Taipei: Lee Kang-sheng and Yang Kuei-mei, both hailing from Taiwan, emerged victorious at the 18th Asian Film Awards in Hong Kong, securing the titles of Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress, respectively. Lee's performance in the thriller-drama "Stranger Eyes" earned him the accolade, while Yang was recognized for her role in the Taiwanese drama "Yen and Ai-Lee."
According to Focus Taiwan, Lee triumphed over notable competitors including Japan's Ken Mitsuishi and Sosuke Ikematsu, and Hong Kong's Chu Pak Hong and Philip Ng. Expressing disbelief at his win, Lee humorously remarked on stage that despite having previously won Best Actor awards, this was his first time receiving the Best Supporting Actor honor. Lee, 56, is no stranger to accolades, having been named Best Actor at Taiwan's 50th Golden Horse Award in 2013 and subsequently at the 56th Asia-Pacific Film Festival the same year.
Yang's victory came after surpassing contenders such as Maggie Li Lin Lin from Hong Kong, Divya Prabha from India, Lim Ji-yeon from South Korea, and Kumi Takiuchi from Japan. In her acceptance speech, Yang expressed gratitude in English before switching to Mandarin to reflect on her passion for acting and the enriching experiences her roles have provided. The 65-year-old actress emphasized the importance of portraying women's worth through film, drawing on her diverse experiences in acting.
Both Lee and Yang have a history of success at film awards, having previously secured Best Actor and Best Actress titles at various editions of Taiwan's Golden Horse Awards. They were also nominated at the 61st Golden Horse Awards last year, where Yang won Best Supporting Actress for her role in "Yen and Ai-Lee."
The 18th Asian Film Awards highlighted the talents of filmmakers across the continent, with 16 awards contested by 30 films from 25 countries. The ceremony also recognized five individuals for their contributions to Asian cinema, including Taiwanese actor Wu Kang-ren, who received the Next Generation Award.
