We present the list of nominees for the 12th Asian Film Awards that will take place on March 17th, 2018 in The Venetian Macao (Macao).

The Asian Film Awards Academy announced the nominations for the 12th Asian Film Awards (AFA). This year the Academy receive submissions from 26 countries and regions. 87 nominations were made for 17 Awards, including the newly added Best New Director and Best Action Film Awards. The nominations represent 32 films from 10 countries and regions. World-renowned Hong Kong director Ching Siu-Tung will serve as this year’s Jury President and lead a jury comprising respected film industry professionals, festival programmers and critics. Hong Kong actress Carina Lau will join the jury as a Celebrity Juror.

The Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF), together with the Hong Kong International Film Festival and the Busan International Film Festival, created the Asian Film Awards Academy (AFA Academy), a nonprofit organization, in 2013 to promote and develop Asian cinema and its talents. Organized by the AFA Academy, the Asian Film Awards (AFA) will celebrate its 12th anniversary this year. The Awards Ceremony will take place on March 17th (2018) at The Venetian Macao in Macao.

Dr. Wilfred WONG Ying-wai, GBS, JP, Chairman of the AFA Academy and the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society said, “This year, we will celebrate the excellence of martial arts in Asian cinema, by recognizing many outstanding Asian filmmakers and providing a platform for new faces and up-and-coming artists. In addition to the annual AFA, the Academy has further developed various professional programs such as masterclasses, film festival visits for students, young film professionals overseas training programs and film roadshows around the globe. Through these efforts we hope to strengthen the ties between film talents, audiences and the region’s industries.”

The Legend of the Demon Cat directed by Chen Kaige (China, Japan) leads the nominations with 6 for Best Director, Best Supporting Actress, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Production Design, and Best Visual Effects. Then we have four films with 5 nominations each; The Third Murder by Koreeda Hirokazu (Japan) for Best Film, Best Supporting Actress, Best Edition, Best Cinematography, and Best Production Design. Angels Wear White by Vivian Qu (China, France) for Best Film, Best New Director, Best Supporting Actor, Best Newcomer, and Best Original Score. Youth by Feng Xiaogang (China) for Best Film, Best Director, Best Newcomer, Best Screenplay, and Best Edition. Love Education by Sylvia Chang (China, Taiwan) for Best Director, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Screenplay.

Full list of Nominations:
*Note* We will add more information about the films tomorrow for those who are not familiar with them. Please stay tuned for updates.

Best Film
The Third Murder by Kore-eda Hirokazu – Japan
The Day After by Hong Sang-soo – South Korea
Angels Wear White by Vivian Qu – China, France
Newton by Amit V Masurkar – India
Youth by Feng Xiaogang – China

Best Director
Chen Kaige for Legend of the Demon Cat – China, Japan, Hong Kong
Sylvia Chang for Love Education – China, Taiwan
Hong Sang-soo for The Day After – South Korea
Ishii Yuya for The Tokyo Night Sky Is Always the Densest Shade of Blue – Japan
Feng Xiaogang for Youth – China

Best New Director
Vivian Qu for Angels Wear White – China, France
Anucha Boonyawatana for Malila: The Farewell Flower – Thailand
Huang Hsin-yao for The Great Buddha+ – Taiwan
Dong Yue for The Looming Storm – China
Derek Hui for This is Not What I Expected – Hong Kong, China
Kishi Yoshiyuki for Wilderness – Japan

Best Actress
Sylvia Chang for Love Education – China, Taiwan
Aoi Yu for Birds Without Names – Japan
Kim Min-hee for The Day After – South Korea
Marsha Timothy for Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts – Indonesia, France, Malaysia, Thailand
Zhou Dongyu for This is Not What I Expected – Hong Kong, China

Best Actor
Kim Yun-seok for 1987: When The Day Comes – South Korea
Sukollaway Kanarot for Malila: The Farewell Flower – Thailand
Louis Koo for Paradox – Hong Kong
Duan Yihong for The Looming Storm – China
Rajkummar Rao for Newtown – India

Best Supporting Actress
Choi Hee-Seo for Anarchist from Colony – South Korea
Sugisaki Hana for Blade of the Immortal – Japan
Kitty Zhang Yuqi for Legend of the Demon Cat – China, Japan, Hong Kong
Estelle Wu for Love Education – China, Taiwan
Hirose Suzu for The Third Murder – Japan

