The 15th Asian Film Awards (AFA15) announced the winners in 18 categories tonight at a highly anticipated ceremony hosted by the Asian Film Awards Academy (AFAA) in conjunction with the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), at Paradise Hotel Busan. The awards are organized by the Tokyo, Busan and Hong Kong International Film Festivals.
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ceremony took place in a hybrid format, with some 80 nominees gracing the event with their presence online and onsite. Korean stars including Asian Film Excellence Award winner LEE Byung-hun dazzled audiences on the red carpet, joined by world-renowned Korean director Lee Chang-dong, president of the AFA15 jury, and Japanese filmmaker HAMAGUCHI Ryusuke. The biggest winner of the night was KUROSAWA Kiyoshi’s wartime drama Wife of a Spy, which took home Best Picture, Best Actress (AOI Yu), and Best Costume. Design Award (KOKETSU Haruki). From Japan, MAKITA Aju also won Best Supporting Actress with her compelling performance in True Mothers, and Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train was honored as the highest-grossing Asian film in 2020. ZHANG Yimou won Best Director Award with One Second (China).
Inaugurated in 2007, the Asian Film Awards celebrate excellence in Asian cinema through the annual presentation of awards to the talents and films that make up Asia’s vibrant film industries. The awards night is a spectacular gathering of stars, celebrities, industry and media professionals that highlights and publicizes the year’s achievements in Asian films. The AFA originated in Hong Kong but is held in different Asian locations such as Busan and Macao, to reflect its reach in the region. This year, we are celebrating our 15th edition.
