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The 18th Asian Film Awards, taking place in Hong Kong on Sunday, March 16th, has announced the nominees for its 16 award categories.

The Asian Film Awards Academy (AFAA) was established in 2013 by the Hong Kong International Film Festival, the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), and the Tokyo International Film Festival to promote the development of Asian cinema. Each year, the AFAA hosts the Asian Film Awards to celebrate and commemorate filmmakers and their works that have contributed to the growth of the Asian film industry.

[Image] Official Key Visual for the 18th Asian Film Awards

Nominees from 30 Films Across 25 Asian Regions

Exhuma Holds Most Nominations in 11 Categories

[Image] From left to right: Revolver, Exhuma, Harbin (Copyright: Naver Movie)

Exhuma has earned an early spotlight in the awards, with the highest nominations in 11 categories. Since receiving both critical acclaim and commercial success after its release in 2024, Exhuma has proven the strength of Korean cinema by securing nominations in major categories, including Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Newcomer, Best Screenplay, Best Original Music, Best Costume Design, Best Production Design, Best Visual Effects, and Best Sound. Additionally, Lim Ji-yeon from Revolver is a nominee for Best Supporting Actress, and Hong Kyeong-pyo, the cinematographer of Harbin, is a nominee for Best Cinematography, raising further anticipation for Korean cineastes.

Also boasting a strong presence is Hong Kong’s action blockbuster Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In, with nominations in nine categories, including Best Film and Best Supporting Actor. With its main protagonist fighting against evil after entering the lawless ‘Walled City’ by chance, the film has been a mega-hit in Hong Kong, ranking second in all-time Hong Kong box office revenue. Teki Cometh, directed by Yoshida Daihachi, who received the KIM Jiseok Award at the BIFF in 2017, and All We Imagine As Light, part of the BIFF’s selection for A Window on Asian Cinema last year, have also garnered attention, both having received nominations in six categories respectively.

Sammo Hung Appointed as Jury President

[Image] Sammo HUNG

The Asian Film Awards Academy (AFAA) is a non-profit organization founded by Busan, Hong Kong, and Tokyo International Film Festivals to celebrate excellence in Asian cinema. To promote Asian films and filmmakers to a broader audience, the AFAA hosts the annual Asian Film Awards and several year-round initiatives fostering the development of the Asian film industry as a whole.

The Asian Film Awards has been held since 2007, with the AFAA voting panel selected from previous nominees and award recipients. Award categories include Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Actress. Panel members also have the opportunity to attend events organized by the Academy across Asia and worldwide, engaging with industry professionals and audiences.

■ The 30th Busan International Film Festival: Sep 17 (Wed) – Sep 26 (Fri)

■ The 20th Asian Contents & Film Market: Sep 20 (Sat) – Sep 23 (Tue)