When Tony Leung Ka-fai entered the interview room backstage at the 2026 China Golden Rooster & Hundred Flowers Film Festival, he was tightly holding his Golden Rooster trophy. The 68-year-old actor, who had just won the Best Leading Actor award at the 39th China Film Golden Rooster Awards, showed no intention of putting it down.
Gripping the rooster-shaped statuette, Leung joked that he would not let anyone take it away. He won the award for the vivid portrayal of a complex antagonist in the action crime thriller The Shadow's Edge.
With an acting career spanning more than four decades, Leung recalled that when he first entered the industry, a director had promised to make him a star. But that was not quite what he wanted. "I said, 'I don't want to be a star — I want to be an actor.' I think 'star' is a title that other people give you. As an actor, you can play many different roles, and that enriches your life. A good actor can deepen their understanding of life through different experiences and roles and bring what they observe in everyday life into their work," he said.
Two days ago, a photograph of Leung at a high-speed railway station attracted attention on social media. In the picture, he appeared exhausted, leaning on the handle of his suitcase as he waited for his train. Many online commenters praised his dedication, saying that even a celebrated actor remained committed to his work.
Leung explained that the image had left out some context. He had rushed to Xiamen on the last high-speed train after finishing a shoot in another city. His staff had stepped away to buy something at a convenience store, leaving him alone for a moment when the photograph was taken.
Another major winner of the night was Dead to Rights, which took home the Best Feature Film and Best Leading Actress awards. Actress Gao Ye, who won for her portrayal of the brave woman Lin Yuxiu, kissed her trophy when she met reporters backstage.
"I'm quite excited, quite dazed — my mind has gone completely blank. I want to thank every audience member who walked into a theater to watch Dead to Rights. The 137 minutes they spent watching the film contributed to this honor for me," she said.
Born and raised in Changzhou, Jiangsu province, Gao said she had grown up surrounded by the history of the Nanjing Massacre, the backdrop of the film. She immersed herself in historical materials to prepare for the role and recalled how director Shen Ao helped the cast build a shared understanding of the period.
"Before filming began, the director gave each member of the main creative team a USB drive containing the materials we might need. We watched them over and over, deliberately immersing ourselves in that period of history," she said.
The Best Director award went to Zheng Dasheng for Hideaway: The Dossiers, a revolutionary-themed film. The Best Screenplay award was presented to the writing team behind Dear You, a tear-jerking story about Chaoshan immigrants' striving in Southeast Asia.
The Best Supporting Actress award went to Lan Xiya for her role as a young deaf woman in Sound of Silence, a film that explores the lives and rights of people with hearing impairments. Lan spoke about the challenges of learning sign language, saying that the hardest part was not simply mastering the gestures but understanding the world of people who cannot hear.
Sound of Silence, also earned its director, Wan Li, the Best Directorial Debut award. Having been in the film industry for more than a year, Wan said the recognition had given him encouragement and confidence at a time when the industry was facing what many describe as a downturn.
The Best Supporting Actor award went to ethnic Uygur actor Wushouer Sailai for his portrayal of Turdi Ahun in Wan Tongshu. The character is a folk artist in his 70s, believed at the time to be the only person in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region capable of performing the complete Twelve Muqam, a traditional musical suite. Wushouer Sailai revealed that he had lost weight to look more like the character.
