Jacob Elordi and Cate Blanchett are the main contenders at the star-studded Asian Academy Creative Awards 2025

The Asian Academy Creative Awards has revealed its 2025 National Winners, showcasing a record-breaking 331 entries from 16 countries across 40 categories, making it the largest celebration of Asia Pacific content to date.

Jacob Elordi will represent Australia for his leading role in Prime Videos The Narrow Road to the Deep North. Two-time Oscar winner Cate Blanchett joins the competition for her Emmy-nominated performance in Apple TV+s Disclaimer, marking the streaming platforms debut at the awards.

The competition for Best Actress in a Leading Role includes a 13-contender lineup. Returning 2022 winner Jodi Sta. Maria from the Philippines seeks a second Goddess award. South Korea enters Kim Minha for her role in Pachinko Season 2, while fellow cast member Youn Yuh-jung competes for Best Supporting Actress. Pachinko also receives recognition with director Arvin Chen representing Taiwan in Best Direction (Fiction).

The Best Drama Series category features 13 entries including Australias The Narrow Road to the Deep North, Chinas iQIYI production Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty: To The West, Prime Video Indias Suzhal The Vortex Season 2, and Koreas Netflix series When Life Gives You Tangerines. Singapores Emerald Hill The Little Nyonya Story received nominations for Best Drama Series, Best Actress (Jessica Liu), and Best Supporting Actress (Ivory Chia).

Netflix performed strongly in scripted categories across India and Thailand, with Indias Black Warrant winning six national awards, while Thailands Mad Unicorn earned five nominations. Australias How To Make Gravy secured three National Wins including Best Feature Film, and Indias Traitors arrives with four wins, aiming to replicate the formats recent Emmy success.

Representing Chinese Mainland are Li Xian and Bai Lu, while Korean actor Park Bo-gum competes in the Best Actor category.

The awards ceremony will be held at Singapores Capitol Theatre on December 4, with the annual winners conference taking place December 34. AACA chair Beverley McGarvey, president of Network 10 and head of streaming at Paramount Australia and New Zealand, emphasized the record-breaking participation: Our region is sending the world a strong message with a record number of entries, judges, and participating companies, totaling 176. This event is a comprehensive showcase of the best content Asia Pacific has to offer.

Complete List of 2025 National Winners

Best Actor (Fiction)

• 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
• Australia: Hugo Weaving How To Make Gravy

Best Actress (Fiction)

• 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
• China: Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty: To The West
• India: Suzhal The Vortex Season 2
• Korea: When Life Gives You Tangerines
• Singapore: Emerald Hill The Little Nyonya Story

Best Adaptation of an Existing Format (Non-Scripted)

• Australia: Alone Australia Season 3
• China: Run for Time 2025
• India: The Traitors Season 1
• Indonesia: Indonesian Idol Season 13 Grand Final
• Philippines: The Voice Kids
• Singapore: The Assembly: Gurmit Singh
• Thailand: MasterChef The Professionals Thailand Season 1

Best Adaptation of an Existing Format (Scripted)

• India: Oops! Ab Kya? (Oops! Now What?)
• Indonesia: Bad Guys
• Malaysia: Step Dave (Malaysia)
• Philippines: Saving Grace
• Thailand: Good Doctor
• Australia: Space Nova Season 2
• China: Princess Doremi: Stardream Melody
• Japan: My Melody & Kuromi
• Korea: Super Guardians: Polar Rescue
• Malaysia: Ejen Ali The Movie 2
• Singapore: Lamput Season 4, Tall Tales
• Taiwan: Tanpopo

Best Original Production by a Streamer (Fiction)

• Australia: Mix Tape
• Chinese Mainland: The King of Stand-up Comedy Season 1
• India: Call Me Bae
• Indonesia: Waktu Kedua (Second Chance)
• Korea: Study Group
• Malaysia: Bru (Brew)
• Philippines: How to Spot a Red Flag
• Singapore: Coded Love
• Thailand: Haunted Mansion
• Vietnam: Brothers For Life 3

Best Original Production by a Streamer (Non-Fiction)

• Chinese Mainland: Its OK to Feel Bad
• India: The Traitors
• Singapore: The Indigenous
• Hong Kong SAR: Never Too Late
• India: Black Warrant
• Malaysia: Memori
• Philippines: JSM Travel and Tours
• Singapore: Coded Love
• Taiwan: Zero Day Attack
• Australia: How To Make Gravy

Best Single Drama/Telemovie/Anthology Episode

• Malaysia: Rapun
• Philippines: Maalaala Mo Kaya: The Silent House
• Singapore: Ibu Aisyah
• India: Black Warrant
• Japan: Bullet Train Explosion
• Malaysia: Project; Exit
• Singapore: Lamput Season 4, Rivals Revenge
• Taiwan: Black Tide Island
• China: Feud
• Hong Kong SAR: We and I

Best Visual or Special FX in TV Series or Feature Film

• Chinese Mainland: Love of the Divine Tree
• India: IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack
• Japan: Muromachi Burai
• Korea: When the Stars Gossip
• Malaysia: Keluang Man
• Singapore: Coded Love
• Taiwan: Black Tide Island
• Thailand: Dating Game

The 2025 Asian Academy Creative Awards highlights the regions finest creative talent across film, television, and digital content, celebrating innovation and storytelling excellence throughout Asia Pacific.

Author: Sophia Brooks