Taking Place on Friday, November 14, 2025 in Beverly Hills
(Los Angeles, CA – October 1, 2025) – The Critics Choice Association (CCA) announced today the full slate of honorees for the 4th annual Celebration of AAPI Cinema & Television, taking place on November 14, 2025 in Beverly Hills. The event honors standout performances and groundbreaking work, both onscreen and offscreen, from the Asian Pacific entertainment community.
Honorees for this year’s Celebration of AAPI Cinema & Television will include the following:
Critics Choice Award–winning and Screen Actors Guild Award-winning actress, advocate, director, and producer Lucy Liu will be honored with the Trailblazer Award in recognition of her extraordinary body of film and television work and most recently for her starring role in Vertical’s theatrical feature film, Rosemead.
Academy Award and Critics Choice Award-winning director, writer and editor Chloé Zhao will receive the Vanguard Award for her outstanding work on Focus Features’ Hamnet, which won the People’s Choice Award for Best Film at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Notably, Zhao is the only director to have twice received the top audience prize at TIFF.
Michelle K. Sugihara will receive the Industry Leadership Award for her inspiring work as Executive Director & CEO of CAPE (Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment), where she has championed equity, access, and authentic representation for Asian and Pacific Islander voices across Hollywood.
Thomas Pa’a Sibbett will receive the Social Impact Award for his work on the Apple TV+ series Chief of War, recognizing his achievements as a Native Hawaiian writer and producer whose storytelling elevates Indigenous narratives and advances authentic representation.
HIKARI will receive the Director Award in recognition of her work on Searchlight Pictures’ Rental Family starring Brendan Fraser. HIKARI’s past credits include the feature film 37 Seconds as well as acclaimed series such as Beef and Tokyo Vice.
Director and writer Maggie Kang will be recognized with the Animation Award for Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters, the breakout hit that captivated audiences worldwide reaching over 300 million views, and dominated Spotify Charts with its original soundtrack.
The Japanese anime feature film Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle will be honored with the International Animation Award. This latest installment in the franchise has become the highest-grossing anime film of all time at the global box office.
Actress Ali Ahn will accept the Supporting Actress Award for Series for her performance in the Emmy and Critics Choice Award-nominated series The Diplomat (Netflix). Ali’s past credits include Agatha All Along, The Path and The Other Two.
Producer, co-writer, and debut solo director Shih-Ching Tsou will receive the Breakthrough Director Award for her work on Netflix’s Left-Handed Girl, which was nominated for the Critics’ Week Grand Prize at this year’s Cannes Film Festival and is Taiwan’s submission for the Best International Feature Film category at the 98th Academy Awards.
Actress Chase Sui Wonders will accept the Breakthrough Actress Award for her role in the Apple TV+ Emmy Award-winning series The Studio. The 13-time Emmy Award winning show broke the record for the most wins for a comedy series in a single year.
Actress Lukita Maxwell will receive the Rising Star Award for her work in the Apple TV+ Emmy and Critics Choice Award-nominated series Shrinking. The series notably received seven nods at this year’s Primetime Emmy Awards.
“This celebration is about honoring the artists who continue to push boundaries, tell authentic stories, and create space for greater visibility of AAPI voices in film and television,” said Host, Writer, and Co-Programmer for the Celebration, Kylie Mar. “Each honoree reminds us how powerful representation can be when it’s rooted in truth and creativity.”
Sponsors and partners include Milagro Tequila, Julia S. Gouw, NEP Sweetwater, and FIJI Water.
The Critics Choice Association’s Celebration of AAPI Cinema & Television will be produced by Madelyn Hammond and Javier Infante of Madelyn Hammond & Associates.
Follow the Critics Choice Association on Instagram and X @CriticsChoice, on TikTok @OfficialCriticsChoice, and on Facebook/CriticsChoiceAwards.
Event logos, honoree headshots, and digital assets can be found HERE.
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About the Critics Choice Association (CCA)
The Critics Choice Association is the largest critics organization in the United States and Canada, representing more than 500 media critics and entertainment journalists. It was established in 2019 with the formal merger of the Broadcast Film Critics Association and the Broadcast Television Journalists Association, recognizing the intersection between film, television, and streaming content. For more information, visit:
For press inquiries, please contact:
Andy Gelb / Julia Rossen
APEX Public Relations
310-461-0111
