The 18th Asian Film Awards ceremony will be held on Friday, March 16, 2025, at the Xiqu Centre in the West Kowloon Cultural District. This year, The Awards are honoured to have the legendary Hong Kong filmmaker Sammo HUNG as the Jury President. Known as a trailblazer in action cinema, HUNG has spent over five decades creating countless iconic works for both Hong Kong and global cinema. Having received the Best Supporting Actor award for Ip Man 2 at the 5th Asian Film Awards and the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at the 16th Asian Film Awards, HUNG expressed his heartfelt gratitude for returning to the AFA stage, sharing his excitement to reconnect with filmmakers and audiences across Asia.
HUNG began his artistic journey at the age of 10 under the supervision of Yu Jim-yuen, a renowned Peking opera master. Through intensive training, he honed his skills in Peking opera and martial arts, building a strong foundation for his career. In 1977, HUNG made his directorial debut with The Iron-Fisted Monk, a film he also starred in, followed by Enter the Fat Dragon and The Magnificent Butcher. By seamlessly blending Kung Fu with comedy, these films redefined the action-comedy genre, setting a new benchmark for Hong Kong cinema and leaving a profound impact on global filmmaking.
Throughout his career, HUNG has dedicated himself wholeheartedly into cinema. Beyond directing, HUNG expanded the possibilities of martial arts cinema by producing and starring in iconic works such as the Lucky Stars series, Encounters of the Spooky Kind, and the supernatural Kung Fu classic Mr. Vampire. As one of the first Asian filmmakers to collaborate with Hollywood, he successfully brought Hong Kong action cinema to an international audience through his role in the American series Martial Law. His collaboration with Bruce Lee in Enter the Dragon and mentorship of Jackie Chan further solidified his reputation as a visionary. Even after achieving global acclaim, HUNG remains a tireless innovator, contributing as an action choreographer to films like SPL and Ip Man, continually pushing the boundaries of action cinema and inspiring filmmakers worldwide.
Leading the Jury with Honesty and Collaboration As Jury President of the 18th Asian Film Awards, Sammo HUNG shared his approach to the process, emphasising honesty and meaningful discussion. “Film appreciation is deeply subjective; everyone experiences and interprets films differently. As a jury member, I believe expressing opinions honestly shows respect for the creators,” HUNG said. He also highlighted the importance of open dialogue, allowing jury members to exchange perspectives. “We are PROs!”
Jury Members
Sabrina BARACETTI (Italy) President, Udine Far East Film Festival and Centro Espressioni Cinematografiche
Jennifer JAO (Taiwan) Vice Chairperson & Director, Taipei Film Commission Vice President of Asian Film Commissions Network
Janet WU Yanyan (Mainland China) Director, China Film Foundation – Wu Tian Ming Film Fund for Young Talents General Manager, Bright East Films
Roger GARCIA (United States) Festival Executive, Producer and Writer
NAM Dong-chul (South Korea) Program Director, Busan International Film Festival
ISHIZAKA Kenji (Japan) Senior Programmer, Tokyo International Film Festival
Briccio SANTOS (The Philippines) President, Film ASEAN
Nomination Committee
John CHONG (Hong Kong) Co-founder, Media Asia Group
Claire LUO San (Mainland China) Senior Film Distributor
SHAN Dong Bing (Mainland China) Founder & CEO, Donwa Pictures
ICHIYAMA Shozo (Japan) Programming Director, Tokyo International Film Festival
PARK Sun-young (South Korea) Programmer for Asian Cinema, Busan International Film Festival
Alvin TSE (Hong Kong) Curator, Hong Kong International Film Festival
JEONG Yeong-beom (South Korea) President, Star J Entertainment
SEKIGUCHI Yuko (Japan) Critic, Film Journalist, Editor
Nomination Advisors
Pierce CONRAN (South Korea) Film Critic, Producer and Consultant
KATSUTA Tomomi (Japan) The MAINICHI NEWSPAPERS, Cultural News Department Writer
Anderson LE (United States, Vietnam) Artistic Director, Hawai’i International Film Festival
Thomas NAM (South Korea) NAFF Managing Director, Bucheon Int’l Fantsstic Film Festival (BIFAN)
Kiki FUNG (Hong Kong) Programme Consultant, Hong Kong International Film Festival
Jonathan KIM (South Korea) CEO, Hanmac Culture Group
Edmund LEE (Hong Kong) Film Editor, South China Morning Post
Patrick SUEN (Hong Kong) Film journalist, Critic, Lecturer
Alex JIA (Mainland China) Vice President & CCO, WD Pictures
DAN Kyoko (Japan) Film Coordinator, Marketing Consultant
James MARSH (Hong Kong) Independent Film Critic
YANG Ying (Mainland China) Program and Business Director, China Film Foundation Wutianming Film Fund for Young Talents www.afa-academy.com CEO, Shanghai C-Stars Consulting
