Yang Zi Wins “Best Director of the Year” at the 21st Chinese American Film Festival

LAPost | Los Angeles, November 6, 2025 — At the 21st Chinese American Film Festival Awards Ceremony held in Los Angeles on November 6, director Yang Zi won the Best Director of the Year Award for his film The Shadow’s Edge.

The award was presented by three distinguished guests: Bill Mechanic, Co-Chairman of the Chinese American Film Festival, former President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and producer of Hacksaw Ridge; Rob Minkoff, Hollywood director and producer best known for The Lion King; and Ellen Eliasoph, former President of Warner Bros. Pictures China and member of the Academy Awards voting committee.

Among the nearly 800 attendees were Ambassador Guo Shaochun, Consul General of China in Los Angeles, and his wife; James Su, President of the Chinese American Film Festival and Television Festival, and his wife; and U.S. Congresswoman Judy Chu, representing the Chinese American community.

The Shadow’s Edge emerged as the biggest winner of the evening, taking home three major Golden Angel Awards — Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Supporting Actor. Rising actor Ci Sha received the Best Supporting Actor Award for his powerful performance, while producer Victoria Hon accepted the Best Picture Award on behalf of the production team.

In his acceptance speech, Yang Zi expressed heartfelt gratitude:

“I’m deeply honored by the recognition from the Chinese American Film Festival. Two years ago, I stood on this same stage and received the Best Screenplay Award for Ride On.”

He then invited his entire production team to join him onstage to share the moment, earning a warm round of applause from the audience. Switching seamlessly into English, Yang thanked the organizers, jurors, and guests, adding emotionally:

“Twelve years ago, my first feature Mountain Cry was made in collaboration with Ellen Eliasoph. I never imagined that twelve years later, she would be the one presenting me with this award. She has always been my mentor.”

The evening was filled with touching moments — when Ci Sha won his award, he flashed a playful “V” for victory, and later, when Yang returned to his seat with his trophy, he gestured a “3” to symbolize their film’s triple win. The candid joy of these moments became one of the most memorable images of the festival.

Ellen Eliasoph, who attended a North American screening of The Shadow’s Edge earlier this year, told LAPost in an exclusive interview:

“The Shadow’s Edge is much more than an action-crime film. It’s thrilling, entertaining, and deeply moving — a milestone for Chinese cinema. It showcases the imagination and creativity of Chinese filmmakers in a way that resonates globally.”

Film critic Richard Ren wrote on IMDb:

“The Shadow’s Edge combines traditional martial-arts action with modern storytelling — blending raw humanity with cinematic energy. The familiar Jackie Chan-style choreography takes on new life under Yang Zi’s direction. The film’s success lies in his mastery of both screenwriting and directing.”

A graduate of the Beijing Film Academy with a Master’s degree in Film from the University of Edinburgh, Yang Zi is known for works such as Mountain Cry, Adoring, and Ride On. He won the Most Notable Director Award at the Shanghai International Film Festival in 2015 for Mountain Cry.

Throughout the ceremony, Yang remained humble and spirited — filming his peers’ award moments, cheering for his team, and warmly greeting guests afterward. When the hall lights came up, dozens of attendees gathered around him for photos, capturing the enthusiasm and sincerity of the night.

(Written by Richard Ren / LAPost)