Marvel Studios’ ‘Shang-Chi’ And Japanese Film ‘Drive My Car’ Top 2022 Gold List

Returning for its second edition, the 2022 Gold List highlights outstanding work by Asian filmmakers and talent. Marvel Studios’ Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings leads in the Best Picture, Director (Destin Daniel Cretton), Supporting Actor (Tony Leung), and Supporting Actress (Awkwafina) categories. Festival favorite Drive My Car by Japanese director Ryusuke Hamaguchi also picked up wins in the Best Actor (Hidetoshi Nishijima) and Best Adapted Screenplay categories.

The Gold List is a collaboration between Gold House and CAPE (Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment) and spans 13 categories, with two new categories included this year, compared to the inaugural 2021 list. It seeks to ensure that a wider diversity of works is given proper recognition during the entertainment industry’s awards season, which culminates with the 94th Academy Awards on March 27. Other winners in this year’s list include The Rescue for Best Documentary Feature, Flee for Best Original Screenplay and Raya and the Last Dragon for Best Animated Feature.

“Many Asian-led films, particularly independent films, don’t receive budgets or backing to run expensive For Your Consideration campaigns—or benefit from certain levels of access that are essential in ensuring nominations and eventual wins,” shared Jeremy Tran, Executive Director of Gold House. “Gold List, voted on by top Asian leaders and creatives in Hollywood—celebrates our community’s most outstanding achievements in the film industry and encourages voters to Consider Gold. In another pandemic year when so much gets lost and blended together, it’s even more imperative that we help worthy art break out.”

Prizes given out at the Academy Awards, BAFTAs, Directors Guild of America and Producers Guild of America ceremonies, among others, bestow far more than recognition and limelight. They are seen as the film industry’s barometer for success and value—how gatekeepers read the tides of the content business, observe what their peers are thinking, and attempt to forecast where the cultural currents might flow next. Therefore, these awards significantly influence what kinds of films will continue to be greenlit, which directors and talent will be given top projects and ultimately, what—and whose—stories audiences get to watch.

The Gold List voting body is made up of prominent leaders from the Gold Open Advisory Council, Gold House Members, CAPE Board Members and Advisors, and other entertainment industry heavyweights. “From elevating writers and creative executives, we’ve been focused on systemic changes that enable great creativity. But that’s only half the battle—we must also ensure that our projects are recognized, particularly in forums where our communities have often been overlooked,” said Michelle K. Sugihara, Executive Director of CAPE. “We hope the Gold List prompts voters to consider Asian films and creatives when deciding awards recognition.”

Recognising a gap between the artistic achievements of Asian-led films and the lack of recognition by the industry, Gold House has led other initiatives like the #GoldOpen movement. Over the past few years, #GoldOpen has placed money and resources behind multicultural films like Crazy Rich Asians and Minari to give them a better chance of success at topping the box office and gaining widespread recognition.

The full list of Gold List selections is below:

Best Picture

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

Honorable Mentions: Drive My Car and The Green Knight

Best Director

Destin Daniel Cretton (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings)

Honorable Mentions: Cary Joji Fukunaga (No Time To Die) and Ryusuke Hamaguchi (Drive My Car)

Best Actor in a Leading Role

Hidetoshi Nishijima (Drive My Car)

Honorable Mentions: Simu Liu (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) and Dev Patel (The Green Knight)

Best Actress in a Leading Role

Gemma Chan (Eternals)

Honorable Mentions: Patti Harrison (Together Together) and Maggie Q (The Protégé)

Best Supporting Actor

Tony Leung (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings)

Honorable Mentions: Benedict Wong (Nine Days) and Steven Yeun (The Humans)

Best Supporting Actress

Awkwafina (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings)

Honorable Mentions: Sarita Choudhury (The Green Knight) and Jessica Henwick (The Matrix Resurrections)

Best Original Screenplay

Flee

Honorable Mentions: Nine Days and Raya and the Last Dragon 

Best Adapted Screenplay

Drive My Car 

Honorable Mentions: Eternals and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

Best Animated Feature

Raya and the Last Dragon

Honorable Mentions: Belle and Flee

Best Documentary Feature

The Rescue

Honorable Mentions: Ascension and Flee

Best Animated Short

Namoo

Honorable Mentions: Step Into The River and Us Again

Best Live Action Short

The Long Goodbye

Honorable Mentions: Americanized and The Little Prince(ss)

Breakout Independent Film

India Sweets and Spices