Bong Joon-Ho’s ‘Parasite’ Clinches Four Prizes At The 14th Asian Film Awards

Winners of the 14th Asian Film Awards were announced on October 28 during an hour-long online broadcast. Director Bong Joon-ho’s Oscar-winning Parasite continued its phenomenal run by sweeping four awards, including Best Film and Best Screenplay. Regional film luminaries like Lee Chang-dong, Kore-eda Hirokazu, Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit and Anthony Chen graced the ceremony as award presenters.

This the first year where the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) is hosting the Asian Film Awards, which was previously held in Hong Kong and Macau. The event’s dates were shifted from March to October to coincide with BIFF when it ultimately moved online due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The ceremony is organized by the Asian Film Awards Academy and counts three Asian film festivals as its founding partners: the Busan International Film Festival, the Hong Kong International Film Festival and the Tokyo International Film Festival.

Accepting the award for Best Film, director Bong Joon-ho said, “I would like to thank the honourable director Kore-eda Hirokazu for presenting this award. Every member of Parasite, no matter how big or small the role is, deserves to make a speech here with me because we made it together. I strongly believe that we will meet in person next year at the Asian Film Awards, shake hands, and enjoy talking with one another without masks. Nothing can stop us from continuing to make films.” In addition to Best Film and Best Screenplay, Parasite also took the awards for Best Production Design and Best Editing.

Wang Xiaoshuai won Best Director for his three-hour generation-spanning epic So Long, My Son. The Chinese film premiered at the Berlinale last year, where it won the Silver Bears for both Best Actor (Wang Jingchun) and Best Actress (Yong Mei). “Under the intense social and political pressure, I hope that I can always stand by the side of the ordinary to make the vulnerable powerful. We, as Asians, have different national backgrounds, films can present such diversities, but can also deliver a mutual message of humanity, of love, respect and dignity,” Wang shared in his recorded acceptance speech.

The Best Actor accolade went to South Korean actor Lee Byung-hun for his role as an assassin in the political thriller The Man Standing Next. The film was recently selected as South Korea’s entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 2021 Academy Awards. Receiving the award, Lee said, “The chemistry between the actors in this film was a big part of why I am able to receive this award. Please stay safe, and I’m sure we’ll all be able to meet at the movies again soon.”

Zhou Dongyu from Chinese film Better Days took home the Best Actress award, while her co-star Jackson Yee won the Best Newcomer prize.