Hong Kong Director Daniel Lee Honored with Snow Leopard Lifetime Achievement Award at Asian World Film Festival

LAPost / Culver City, Los Angeles — November 20, 2025 — The 11th Asian World Film Festival (AWFF) held its grand Closing Night Awards Gala on November 20 at The Culver Theater, bringing together leading figures from Hollywood and the Asian film industry. The highlight of the evening — the prestigious Snow Leopard Lifetime Achievement Award — was presented to acclaimed Hong Kong director and screenwriter Daniel Lee Yan-kong.

The festival specially invited Lee’s longtime friend, veteran Hollywood producer Andre E. Morgan, former CEO and Vice Chairman of Hong Kong’s Golden Harvest, and a member of both the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Writers Guild of America, to present the award. Onstage, Morgan delivered an emotional tribute:
“Daniel Lee has given the world a Hong Kong perspective on what a great filmmaker can be.”

After the announcement, the two embraced tightly for nearly a full minute — a moment that visibly moved the audience.

Daniel Lee’s Heartfelt Acceptance Speech

Lee accepted the honor with sincerity, humility, and characteristic humor. He began:

“Good evening, Ladies and Gentlemen, my friends and colleagues. I am Daniel Lee from Hong Kong. It is a great honor to meet you all here.
Before I start my little speech, I would like to introduce my two lethal weapons — Mr. Tony Cheung, my DP, who has worked with me since my first film, and Mr. Henry Lai, my composer, who has scored all my films since Black Mask. Without them, there would be no me.
I am especially grateful to the Asian World Film Festival jury for this award, and I must extend my deepest thanks to the warrior, swordsman, and hero behind AWFF — my dear friend George.”

He continued:

“Of course, this honor far exceeds what I deserve. I never considered myself to have made any significant contribution to cinema, but I am fortunate to have worked in film for 40 years.
I love cinema. I still remember my parents taking me to watch so many Shaw Brothers films, and it was the wuxia films of Chang Cheh that truly captivated me — risking life for justice, fighting till the end for humanity. That spirit fueled my filmmaking journey.
I was even more fortunate to meet and learn from Director Chang Cheh in his later years. Because of these experiences, making martial arts films became a mission for me.
I deeply treasure connecting with international audiences. Your diverse cultures and constant encouragement broaden my horizons and strengthen my convictions. If I have achieved anything, it is because of you — my friends who made it possible.”

He also thanked his long-time production team, expressed special gratitude to Jackie Chan for decades of support, and acknowledged his producer and manager Susanna Tsang:

“As Adrien Brody once said: She is the most amazing producer in Asia.”
He closed with characteristic humor:
“Winning this award doesn’t mean I’m retiring. I’m flying back to Hong Kong tomorrow morning to work even harder.”
The audience responded with prolonged applause.

Special 10th Anniversary Screening of Dragon Blade

On November 16 — during the festival — AWFF hosted a packed special screening celebrating the 10th anniversary of Lee’s epic Dragon Blade. The theatre was filled to capacity, and the audience rose in a standing ovation that lasted nearly five minutes, paying tribute both to the enduring classic and to Daniel Lee himself, who was present at the event.

A Distinguished Career in Cinema

Lee’s notable works include Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon, Time Raiders, Dragon Blade, and The Climbers. His films are recognized for their grand visual style, epic narratives, and unique aesthetic shaped by his background in fine arts.
He studied Chinese ink painting and calligraphy under renowned master Fan Zih-deng at age 10 and later trained in Tai Chi — influences that helped define the lyrical, Eastern visual language of his filmmaking.

Other Major Awards of the Night

The festival also presented several major honors.

• Snow Leopard Award for Outstanding Cinematic Achievement (Actor): Lee Byung-hun (South Korea), for No Other Choice and KPop Demon Hunters.

• Bruce Lee Award: Hollywood action star and martial artist Michael Jai White (The Dark Knight, Black Dynamite).

About the Asian World Film Festival

Often regarded as “America’s best Asian film festival,” AWFF ran from November 11 to 20, showcasing 73 films from more than 30 Asian countries and regions, including 23 official Oscar submissions for Best International Feature Film.
Notable attendees included Oscar-winning director Sean Baker (Anora), legendary Chinese actress Lisa Lu, Lucy Liu, and more than a thousand filmmakers from Hollywood and nearly 30 countries across Asia — all gathered to celebrate the power and vitality of Asian cinema.

(Written by: Richard Ren / LAPost)