Cate Blanchett secures a major Cate Blanchett Disclaimer nomination as the Asian Academy Creative Awards announced its 2025 National Winners this week, recognizing outstanding talent across Asia Pacific. The ceremony, set for December 4 at Singapore’s Capitol Theatre, will also mark Apple TV+’s first entry into the competition, reflecting the growing influence of global streamers in Asia.
Record-Breaking Year for the Asian Academy Creative Awards
Organizers of the Asian Academy Creative Awards have declared 2025 a landmark year, attracting a record 331 nominees from 16 nations, all vying across 40 categories. The event’s reach and significance are reinforced by a notable increase in participating companies—176 in total—making the awards a comprehensive showcase for regional content. Categories span scripted, non-scripted, news, documentary, and technical craft, with fierce competition evident in both returning champions and fresh faces.
AACA chair Beverley McGarvey, also President of Network 10 and head of streaming at Paramount Australia and New Zealand, emphasized the magnitude of this year’s event:
“Our region is sending the world a strong message this year, via the Asian Academy Creative Awards, with a record number of entries, a record number of judges for the National Round, up 30% on last year, and a record number of companies entering, 176 in all. For buyers, distributors, casting and talent agents, co-producers, this is a truly one-stop curation of the best our region has to offer.”
– Beverley McGarvey, AACA Chair
Cate Blanchett and Jacob Elordi Among Australia’s Contenders
For Australia, Cate Blanchett represents a significant force in the best actress in a leading role category for her acclaimed work in “Disclaimer,” an Apple TV+ production. Her nomination sparks particular interest as Apple TV+ makes its debut at the awards, highlighting the platform’s expanding investment into Asia-Pacific programming. Blanchett joins fellow Australian nominee Jacob Elordi, recognized for his lead performance in
“The Narrow Road to the Deep North,”
another pivotal title in this year’s competition. The representation of Australian talent continues with Mohammed Herse’s direction in “Four Years Later” and John Stokes’ cinematography in “Darby and Joan Season 2.”
Fierce Competition in Acting Categories
The best actress in a leading role race is especially tough, featuring 13 contenders from across the region. Jodi Sta. Maria of the Philippines, last year’s winner, returns in hopes of a rare second win. Kim Minha of Korea is recognized for her work in “Pachinko” Season 2, with support from other favorites like Bai Lu from Mainland China, Neena Gupta from India, and Jesseca Liu representing Singapore. Notably, Youn Yuh-jung, another “Pachinko” star, appears in the supporting actress field for Korea.
On the best actor side, Jacob Elordi faces international competition from Li Xian (Chinese Mainland) in “A Love Never Lost,” Owen Cheung (Hong Kong SAR), Zahan Zapoor for India’s “Black Warrant,” and Park Bo-gum (Korea), among others. The diversity of nominees celebrates the region’s rich variety of TV and film storytelling, as each nation sends its strongest national winner to the grand final round.
Drama Series and Streamers Powering Regional Excellence
This year’s best drama series category features 13 competitors. Among them are Australia’s
“The Narrow Road to the Deep North,”
China’s
“Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty: To The West,”
India’s “Suzhal – The Vortex” Season 2, and Korea’s “When Life Gives You Tangerines,” which together showcase the breadth of genre and production scale that characterize Asia Pacific television today.
Streaming platforms continue their dominance throughout various categories. Netflix particularly excelled in India and Thailand, with “Black Warrant” and “Mad Unicorn” achieving impressive tallies of national wins and nominations. Apple TV+ made significant inroads at the awards with “Disclaimer” and “Pachinko” collecting multiple honors and media attention.
Spotlight on Technical Craft and Regional Stories
Technical achievements are pivotal to the awards, as seen in the recognition of John Stokes (Australia) for cinematography, Si Yuanjia (Chinese Mainland), and Kim Jong-yoon (Korea). Editing, direction, original song, and special effects are highly contested, with titles such as “How To Make Gravy” (Australia), “Feud” (Chinese Mainland), and “Study Group” (Korea) breaking new ground.
Local stories with steep cultural resonance are reflected throughout the winners’ roster. Programs like Indonesia’s “Lembayung,” Malaysia’s “Memori,” Taiwan’s “Though Dead, Still Alive,” and Singapore’s
“Emerald Hill – The Little Nyonya Story”
exemplify diverse themes and highlight the importance of national storytelling.
