South Korea’s Exhuma has topped the field, earning 11 nominations at the 18th Asian Film Awards, followed by Hong Kong’s Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In with nine nominations.

Hong Kong martial arts legend Sammo Hung will serve as the jury president for the awards, which feature a selection of 30 films from 25 countries and regions, competing across 16 categories. The awards ceremony will take place on March 16 in Hong Kong.

Directed by Jang Jae-hyun, Exhuma gained nominations for Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Newcomer, Best Screenplay, Best Original Music, Best Costume Design, Best Production Design, Best Visual Effects and Best Sound.

Adapted from the novel “City of Darkness” by Yuyi, Hong Kong action blockbuster Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In gained nine nominations, including Best Film, Best Supporting Actor, Best Editing, Best Cinematography, Best Original Music, Best Costume Design, Best Production Design, Best Visual Effects and Best Sound.

The other three nominees for Best Film include Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine as Light, Chinese film Black Dog as well as Japanese title Teki Cometh.

Directed by Yoshida Daihachi, Japanese film Teki Cometh received a total of six nominations, including Best Director, Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress, among others. The film captures the loneliness and struggles of a retired professor, reflecting on the final chapter of life.

French-Indian-Dutch-Luxembourg co-production All We Imagine As Light also received six nominations. Kapadia, who made history as the first Indian female director to win the Cannes Grand Prix, also personally received nominations for the Best Director and Best Screenplay categories.

“It is my pleasure to serve as the Jury President for the Asian Film Awards,” said Hung. “It is a significant responsibility, and I hope to continue working with my peers to support the development of the Asian film industry.” Hung will lead the jury and collaborate with over 200 voting members to select this year’s award winners.

Wilfred Wong, chairman of the Asian Film Awards Academy, said: “The Asian Film Awards celebrate the exceptional achievements of Asian filmmakers while providing an important platform for cultural exchange and collaboration. As Asian cinema continues to shine internationally, the Academy remains dedicated to promoting its growth and nurturing new talent.”

The full list of nominations can be found below:

BEST FILM

All We Imagine as Light (India, France, Netherlands, Luxembourg)
Black Dog (Mainland China)
Exhuma (South Korea)
Teki Cometh (Japan)
Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In (Hong Kong)

BEST DIRECTOR

Payal Kapadia, All We Imagine as Light
Guan Hu, Black Dog
Jang Jae-hyun, Exhuma
Rithy Panh, Meeting with Pol Pot
Yoshida Daihachi, Teki Cometh

BEST ACTOR

Eddie Peng, Black Dog
Choi Min-sik, Exhuma
Sean Lau, Papa
Nagatsuka Kyozo, Teki Cometh
Michael Hui, The Last Dance

BEST ACTRESS

Kani Kusruti, All We Imagine as Light
Sylvia Chang, Daughter’s Daughter
Kawai Yuumi, Desert of Namibia
Kim Go-eun, Exhuma
Shahana Goswami, Santosh

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Mitsuishi Ken, All the Long Nights
Ikematsu Sosuke, My Sunshine
Lee Kang-Sheng, Stranger Eyes
Chu Pak Hong, The Last Dance
Philip Ng, Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Maggie Li Lin Lin, All Shall Be Well
Divya Prabha, All We Imagine as Light
Lim Ji-yeon, Revolver
Takiuchi Kumi, Teki Cometh
Yang Kuei-Mei, Yen and Ai-Lee

BEST NEW DIRECTOR

Yamanaka Yoko, Desert of Namibia
Sora Neo, Happyend
Dong Zijian, My Friend An Delie
Sandhya Suri, Santosh
Truong Minh Quy, Viet and Nam

BEST NEWCOMER

Lee Do-hyun, Exhuma
Kurihara Hayato, Happyend
Putthipong Assaratanakul, How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies
Dylan So, Papa
Duy Bao Dinh Dao, Viet and Nam

BEST SCREENPLAY

Wada Kiyoto, Miyake Sho, All the Long Nights
Payal Kapadia, All We Imagine as Light
Jang Jae-hyun, Exhuma
Pierre Erwan Guillaume, Rithy Panh, Meeting with Pol Pot
Mohammad Rasoulof, The Seed of the Sacred Fig

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

Yang Donglin, A Tapestry of a Legendary Land
Choi Yoon-sun, Exhuma
Dorjee Dradhul Gurung, Shambhala
Miyamoto Mari, Teki Cometh
Bruce Yu, Karen Yip, Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

Huo Tingxiao, Li Chang, Black Dog
Pham Phong Lan, Don’t Cry, Butterfly
Seo Sung-kyung, Exhuma
Hayashida Yuji, The Box Man
Kenneth Mak, Chau Sai Hung Ambrose, Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In

BEST EDITING

Clément Pinteaux, All We Imagine as Light
Rithy Panh, Matthieu Laclau, Meeting with Pol Pot
William Chang Suk Ping, My Friend An Delie
Jojo Shek, Papa
Cheung Ka Fai, Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Hong Kyeong-pyo, Harbin
Lv Songye, My Friend An Delie
Aziz Zhambakiyev, Shambhala
Shinomiya Hidetoshi, Teki Cometh
Cheng Siu Keung, Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In

BEST ORIGINAL MUSIC

Hi’Spec, All the Long Nights
Kim Tae-sung, Exhuma
Katsumoto Michiaki, The Box Man
Chu Wan Pin, The Last Dance
Kawai Kenji, Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

Danny Yin, Black Dog
Sato Fumiro, Kobari Yasuhiro, Black Ox
Tomi Kuo, Chiu Chun-Yi, Dead Talents Society
Kim Shin-chul, Daniel Son, Exhuma
Lin Chun Yue Jules, Ma Siu Fu, Garrett K Lam, Yee Kwok Leung, Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In

BEST SOUND

Zurab Kurmanbayev, Cadet
Kim Byung-in, Exhuma
Tu Duu-Chih, Tu Tse-Kang, Stranger Eyes
Yiu Chun Hin, Cheung Man Hoi, To Burnard Davy, Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In
Vincent Villa, Viet and Nam