Derek Yee to Chair the Jury of the 12th Wenrong Award
Seven film and television professionals join the jury as Hengdian marks its 30th anniversary, with the awards ceremony set for October 24, 2026.
The 12th Wenrong Awards has announced its jury, with acclaimed director, screenwriter and producer Derek Yee serving as jury president. He will be joined by Huo Tingxiao, Lin Yongjian, Zhang Kaili, Stephen Fung, Fei Zhenxiang and Huang Xiaolei.
Bringing together experience in directing, acting, production design and television storytelling, the seven-member panel will help identify emerging talent and celebrate the craft behind Chinese-language film and television.
The announcement comes in a milestone year for Hengdian World Studios, which celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2026. As part of this year’s Hengdian Film & TV Festival, the Wenrong Awards will honour outstanding work while continuing to support young actors and new voices in the industry.
A Jury President with a Special Connection to Hengdian
For Derek Yee, Hengdian is more than an awards destination. His film 《我是路人甲》（I Am Somebody） turned the camera towards the aspiring performers working as extras here, bringing their everyday struggles and ambitions to the screen.
Having worked as an actor, screenwriter, director and producer, Yee brings an understanding of filmmaking from both sides of the camera. His work ranges from intimate stories of ordinary people to films exploring wider social and historical themes.
As jury president, that experience will inform an approach attentive to performance, storytelling and the potential of emerging actors—qualities closely connected to the Wenrong Awards’ focus on the next generation.
Meet the Jury
Huo Tingxiao | Production Design
Huo Tingxiao brings the perspective of a production designer whose credits include 《英雄》（Hero）, 《十面埋伏》（House of Flying Daggers） and 《满城尽带黄金甲》（Curse of the Golden Flower）. His work combines Chinese visual traditions with the demands of large-scale filmmaking, contributing a keen understanding of how setting, composition and performance work together on screen.
Lin Yongjian | Acting
Known for his nuanced portrayals of ordinary people, Lin Yongjian has built a career around performances that feel recognisable and lived-in. His work in productions including 《喜耕田的故事》（The Story of Xi Gengtian） and 《王贵与安娜》（Wang Gui and Anna） reflects an ability to find humour, warmth and emotional depth in everyday life.
Zhang Kaili | Acting and Theatre
An accomplished performer across television and theatre, Zhang Kaili has connected with generations of viewers through productions such as 《渴望》（Yearnings）, 《人世间》（A Lifelong Journey） and 《人民的名义》（In the Name of the People）. Her extensive stage and screen experience brings a close attention to character development and the discipline behind a convincing performance.
Stephen Fung | Directing, Acting and Producing
Stephen Fung’s career spans Hong Kong cinema and international television. With experience as an actor, director and producer, including 《太极1：从零开始》（Tai Chi Zero）, 《太极2：英雄崛起》（Tai Chi Hero） and work on 《荒原》（Into the Badlands）, he brings a perspective shaped by different production cultures, genres and audiences.
Fei Zhenxiang | Television Directing
Fei Zhenxiang’s television work spans adventure, historical drama and stories grounded in contemporary life. His credits include 《怒晴湘西》（Candle in the Tomb: The Wrath of Time）, 《龙岭迷窟》（Candle in the Tomb: The Lost Caverns）, 《星汉灿烂·月升沧海》（Love Like the Galaxy） and 《山花烂漫时》（She and Her Girls）. This range brings an understanding of how actors build compelling characters across different genres and longer narrative arcs.
Huang Xiaolei | Acting and Producing
Huang Xiaolei is known for vivid, grounded characters across film and television, with credits including 《人世间》（A Lifelong Journey）, 《闯关东》（With You Down the Road） and 《人潮汹涌》（Endgame）. Her experience across different screen formats adds another perspective on versatility, authenticity and the changing demands placed on performers.
Supporting the Next Generation
This year’s theme, “三十而励，光影致远,” connects Hengdian’s three decades of development with its ambitions for the future of screen storytelling.
Alongside recognising established achievement, the awards will place emphasis on young actors: their performance skills, professional commitment and capacity to grow. The jury will follow principles of fairness, impartiality, transparency and professionalism as it considers the talent helping shape the industry’s future.
The wider 2026 festival programme also aims to bring professional film and television creation into closer conversation with creative work by the broader public, opening the stage to more voices and forms of expression.
October 24 at Qin Palace
The 12th Wenrong Awards ceremony is scheduled for the evening of October 24, 2026, at Qin Palace, Hengdian World Studios.
As Hengdian celebrates its 30th anniversary, the evening will bring together two parts of its story: the filmmakers and performers who have helped build its screen legacy, and the emerging talent ready to write its next chapter.
