What excellent news!   Actor Ji Chang Wook will be presented with the “Next Generation Award” at the 16th Asian Film Awards in Hong Kong, which will be held for the first time in three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Asia Film Awards Academy (AFAA), an organization founded in 2013 by the Hong Kong International Film Festival, the Busan International Film Festival, and the Tokyo International Film Festival, has held the Asian Film Awards (AFA) every year to commemorate and encourage filmmakers and their works.  With Asian films continuing to capture media and critics around the world recently, this 16th Asian Film Awards nomination list consists of 81 nominations in 16 categories for 30 outstanding films produced in 22 Asian regions.  This year’s award ceremony will be attended by a large number of Asian filmmakers listed as candidates and winners.

First of all, China’s noted director Zhang Yimou chairs this year’s Jury Committee.  Films nominated for the Grand Prize are “Decision to Leave” (Korea), “Drive My Car” (Japan); “Ponniyin Selvan: I” (Thailand); “Poet” (Kazakhstan); and “When The Waves Are Gone” (Philippines).

Nominated for Best Director are Hirokazu Koreeda (“Broker”), Hamaguchi Ryusuke (“Drive My Car”), Lav Diaz (“When The Waves Are Gone”), Darejan Omirbayev (“Poet”), and Davy Chou (“Return to Seoul”).   On top of that, nominated actors Park Hae Il (“Decision to Leave,” with 10 nominations) and Lim Si Wan (“Emergency Declaration,” with 2 nominations) will also appear at the ceremony.

Director Anthony Shim, who premiered at the 27th Busan International Film Festival with “Riceboy Sleeps,” which captured the day-to-day lives of Korean immigrants, and the two lead actors (Oh Kwang Rok, Park Ji Min) will also be in attendance.

Lin Min Chen, the Malaysian-Chinese singer, actor and model, was appointed as the Youth Ambassador of the film awards.  Grace Chan and Sammy Sum will emcee the ceremony.  The “Excellence in Asian Cinema Award” will be presented to Japanese model and actor Hiroshi Abe, while Sammo Hung, the Hong Kong martial arts veteran, will be honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award.  The AFA “Next Generation Award” will be presented to South Korean actor and singer Ji Chang Wook.

In addition, Hong Kong’s master director Jin Ka-shin, “Plan 75” director Hayakawa Chie, actor Yoo Ga-ryeong, “Egoist” actor Suzuki Ryohei, “Nana” actor Happy Salma, actor Song Un-hwa, and actor Wang Dan-ni, who made impressive debuts in “Maeyeombang,” will shine.

Among them, actor Ji Chang Wook is drawing attention by winning the “Next Generation Award” at the 16th Asian Film Awards.  The “Next Generation Award” is a special award in the non-competitive category and is given to new stars who have played in Asia.

Starting with his debut in 2008, actor Ji Chang Wook gained global popularity by proving his acting skills and star quality with the dramas “Warrior Baek Dong Soo” and “Empress Ki.”  Since then, he has shown off the potential of Hallyu stars by successfully transforming his acting into a new look in each work, including “Healer,” “Suspicious Partner,” “Convenience Store Saet Byeol,” “Lovestruck in the City,” and “Annarasumanara.”  In addition, he showed spectacular action acting in the movie “Fabricated City,” as well as participating in the voice acting of the Korean-dubbed version of the Japanese anime “Your Name.”  Having expanded his acting career to musicals such as “Jack the Ripper,” “The Days” and “Shinheung Military Academy,” he will be awarded the Next Generation Award, solidifying his status as a trend in Asia.

The 16th Asian Film Awards, which is expected to be attended by a large number of Asian directors and actors who captivated the world, will be held at the Horse Racing Club Auditorium at the Hong Kong Jockey Club Auditorium at the Hong Kong Palace Museum on 12 March, and will be broadcast live on the Asian Film Awards official YouTube channel and Naver from 5:00pm (local time).

Credits:  Star News Korea; Sports Chosun; Joy News 24