Li Jun wins best director at Golden Horse Awards

Taipei, Nov. 22 (CNA) Hong Kong filmmaker Li Jun (李駿碩) has been named best director at the 2025 Golden Horse Awards for his latest film "Queerpanorama" (眾生相).

Li beat out four competitors on Saturday to claim his first Golden Horse trophy for best director at the annual awards, widely regarded as the most prestigious film honors in the Chinese-speaking world.

The other nominees were Chen Yu-hsun (陳玉勳) for "A Foggy Tale" (大濛), Tsao Shih-han (曹仕翰) for "Before the Bright Day" (南方時光), Lau Kek-huat (廖克發) for "The Waves Will Carry Us" (人生海海) and Malaysia's Chong Keat-aun (張吉安) for "Mother Bhumi" (地母).

"This was an extremely expensive production, and I want to thank every single member of my team -- all of them gave 200 percent to make this film possible," the 34-year-old Li said in Cantonese at the award ceremony in Taipei on Saturday, as many of the crew members grew emotional.

He also gave special thanks to his partner, whom he referred to as "my life partner, my producer."

"Thank you for making me a better person. I love you, and I don't think two people could be happier than we've been," he said.

"Queerpanorama" traces a nameless young man's search for connection on the margins of Hong Kong through fleeting encounters with men from different walks of life on dating apps.

As the man pieces together scattered memories to rebuild his own identity, the boundaries between self and others begin to blur.

Shot in stark black and white with long, meditative takes, the film captures the pulse of Hong Kong's queer subculture while exploring loneliness, desire, and the fragile search for belonging in a fractured city.

Li, who made his directorial debut in short films, has been recognized for his sharp social realism and nuanced storytelling.

His 2021 film "Drifting" (濁水漂流) was named best adapted screenplay and nominated for best director and best film editing at the Golden Horse Awards.