Best Supporting Actor
Yoo Hae-jin for A Taxi Driver – South Korea
Geng Le for Angels Wear White – China, France
Tian Zhuangzhuang for Love Education – China, Taiwan
Eddie Peng for Our Time Will Come – Hong Kong, China
Yang Ik-joon for Wilderness – Japan

Best Newcomer
Zhou Meijun for Angels Wear White – China, France
Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying for Bad Genius – Thailand
Lim Yoon-a (Yoona) for Confidential Assignment – South Korea
Ling Man-lung for Tomorrow Is Another Day – Hong Kong, China
Kinoshita Akari for Wilderness – Japan
Zhong Chuxi for Youth – China

Best Screenplay
Hwang Seong-gu for Anarchist from Colony – South Korea
Tanida Hantaweewatana, Vasudhorn Piyaromina, Nattawut Poonpiriya for Bad Genius – Thailand
Sylvia Chang and You Xiaoying for Love Education – China, Taiwan
Mayank Tewari, Amit V. Masurkar for Newtown – India
Yan Geling for Youth – China

Best Editing
Li Nien-hsiu for Mon mon mon Monsters – Taiwan
Mary Stephen, Kwong Chi-leung for Our Time Will Come – Hong Kong, China
Shin Min-kyung for The King – South Korea
Kore-eda Hirokazu for The Third Murder – Japan
Zhang Qi for Youth – China

Best Cinematography
Cao Yu for Legend of the Demon Cat – China, Japan, Hong Kong
Yunus Pasolang for Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts – Indonesia, France, Malaysia, Thailand
Kim Ji-yong for The Fortress – South Korea
Nakashima Nagao for The Great Buddha+ – Taiwan
Takimoto Mikiya for The Third Murder – Japan

Best Original Music
Jo Young-wook for A Taxi Driver – South Korea
Wen Zi for Angels Wear White – China, France
Hisaishi Joe for Our Time Will Come – Hong Kong, China
Lin Sheng-xiang for The Great Buddha+ – Taiwan
Iwashiro Taró for Wilderness – Japan

Best Action Film
Along With the Gods: The Two Worlds – South Korea
Blade of the Immortal – Japan
Brotherhood of Blades II: The Infernal Battlefield – China
Paradox – Hong Kong
The Thousand Face of Dunjia – Hong Kong, China

Best Costume Design
Shim Hyun-sup for Anarchist from Colony – South Korea
Rama Rajamouli, Prashanti Tipirineni for Baahubali 2: The Conclusion – India
Maeda Yuya for Blade of the Immortal – Japan
Chen Tongxun for Legend of the Demon Cat – China, Japan, Hong Kong
Shirley Chan for The Thousand Faces of Dunjia – Hong Kong, China

Best Production Design
Lee Mok-won for Along With the Gods: The Two Worlds – South Korea
Tu Nan, Lu Wei for Legend of the Demon Cat – China, Japan, Hong Kong
Frans Paat for Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts – Indonesia, France, Malaysia, Thailand
Taneda Yohei for The Third Murder – Japan
Ben Luk for This is Not What I Expected – Hong Kong, China

Best Visual Effects
Jin Jong-hyun for Along With the Gods: The Two Worlds – South Korea
Ankur Sachedev for Baahubali 2: The Conclusion – India
Kobayashi Shingo for Gintama – Japan
Ishii Norio for Legend of the Demon Cat – China, Japan, Hong Kong
Huang Mei-cing, Pao Cheng-hsun for Mon mon mon Monsters – Taiwan
Jang Seong-ho, Park Young-soo, Son Ohh-young for The Thousand Faces of Dunjia – Hong Kong, China

Best Sound
Wang Gang for Brotherhood of Blades II: The Infernal Battlefield – China
Khikmawan Santosa for Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts – Indonesia, France, Malaysia, Thailand
Tu Du-chih, Wu Shu-yao, Tu Chun-tang for Mon mon mon Monsters – Taiwan
Choi Tae-young for The Fortress – South Korea
Tu Du-chih, Wu Shu-yao for The Great Buddha+ – Taiwan

Excellence In Asian Cinema Award
Kara Wai