The Asian Film Awards (AFA) celebrated its comeback edition in Hong Kong tonight (March 12) and named Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s Drive My Car best film.
The Japanese film, which premiered at Cannes in 2021 and won best international feature at last year’s Oscars, won a further two awards at the AFAs: best editing for Azusa Yamazaki and best original music by Eiko Ishibashi.
Scroll down for full list of winners
Park Chan-wook’s Decision To Leave went into the night as the favourite, with a leading 10 nominations for the South Korean film, and won three: best actress for Chinese star Tang Wei, best screenplay for Chung Seo-kyung and Park, and best production design for Ryu Seong-hie.
Japanese filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda won best director for his South Korean drama Broker.
Hong Kong star Tony Leung Chiu-Wai walked away with two awards as he was named best actor for his role in Where The Wind Blows along with a previously announced honorary prize – the Asian Film Contribution Award. The latter was presented by his wife, actress Carina Lau.
Also previously announced was an Excellence in Asian Cinema Award for Japanese actor Hiroshi Abe, honouring a career of more than three decades that spans a Japan Academy Film Prize for Thermæ Romæ to performances in Kore-eda’s Still Walking and After The Storm.
Hong Kong action film star Sammo Hung also attended to receive the AFA Lifetime Achievement Award.
The awards ceremony took place at the new Hong Kong Palace Museum, the night before content market Filmart launches its first physical edition in the city since 2019.
It marks a comeback for both events as the AFAs were previously hosted twice in Busan and not at all in 2022, meaning it was the first time since 2019 that the glamourous ceremony was held in Hong Kong.
The jury was presided over by Chinese director Zhang Yimou, himself a two-time Venice Golden Lion winner for The Story Of Qui Ju and Not One Less; a Berlin Golden Bear winner for Red Sorghum; and a Cannes grand jury prize winner for To Live.
The AFAs have run since 2007 and are jointly backed by Busan, Tokyo and Hong Kong film festivals.
Asian Film Awards 2023 winners
Best Film: Drive My Car (Jap)
Best Director: Hirokazu KORE-EDA, Broker (S Kor)
Best Actor: Tony LEUNG Chiu Wai, Where The Wind Blows (HK)
Best Actress: TANG Wei, Decision To Leave (S Kor)
Best Supporting Actor: MIYAZAWA Hio, Egoist (Jap)
Best Supporting Actress: KIM So-jin, Emergency Declaration (S Kor)
Best New Director: Jigme Trinley, One And Four (China)
Best Newcomer: MAK Pui Tung, The Sparring Partner (HK)
Best Screenplay: CHUNG Seo-kyung, PARK Chan-wook, Decision To Leave (S Kor)
Best Editing: YAMAZAKI Azusa, Drive My Car (Jap)
Best Cinematography: LU Songye, One And Four (China)
Best Original Music: ISHIBASHI Eiko, Drive My Car (Jap)
Best Costume Design: Karen YIP, Dora NG, Anita (HK)
Best Production Design: RYU Seong-hie, Decision To Leave (S Kor)
Best Visual Effects: Chas CHAU, LEUNG Wai Kit, KWOK Tai, Warriors Of Future (HK)
Best Sound: TU Duu-Chih, Anita (HK)
AFA Next Generation: JI Cheong-wook
Excellence in Asian Cinema: ABE Hiroshi
Asian Film Contribution Award: Tony LEUNG Chiu Wai
Lifetime Achievement Award: Sammo HUNG
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