Sabu’s ‘Arrested Memory’ Leads a Diverse Field at the 63rd Golden Horse Awards
The cinematic landscape of the Chinese-speaking world is bracing for its most prestigious night of the year. The Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival Executive Committee has officially unveiled the nominations for the 63rd Golden Horse Awards, revealing a competitive field that highlights a blend of veteran craftsmanship and bold new voices. Leading the pack is Sabu’s Arrested Memory, which secured an impressive 11 nominations, setting a high bar for the upcoming ceremony.
Trailing closely behind is Shu Qi’s directorial effort, Girl, which garnered 10 nominations. The competition remains fierce at the top, with Joseph Hsu Chen-chieh’s Double Happiness and Yeung Leung-chuen’s We Are Born Good each earning nine nods. These four films have emerged as the frontrunners for the night’s most coveted prizes, including Best Narrative Feature and Best Film Editing.
A Competitive Chronology: From Submissions to The Big Night
The road to the 63rd Golden Horse Awards has been exhaustive and meticulous. Organizers reported a robust turnout this year, receiving a total of 587 entries across various categories. The breakdown of these submissions underscores the breadth of the festival’s reach: 92 narrative features, 60 feature documentaries, three animated features, 294 live-action shorts, 71 documentary shorts, and 67 animated shorts.
The nomination announcement itself was a passing of the torch, conducted by Ma Shih-yuan—who took home the Best New Performer trophy at last year’s ceremony—and Jimmy Liu, a nominee in the same category during the previous cycle.
Following the announcement, the festival has established a rigorous schedule to honor the nominees and celebrate the art of filmmaking:
- Late October: The official jury panel will be revealed to the public, marking the final stage of the evaluation process.
- November 6: The Golden Horse Film Festival kicks off, serving as a screening platform where every nominated film will be presented to audiences.
- November 22: The 63rd Golden Horse Awards Ceremony will take place at the Taipei Music Center. Notably, in a shift from tradition, the ceremony will now be held on a Sunday rather than a Saturday.
The voting process remains a three-tiered system—preliminary, nomination, and final rounds—ensuring that the winners are determined by a deliberative process that culminates on the day of the ceremony.
Supporting Data: The Power Players and Categories
The breadth of talent represented this year is vast, crossing genres and regional boundaries. In the highly anticipated Best Director category, the field is a powerhouse of creative vision. Sabu (Arrested Memory), Joseph Hsu (Double Happiness), and Anthony Chen (We Are All Strangers) are joined by the veteran director Herman Yau (We’re Nothing at All) and the visionary Edmund Yeo (The Age of Goodbyes).
The race for Best New Director is equally spirited, featuring Shu Qi (Girl) and Yeung Leung-chuen (We Are Born Good) competing against newcomers Priscilla Ang Geck-geck (Ah Girl), Shieh Meng-ju (Mudborn), and Michelle Zhou (Big Little Things).
Acting Contenders
The categories for acting are characterized by a mix of established icons and breakout stars:
- Best Leading Actor: The category features a heavyweight clash between Ethan Juan (Arrested Memory), Leon Dai (Kung Fu), Liu Kuan-ting (Double Happiness), Yeung Wai-lun (We Are Born Good), and Jack Tan (Dead Tide).
- Best Leading Actress: The nominees are Yeo Yann-yann (We Are All Strangers), Angela Yuen (Afterpiece), Jennifer Yu (Double Happiness), Liang Cuishan (Big Little Things), and Chung Suet-ying (We Are Born Good).
Official Recognition: Honoring the Architects of Cinema
Beyond the competitive categories, the Golden Horse Awards continue their tradition of honoring the technical and foundational figures who make cinema possible. Wen Tien-hsiang, CEO of the Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival Executive Committee, announced this year’s "Outstanding Taiwanese Filmmaker of the Year" as the renowned colorist Moya Chou.
Chou’s career, spanning nearly three decades, is a testament to the evolution of visual language in film. Having navigated the industry’s transition from traditional celluloid to the digital era, Chou has become an essential collaborator for directors and cinematographers alike. His influence is felt in the textured lighting and color palettes of acclaimed films such as Us and Them, Dear Ex, The Soul, and The Pig, the Snake and the Pigeon. With upcoming 2026 projects like Sayang and The Age of Goodbyes, Chou continues to be a driving force in Asian cinema.
Furthermore, the committee has selected Yu Kan-ping as the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his monumental contributions to the industry throughout his illustrious career.
The Broader Implications: A Festival in Transition
The 63rd edition of the Golden Horse Awards carries significant weight for the regional film industry. By shifting the ceremony to a Sunday, the organizers signal a desire to modernize the event’s accessibility and pacing. Furthermore, the strong international presence of the nominees reinforces the festival’s role as a critical hub for cross-cultural cinematic exchange.
The inclusion of categories for short films and animation—with 294 live-action shorts submitted—highlights that the Golden Horse is not merely a platform for mainstream blockbusters, but a nursery for experimental storytelling. The jury’s selection this year, which will be finalized in late October, will have the difficult task of balancing the technical polish of high-budget features with the raw, emotional urgency found in the shorter, independent works.
For audiences in Taiwan, the event will be broadcast by TTV, while MyVideo by Taiwan Mobile holds exclusive live-streaming rights. International reach remains a priority, with StarHub in Singapore and Astro in Malaysia ensuring that the diaspora can partake in the celebration. For the rest of the world, the festival’s official YouTube channel will serve as the primary gateway to the ceremony, underscoring the organizers’ commitment to global visibility.
As the industry looks toward November 22, the conversation is already shifting from who should be nominated to who will walk away with the golden statuettes. With 11 nominations, Arrested Memory enters as the favorite, but the history of the Golden Horse Awards is paved with surprises, and the sheer quality of the competition suggests that the 63rd edition will be remembered as one of the most unpredictable and exciting chapters in the festival’s storied history.
Summary of Major Category Nominees
Best Narrative Feature
- Girl
- Double Happiness
- We Are Born Good
- Arrested Memory
- We Are All Strangers
Best Director
- Herman Yau, We’re Nothing at All
- Edmund Yeo, The Age of Goodbyes
- Joseph Hsu Chen-chieh, Double Happiness
- Sabu, Arrested Memory
- Anthony Chen, We Are All Strangers
Best Leading Actor
- Leon Dai, Kung Fu
- Liu Kuan-ting, Double Happiness
- Yeung Wai-lun, We Are Born Good
- Ethan Juan, Arrested Memory
- Jack Tan, Dead Tide
Best Leading Actress
- Angela Yuen, Afterpiece
- Jennifer Yu, Double Happiness
- Liang Cuishan, Big Little Things
- Chung Suet-ying, We Are Born Good
- Yeo Yann-yann, We Are All Strangers
As the festival prepares to open its doors on November 6, the focus remains on the intersection of art, technology, and culture. The 63rd Golden Horse Awards are not just an award show; they are a vital barometer for the health and creative future of the industry, celebrating those who turn light, shadow, and silence into the universal language of film.
