Hong Kong – Two widely recognized actors, Tang Wei and Jang Dong-gun, will be honored with the Excellence in Asian Cinema Award at the 18th Asian Film Awards on March 16. The event, hosted at the Xiqu Centre in Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Cultural District, highlights performers and filmmakers who have made a lasting impact on the industry.
Jang, a Korean actor with more than three decades in the spotlight, expressed his appreciation for the recognition. “It is a tremendous honor to receive this award, and I sincerely thank the Asian Film Awards for this recognition. Having my three-decade acting career acknowledged is deeply meaningful and inspires me to keep going,” he said.
His career began in 1992 with the television drama Son and Daughter, and his rise to stardom came shortly after with The Last Match. His performance in Friend (2001) helped define the gangster film genre in South Korea, while Tae Guk Gi (2004) earned him a Best Actor award at the Blue Dragon Film Awards. Jang later took on international roles, including The Warrior’s Way (2010), and appeared in A Normal Family, which was featured at the Toronto International Film Festival.
He acknowledged the influence of Hong Kong films on his career. “I can’t talk about my growth without mentioning Hong Kong films. The first movie I ever watched in a theater was Jackie Chan’s Drunken Master,” he said. During the 1980s, he recalled, Hong Kong cinema left a lasting impression, particularly with its gangster films. Later, he collaborated with well-known actors from the region, including Cecilia Cheung and Nicholas Tse in The Promise. He worked with Cheung again in Dangerous Liaisons and shared his admiration for Tony Leung. “If I had the chance to work with him, it would truly be an honor,” Jang added.
Tang, a Chinese actress with a career spanning multiple film industries, also reflected on receiving the award. “I am truly grateful to the Asian Film Awards for recognizing my work. Hong Kong has always been special to me, and I’m thrilled to return for this honor,” she said.
Her international breakthrough came with Ang Lee’s Lust, Caution, and she continued to build a diverse filmography with Finding Mr. Right, The Golden Era, and Decision to Leave. In 2010, she became the first international actress to win Best Actress at Korea’s Baeksang Arts Awards for Late Autumn. More recently, her performance in Decision to Leave earned multiple Best Actress awards, including at the Blue Dragon Film Awards and the Asian Film Awards.
She spoke about her approach to acting and her ongoing desire to take on new challenges. “Every new role is an opportunity for growth, and I look forward to encountering new characters. What matters most to me is working with interesting people to create meaningful films,” she said. Having spent time in Hong Kong, she expressed interest in returning for future projects. “I hope to come back and work in Hong Kong so I can ‘improve’ on my Cantonese,” she said, smiling. “I’ll be waiting for Hong Kong directors to come find me for more projects.”
The Asian Film Awards will also recognize Japanese actress-musician Kōki with the AFA Rising Star Award and Taiwanese actor Wu Kang-ren with the AFA Next Generation Award. Wu, known for his work across various film industries, has taken on demanding roles, including his performance in Abang Adik, which won him Best Actor at the Golden Horse Awards, and Fly Me to the Moon, where he portrayed a long-term drug addict and father.
The awards ceremony, organized by the Busan, Hong Kong, and Tokyo International Film Festivals, will be broadcast live on the Asian Film Awards Academy’s YouTube channel and exclusively on TVB Plus.
