by Nathaniel R
Shang-Chi
Hello, awards fans. While we have often bemoaned the ever-increasing amounts of groups giving out "best" honors here at TFE, we do love to share and champion groups that have very specific focuses since the conversation could always do with broadening rather than the narrowing that more traditional awards do. So we're pleased to share the second annual "Gold List" a joint venture between Gold House and CAPE (Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment) recognizing outstanding work by Asian filmmakers and actors. Shang-Chi and Drive My Car both took multiple prizes this year while The Green Knight played bridesmaid with multiple honorable mentions. The full list of winners and honorable mentions is after the jump...
Best Picture Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
Honorable Mentions: Drive My Car and The Green Knight
Best Director Destin Daniel Cretton (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings)
Honorable Mentions: Cary Joji Fukunaga (No Time To Die) and Ryusuke Hamaguchi (Drive My Car)
Best Actor in a Leading Role Hidetoshi Nishijima (Drive My Car)
Honorable Mentions: Simu Liu (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) and Dev Patel (The Green Knight)
Best Actress in a Leading Role Gemma Chan (Eternals)
Honorable Mentions: Patti Harrison (Together Together) and Maggie Q (The Protégé)
Best Supporting Actor in a Supporting Role Tony Leung (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings)
Honorable Mentions: Benedict Wong (Nine Days) and Steven Yeun (The Humans)
Best Supporting Actress in a Supporting Role Awkwafina (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings)
Honorable Mentions: Sarita Choudhury (The Green Knight) and Jessica Henwick (The Matrix Resurrections)
Best Original Screenplay Flee
Honorable Mentions: Nine Days and Raya and the Last Dragon
Best Adapted Screenplay Drive My Car
Honorable Mentions: Eternals and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
Best Animated Feature Raya and the Last Dragon
Honorable Mentions: Belle and Flee
Best Documentary Feature The Rescue
Honorable Mentions: Ascension and Flee
Best Animated Short Namoo
Honorable Mentions: Step Into The River and Us Again
Best Live Action Short The Long Goodbye
Honorable Mentions: Americanized and The Little Prince(ss)
Breakout Independent Film India Sweets and Spices
If you missed last year's awards they're worth a look here.
Here's a bit more about the purpose behind this year's prizes and the List in general
While notable Asian-helmed films have reached massive commercial success (4 of the top 10 movies at the 2021 domestic box office were led by Asian writer-directors), the future of these films continuing to be greenlit also relies on creative acclaim—which has been glaringly lacking for Asian projects and their creators.
Chloé Zhao’s and Yuh-jung Youn’s historic wins at the Academy Awards last year demonstrated the long overdue need for Asian representation at major awards. Zhao was the first woman of color (and second woman ever) to win Best Director in the Academy Awards’ 93-year history. Youn was the first Asian actress to win an Academy Award in over 6 decades—and became only the fourth performer of Asian descent ever to win an acting Academy Award. Steven Yuen, who starred in Minari alongside Youn, became the first Asian American to be nominated for Best Actor.
Yet, current awards buzz does not reflect much growing momentum coming off last year’s forward strides, especially in the “Big Five” categories (Best Picture, Director, Actor, Actress, and Screenplay). A notable example is seen with Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, which was the 2nd highest grossing domestic release in 2021 and holds one of the highest Rotten Tomatoes scores for a superhero movie. The film was a resounding success both commercially and critically but—outside of People’s Choice Awards—has yet to be meaningfully embraced by awards voters as a serious contender.
“Many Asian-led films, particularly independent films, don’t receive budgets or backing to run expensive For Your Consideration campaigns—or benefit from certain levels of access that are essential in ensuring nominations and eventual wins. Gold List, voted on by top Asian leaders and creatives in Hollywood—celebrates our community’s most outstanding achievements in the film industry and encourages voters to Consider Gold. In another pandemic year when so much gets lost and blended together, it’s even more imperative that we help worthy art break out,” said Jeremy Tran, Executive Director of Gold House
related: film critics prizes this year