List of Prominent 2025 National Winners by Category
The Asian Academy Creative Awards include hundreds of honorees, but some of the prominent national winners in leading categories are as follows:
Best Actor in a Leading Role:
- Australia: Jacob Elordi –
“The Narrow Road to the Deep North”
- Chinese Mainland: Li Xian – “A Love Never Lost”
- Hong Kong SAR: Owen Cheung – “Anonymous Signal”
- India: Zahan Zapoor – “Black Warrant”
- Indonesia: Arya Saloka – “Lembayung”
- Japan: Tsuyoshi Kusanagi – “Bullet Train Explosion”
- Korea: Park Bo-gum – “When Life Gives You Tangerines”
- Malaysia: Dato’ Hilal Azman – “Memori”
- Philippines: Dennis Trillo – “Green Bones”
- Singapore: Richie Koh – “Coded Love”
- Taiwan: Vic Chou –
“The World Between Us: After the Flames S2”
- Thailand: Natara Nopparatayapon – “Mad Unicorn”
Best Actress in a Leading Role:
- Australia: Cate Blanchett – “Disclaimer”
- Chinese Mainland: Bai Lu – “Feud”
- Hong Kong SAR: Kelly Fu – “D.I.D. 12”
- India: Neena Gupta – “Panchayat” Season 4
- Indonesia: Megan Domani – “Sugar Daddy”
- Japan: Yuriyan Retriever – “The Queen of Villains”
- Korea: Minha Kim – “Pachinko S2”
- Malaysia: Michelle Yim – “The Great Resonance”
- Myanmar: Yamin May Oo – “Unbreakable Vows”
- Philippines: Jodi Sta. Maria – “Untold”
- Singapore: Jesseca Liu –
“Emerald Hill – The Little Nyonya Story”
- Taiwan: Cheryl Yang – “Born for the Spotlight”
- Thailand: Janeyeh Jiranorraphat – “Mad Unicorn”
Best Drama Series:
- Australia:
“The Narrow Road to the Deep North”
- Chinese Mainland:
“Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty: To The West”
- Hong Kong SAR: “What If”
- India:
“Suzhal – The Vortex – Season 2”
- Indonesia: “Malam Pertama (First Night)”
- Japan: “Please Die, My Beloved”
- Korea: “When Life Gives You Tangerines”
- Malaysia: “The Secret”
- Myanmar: “Unbreakable Vows”
- Philippines: “Incognito”
- Singapore:
“Emerald Hill – The Little Nyonya Story”
- Taiwan: “Born for the Spotlight”
- Thailand: “Mad Unicorn”
Best Actress in a Supporting Role:
- Australia: Aisha Dee – “Apple Cider Vinegar”
- Chinese Mainland: He Ruixian – “Feud”
- Hong Kong SAR: Yoyo Chen – “D.I.D. 12”
- India: Garima Vikrant Singh – “Gram Chikitsalay (Village Council)” Season 1
- Indonesia: Amara Sophie – “Sugar Daddy”
- Japan: Erika Karata – “The Queen of Villains”
- Korea: Youn Yuh-jung – “Pachinko S2”
- Malaysia: Sharifah Sakinah –
“Curang Tanpa Niat (The Office Wife)”
- Philippines: Dimples Romana – “The Caretakers”
- Singapore: Ivory Chia –
“Emerald Hill – The Little Nyonya Story”
- Taiwan: FANG Wen-lin – “Though Dead, Still Alive”
- Thailand: Piploy Kanyarat Ruangrung – “Hide & Sis”
Highlights From Other Key Categories
Further recognition went to artists such as Hugo Weaving (Australia) in supporting actor roles, Neena Gupta for India’s “Panchayat” in the best actress lineup, and Jacob Elordi alongside Cate Blanchett making a notable Australian showing. Outstanding technical fields were also recognized, including best cinematography, best editing, best sound, and best screenplay, with contributors like John Stokes (Australia), Saumyananda Sahi (India), and Meg Washington & Nick Waterman (Australia) earning accolades.
Programs celebrated in the children’s, animation, comedy, and documentary series categories underscore the rich creativity and cross-generational appeal prevalent throughout the region. Notable children’s programming winners include New Zealand’s “Secrets at Red Rocks,” Japan’s “Mitateru-phose: Let’s Change Perspectives!,” and Singapore’s “123 Number Squad Season 2.”
Anticipation Builds for December Winner’s Conference
As anticipation escalates toward the final ceremony, industry professionals, emerging talent, buyers, and casting agents look to the National Winners list as a bellwether for future global success. Many nominated series and performers are also contenders in international awards circuits, sustaining the region’s growing impact on the global entertainment map.
With Cate Blanchett’s Disclaimer nomination and streamers like Netflix and Apple TV+ taking center stage alongside longstanding regional heavyweights, the 2025 Asian Academy Creative Awards signal a transformative period for Asia Pacific entertainment, promising expanded opportunities and greater representation for artists and stories from every corner of the region.
