Philip Yung's local crime drama Port Of Call, which has been warmly received at festivals around the world since its debut at last year's Hong Kong International Film Festival, secured 5 nominations, including Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Supporting Actor, Best Newcomer and Best Editing, but missed out in the major categories.
Joining The Assassin in the Best Picture race are Mountains May Depart and Mr. Six from China, Bajirao Mastani from India, Three Stories of Love from Japan and South Korean thriller Veteran. The Best Director category will see Jia Zhangke (Mountains May Depart), Ryoo Seung Wan (Veteran), Guan Hu (Mr. Six) and Koreeda Hirokazu (Our Little Sister) take on Hou Hsiao Hsien.
Mountains May Depart, Mr. Six and Veteran scored 4 nominations apiece, while Kurosawa Kiyoshi's Journey To The Shore and Wilson Yip's Ip Man 3 scored 3 nominations each. Donnie Yen and Max Zhang were both nominated for their performances, as was Ken Mak for his Production Design.
36 films have been recognised in total, hailing from 9 countries. Winners of the 10th Asian Film Awards will be announced at a ceremony to be held at The Venetian Macao on 17 March 2016.
The nominations in full:
Best Film:
Mountains May Depart (China, France, Japan)
The Assassin (Taiwan, Hong Kong, China)
Bajirao Mastani (India)
Three Stories Of Love (Japan)
Mr. Six (China)
Veteran (South Korea)
Best Director:
Jia Zhangke - Mountains May Depart
Hou Hsiao Hsien - The Assassin
Koreeda Hirokazu - Our Little Sister
Guan Hu - Mr. Six
Ryoo Seung Wan - Veteran
Best Actor:
Donnie Yen - Ip Man 3
Nagase Masatoshi - An
Feng Xiaogang - Mr. Six
Lee Byung Hun - Inside Men
John Arcilla - Heneral Luna
Best Actress:
Zhao Tao - Mountains May Depart
Shu Qi - The Assassin
Ayase Haruka - Our Little Sister
Kim Hye Soo - Coin Locker Girl
Karena Lam - Zinnia Flower
Best Supporting Actor:
Max Zhang - Ip Man 3
Michael Ning - Port Of Call
Asano Tadanobu - Journey To The Shore
Oh Dai Soo - Assassination
Cheng Jen Shuo - Thanatos, Drunk
Best Supporting Actress:
Zhou Yun - The Assassin
Tsuchiya Anna - Gonin Saga
Cherry Ngan - Mojin - The Lost Legend
Ueno Juri - The Beauty Inside
Park So Dam - The Priests
Best Newcomer:
Vicky Kaushal - Masaan
Jessie Li - Port Of Call
Fujino Ryoko - Solomon's Perjury
Kim Seol Hyun - Gangnam Blues
Lee Hong Chi - Thanatos, Drunk
Waruntorn Paonil - Snap
Best Screenplay:
Mountains May Depart
Port Of Call
Talvar
Journey To The Shore
Veteran
Best Editing:
Port Of Call
Bajirao Mastani
Bakuman
Jing Bing Man
Veteran
Best Cinematography:
Port Of Call
The Assassin
Gonin Saga
Mr. Six
Assassination
Best Original Music:
The Assassin
Bajirao Mastani
Bombay Velvet
Journey to The Shore
The Throne
Best Costume Design:
The Assassin
Bajirao Mastani
Kakekomi
The Throne
Heneral Luna
Best Production Design:
Ip Man 3
The Assassin
Kakekomi
Inside Men
Heneral Luna
Best Visual Effects:
Monster Hunt
Baahubali: The Beginning
Bajirao Mastani
Attack On Titan
The Tiger
Best Sound:
Monster Hunt
The Assassin
Bakuman
The Inerasable
Assassination