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| China Film Directors’ Guild Awards 2025 Winners: Xin Zhilei and Cai Shangjun Lead the Night. (Image via: Weibo) |
The China Film Directors’ Guild Awards 2026 delivered a celebration of some of Chinese cinema's strongest achievements, with filmmakers, actors and writers gathering in Yantai, Shandong Province, on 5 July for an evening that balanced heartfelt speeches with memorable surprises. While the ceremony recognised excellence across filmmaking, it was The Sun Rises on Us All that emerged as one of the biggest stories of the night, collecting major honours and giving actress Xin Zhilei one of the most talked-about moments of the ceremony.
The night's biggest directing honour went to Cai Shangjun, who was named Best Director for The Sun Rises on Us All. His latest work has earned widespread praise for its emotional storytelling and carefully crafted performances, and the award further strengthens his reputation as one of China's most respected filmmakers.
It also capped an excellent evening for the production, proving that sometimes one great film really can keep collecting trophies without anyone asking it to slow down.
The award for Best Film was presented to the blockbuster animated phenomenon Ne Zha 2, a victory that surprised very few. The film has enjoyed enormous commercial success while also winning over critics with its ambitious storytelling and impressive visual scale.
If there was one winner that audiences almost expected before the envelopes were opened, this was probably it. The Best Young Director prize went to Shen Ao for Dead to Rights, recognising one of the industry's most promising emerging filmmakers.
His work has attracted attention for combining confident direction with modern storytelling, suggesting that a new generation of directors is ready to make an even bigger mark on Chinese cinema.
For screenplay, Yu Shui and Liu Jia received Best Screenwriter for Nobody. Their script stood out for its layered narrative and emotionally driven characters, demonstrating that sharp writing remains the backbone of memorable filmmaking.
Flashy visuals are wonderful, but someone still has to write the dialogue everyone keeps quoting afterwards. One of the loudest rounds of applause came when Xin Zhilei was announced as Best Actress for The Sun Rises on Us All.
Her performance has been praised throughout the film's release for portraying a complex female character with emotional depth and remarkable restraint.
The recognition marks another major milestone in her career and confirms what many critics have argued for months: she delivered one of the year's finest performances.
Her journey to the stage quickly became one of the evening's standout moments. Rather than walking calmly, Xin Zhilei broke into a run to collect her trophy, only to admit moments later that the decision had not gone exactly according to plan.
Smiling through laughter, she joked, "I honestly thought running up here would look really cool. Instead, I arrived completely out of breath." The audience responded with warm applause as her humour instantly relaxed the atmosphere.
Continuing her speech, Xin Zhilei thanked screenwriter Han Nianjin for creating "a woman with strength, vulnerability and genuine emotion," adding that stories centred on complex female characters deserve to be told more often.
She also expressed deep gratitude to director Cai Shangjun, saying, "Thank you for believing in me even during the moments when I didn't fully believe in myself. Your trust helped me find this character."
She ended by dedicating the honour to everyone who worked on the film, noting that acting is never an achievement completed alone.
The Best Actor award went to Tony Leung for The Shadow's Edge, adding another prestigious accolade to his remarkable career.
Long regarded as one of Asia's finest performers, his latest recognition once again highlighted his ability to bring quiet intensity and emotional complexity to every role. At this stage, it almost feels as though award ceremonies simply keep a seat ready for him.
Another significant honour saw Shu Qi receive Best Hong Kong/Taiwan Director for Girl. Better known internationally as an acclaimed actress, Shu Qi has continued to impress behind the camera, with her directorial work earning praise for its confidence, sensitivity and distinctive creative vision.
The Special Jury Award was presented to Da Peng, recognising his continued contribution to contemporary Chinese cinema and his willingness to explore fresh storytelling approaches.
Meanwhile, veteran filmmaker Chen Kaige received the Outstanding Contribution Award, celebrating decades of influence that have shaped generations of filmmakers and audiences alike.
Reaction quickly followed the ceremony, with fans celebrating Xin Zhilei's victory across social media. Many described her acceptance speech as refreshingly genuine, saying her joke about losing her breath made the emotional moment feel even more relatable.
Others praised Cai Shangjun's double success alongside The Sun Rises on Us All, while supporters of Ne Zha 2 welcomed its Best Film triumph as recognition of a production that successfully combined artistic ambition with huge audience appeal.
As always, a few viewers had their own favourites who missed out, because no awards season is complete without at least one passionate debate in the comments.
This year's China Film Directors’ Guild Awards reflected both the strength of established industry legends and the growing influence of emerging creative voices. From Ne Zha 2's blockbuster success to Xin Zhilei's heartfelt and humorous acceptance speech, the evening delivered memorable moments that will continue to be discussed well beyond the ceremony itself. Which winner impressed you the most, and do you agree with the final results?