Chinese TV Series 'Blossoms Shanghai' Shines at 2024 Asia Contents Awards, Winning Best Creative and Lead Actor

Chinese TV series 'Blossoms Shanghai' wins Best Creative and Lead Actor awards at the 2024 Asia Contents Awards

In an impressive feat, Wong Kar-wai's TV series Blossoms Shanghai has won two major awards at the 2024 Asia Contents Awards & Global OTT Awards, held as part of the Busan International Film Festival. The series, which tells the story of a young man’s rise in Shanghai's financial world during the 1990s, not only took home the Best Creative Award but also earned Hu Ge the Best Lead Actor title.

Blossoms Shanghai: A Decade in the Making

Wong Kar-wai, known for his visually poetic and emotionally rich films, took on his first television project with Blossoms Shanghai. The show was based on Jin Yucheng's award-winning novel, Blossoms, which captures the rapid growth of Shanghai in the late 20th century. Wong, who spent nearly 10 years bringing this project to fruition, said the journey was filled with challenges but ultimately emphasized that film and television can transcend boundaries of time, space, and language.

Set in the 1990s, Blossoms Shanghai is celebrated for its authentic representation of Shanghai’s vibrant business environment and social landscape during China’s economic rise. Filmed in the Shanghainese dialect, the series resonated deeply with domestic audiences, drawing praise for its cultural authenticity. The series initially aired on Tencent Video in late December 2023 and became an instant hit, showcasing Wong Kar-wai's masterful ability to blend his signature aesthetic with long-form storytelling.

A Night of Recognition for Global Content

The 2024 Asia Contents Awards saw over 200 submissions from 16 countries, with 41 projects making the final cut across 11 competitive categories. Competing with series from Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, and Korea, Blossoms Shanghai stood out as the most outstanding work, claiming the Best Creative Award. The night also spotlighted other exceptional talent, with Taiwan's Imperfect Us winning Best Lead Actress (Ariel Lin) and Best Original Song.

Korean productions were not left behind, with Netflix's Mask Girl actors Ahn Jae-hong and Yeom Hye-ran winning Best Supporting Actor and Actress, respectively. The romance fantasy series The Atypical Family earned the Best Writer award, while Parasyte: The Grey snagged the Best Visual Effects award.

Another notable win was for Kazakhstan’s 1286, which took home the Best Asian Content award, recognizing the growing diversity and quality of storytelling across Asia.

Global Influence and Expanding Categories

This year’s Asia Contents Awards, launched in 2019, continued to expand its scope to honor not just Asian but also global content. With the rebranded Asia Contents Awards & Global OTT Awards, the event highlighted the increasing relevance of streaming platforms in shaping global entertainment trends. Notably, Indonesia's Cigarette Girl, Netflix’s first Indonesian original series, won Best Director, further underscoring the influence of OTT platforms in elevating international stories.

In an effort to engage with fans directly, the ceremony introduced the People’s Choice Award. The fan-favorite award went to Kim Hye-yoon and Byeon Woo-seok for their performances in Lovely Runner, demonstrating the power of audience participation in recognizing outstanding performances.

The Rise of OTT and the Impact of Streaming Platforms

As streaming services continue to dominate the global entertainment landscape, platforms like Netflix, Tencent Video, and iQIYI are creating opportunities for diverse content to reach international audiences. The success of series like Blossoms Shanghai reflects the growing influence of Asian creators in shaping narratives that resonate across cultures and languages. Wong Kar-wai’s work, with its blend of nostalgia, cultural exploration, and visually arresting style, has once again captivated both critics and audiences, proving that television can indeed be as powerful a medium as film.

The Asia Contents Awards not only celebrated the success of Blossoms Shanghai but also highlighted the increasing globalization of entertainment, where stories from different parts of Asia are finding enthusiastic audiences worldwide. Wong Kar-wai’s message, read by Hu Ge at the ceremony, emphasized the universal power of storytelling, stating that audiences everywhere could find resonance with a story set 30 years ago in China.

As the global entertainment industry continues to evolve, awards like the Asia Contents Awards will play a pivotal role in recognizing and promoting diverse and innovative content from across the region. With the success of Blossoms Shanghai and other standout projects, the future of Asian television and streaming content looks brighter than ever.

Chinese TV Series 'Blossoms Shanghai' Shines at 2024 Asia Contents Awards, Winning Best Creative and Lead Actor