The Asian Film Awards Academy (AFAA) has announced that the recipient of this year's Excellence in Asian Cinema Award is the renowned Korean actor LEE Byung-hun. LEE will accept the award at the awards ceremony held in Busan on October 8, 2021. The Excellence in Asian Cinema Award aims to highlight distinguished talents and affirm their achievements and contributions to Asian film industry and culture.
With a stellar career spanning three decades, LEE Byung-hun has demonstrated his versatile talent in movies of all genres produced in many countries. LEE is known for his special ability to interpret and transform a role into a powerful performance that delivers insight into his character's psyche. LEE brings every line of dialogue to life stunning his audiences with unforgettable experiences. His astonishing acting ability has earned him many awards. He swept the Best Actor Awards at ten different awards presentations, including the prestigious Korean Grand Bell and the Blue Dragon Awards, in 2016 with his film Inside Men (2015).
LEE Byung-hun's influence goes beyond Korea and Asia, making an impact through his global presence. He was invited to the 2015 Academy Awards as presenter for Best Foreign Film, becoming the first Asian actor to be a presenter at the Oscars. LEE's presence in Hollywood blockbusters including G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009) and The Magnificent Seven (2016) has been an inspiration to many Korean talents inside and outside of Hollywood.
In addition to the long list of awards he has received, LEE has been crowned twice with Best Actor at the Asian Film Awards for his impressive performances in Inside Men (2015) and The Man Standing Next (2020). With his most recent film Emergency Declaration, LEE was invited to the Cannes Film Festival, taking the stage at the closing ceremony. LEE continues to build his illustrious career, recently venturing into producing a Netflix film titled I Believe in a Thing Called Love, in which he will also star.
“The Asian Film Awards Academy is proud to present LEE Byung-hun with the Excellence in Asian Cinema Award,” said LEE Yong-kwan, Chairman of the 26th Busan International Film Festival, “LEE's contribution to Asian and world cinema is widely recognized by the audience and the film industry. His fearless attitude towards morphing into a completely different character in every film truly reflects LEE's professional dedication. Throughout his distinguished career, LEE has honed his acting skills and worked on raising the standard of the film art. His finesse and passion show that he is a great fit for the title of Excellence in Asian Cinema.”
