Films fronted by Jackie Chan and Anil Kapoor are among the 335 national winners named by the Asian Academy Creative Awards.
“The Shadow’s Edge” won Best Feature Film for Chinese Mainland, and “Subedaar” won it for India.
The winners come from 18 nations and territories and span 39 categories. They now move on to the international round. Grand winners will be named at the gala awards final at Singapore’s Capitol Theatre in December.
Mediacorp led the company count with 23 wins. Prime Video India and Astro Malaysia collected 19 each, and CNN took 15.
Chinese drama series “The Lead” won more categories than any other title, with six. They included Best Actress in a Leading Role for Liu Haocun. Best Drama Series, however, went to the bigger-budget “Legend of the Magnate.”
Malaysia’s haul came with a note of loss. Horror feature “Malam Terlarang” (Forbidden Night) won four categories, among them Best Feature Film and Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Sofia Jane. Its Best Direction (Feature Film) win went to Norhanisham bin Muhammad, who died in May. Astro’s family crime drama “Good Boys Go to Heaven” added five Malaysian wins, taking both Best Actor and the drama series prize.
In Japan, “Song of the Samurai” also won five categories but lost Best Drama Series to “Alice in Borderland.” Non took Best Actress for “Miss King.”
China’s “Swords Into Plowshares” also collected four wins, as did Season 3 of India’s “The Family Man.” Bai Yu was named Best Actor in a Leading Role for Chinese Mainland.
Taiwan broadcaster PTS also scored four wins with “Dogman.” The series took Best Drama Series as well as acting honors for Chang Hsiao Chuan and Tarcy Su.
GMMTV’s “Enigma Black Stage” picked up four Thai wins. Scripted categories were hotly contested. Gemini Norawit Titicharoenrak was named Best Actor for “Ticket to Heaven,” while Mono’s Manatsanun Phanlerdwongsakul took Best Actress for “Sweet Dreams.”
In the Philippines, Vice Ganda, one of the country’s biggest stars, had to get through an extra tie-breaker round before securing Best Actor for his performance in “Call Me Mother.” Nadine Lustre, who stars opposite him in that film, also advances, though her nod is for headlining Viu’s “Love, Siargao.”
Animated feature “The Violinist” took Best Feature Film, Best Animation and Best Screenplay for Singapore. Its voice cast includes Tan Kheng Hua and Ayden Sng. Sng was separately named Best Actor in a Leading Role (Singapore) for the series “Double Helix.” Singaporean independent Refinery Media won three categories for lifestyle show “Man of the Hour.”
CNN’s 15 wins came in the factual categories. One went to Kristie Lu Stout, a previous winner, for Best Factual Presenter (Thailand). She will go up against another past winner, Singapore’s Wei Du, who was recognized for CNA’s “Walk the Line: ICE Nation.”
Awards chair Beverley McGarvey, president and streaming lead at Paramount ANZ, said the awards show every year how deep the region’s pool of talent and original ideas runs. “Our stories are becoming more confident, more distinctive and more influential, not only in their home markets but with audiences all around the world,” she said. McGarvey said that entry numbers were level with last year’s. She added that the size of the national winners field makes it the world’s biggest showcase of Asia-Pacific content. This year’s jurors came from 38 countries.
The awards use a two-round system. A jury of senior industry figures from TV networks, streamers, production outfits, distributors, buyers and screen agencies first scores entries at the national level. It scores them again in the international round to choose the grand winners.