (Kazakhstan/France)
- Aoi Yu for Wife of a Spy (Japan)