Asian Pop-Up Cinema Award Recipients
Keizo Murase - Lifetime Achievement Award
BRUSH OF THE GOD producer Daisuke Sato accepted Keizo Murase’s Lifetime Achievement Award on Murase’s behalf at Asian Pop-Up Cinema on April 13, 2025.
Buffy Chen Yan-fei - Bright Star Award Recipient
During the North American Premiere of THE UNIFORM, actress Buffy Chen Yan-fei received the Asian Pop-Up Cinema Bright Star Award! The film went on to win the festival's Audience Choice Award, tied with Yoshiyuki Kishi's SUNSET SUNRISE. The screening was held on Saturday, April 12, 2025 at AMC NEWCITY 12 in Chicago, Illinois.
Michelle Wai - Extraordinary Actors Award Recipient
Actress Michelle Wai (THE LAST DANCE) receives her Asian Pop-Up Cinema Extraordinary Actors Award on Friday, April 4, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.
Chen Bo Lin - Bright Star Award Recipient
Actor Chen Bo Lin won the Asian Pop-Up Cinema Bright Star Award on March 20, 2025 during the screening of DEAD TALENTS SOCIETY on the opening night of APUC 19th Edition festival.
Carlos Chan - Bright Star Award Recipient
Actor Carlos Chan receives his Asian Pop-Up Cinema Bright Star Award on Saturday, April 20, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois.
Rebecca Pan - APUC Lifetime Achievement Award
Isabel Wong, director of "PAI NIANG NIANG: THE LAST OSMANTHUS BLOSSOM, accepts the APUC Lifetime Achievement Award on behalf of Rebecca Pan on Saturday, April 20, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois.
Lee Sun-Kyun - Award for Excellent Achievement in Film - Special Honoree
South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun (PARASITE, MY MISTER) received the “Award For Excellent Achievement in Film” on October 7, 2023 during Asian Pop-Up Cinema, an award created to celebrate talent(s) of their mainstream appeal, cultural impact and long-standing popularity with audiences.
Amarsaikhan Baljinnyam - Pinnacle Career Achievement Award
Mongolian actor and director Amarsaikhan Baljinnyam received the APUC Pinnacle Career Achievement Award on Sept. 23, 2023 during the screening of HARVEST MOON in Chicago.
Ben Yuen - Pinnacle Career Achievement Award
Rachel Leung & Ng Siu Hin - Bright Star Awardees
Ben Yuen, Rachel Leung and Ng Siu Hin received awards during the APUC award ceremony on Sept. 16, 2023.
Renci Yeung - Bright Star Awardee
On March 31, 2023, Hong Kong actress Renci Yeung received the BRIGHT STAR AWARD from Asian Pop-Up Cinema in recognition of her performance in the film “A GUILTY CONSCIENCE” directed by Jack Ng. Presenting the award on behalf of APUC was Glenn Eden, Board Chair of CHOOSE CHICAGO.
Nahana - Career Achievement Awardee
On March 18, 2023, Nahana received the festival's Career Achievement Award in Chicago before the premiere screening of “SHE IS ME, I AM HER “directed by Mayu Nakamura.
Aaron Kwok - Award for Excellent Achievement in Film
Hong Kong actor and pop singer Aaron Kwok was honored Tuesday, March 14, 2023 for Excellent Achievement in Film during Asian Pop-Up Cinema's pre-launch special event in Chicago, Ill.
Our Awards
From Audience Choice Awards to recognizing new and established talent.
As a competitive festival, we celebrate the audience’s favorite films with the Audience Choice Awards. These are chosen at the end of each season by tallying audience votes.
Other awards designed to celebrate the achievements of filmmakers incudes:
Bright Star - A talent in their early or mid-career, who has demonstrated impact and popularity in the industry, and possesses the qualities to be elevated in the future.
Extraordinary Actors Award - A talent demonstrating a career-defining performance in a particular film showcased at the festival.
Pinnacle Career Achievement - A more established talent who has repeatedly delivered excellent and memorable works.
Award For Excellent Achievement In Film - On February 27, 2023, our festival announced a new “Award For Excellent Achievement in Film” celebrating talent -- both actors and filmmakers -- who are superstars in the industry. Their films are considered blockbusters because of their mainstream appeal, cultural impact and long-standing popularity with audiences.
Lifetime Achievement - A veteran with large body of strong and impactful works, who has also made long term influence & contributions to the film community.