Cinema honors shadowed by politics
The 2025 Golden Horse Awards in Taipei celebrated cinematic excellence while grappling with an undercurrent of political tension. Some films received muted protests during applause, reflecting ongoing strains across Taiwan, mainland China, and Hong Kong.
Even amid the quiet gestures of dissent, the awards night recognized artistry. The winners’ circle featured directors and films from across Greater China, offering a reminder that creativity often flourishes even when politics casts a shadow.
Golden Horse Awards as cultural institution
First established in 1962, the Golden Horse Awards have long been hailed as one of the most prestigious platforms for Chinese-language cinema. Hosted annually in Taiwan, the ceremony has showcased works from Taiwan, Hong Kong, and mainland China, becoming a benchmark for storytelling in Mandarin and Cantonese film.
The festival is not only a celebration of artistry but also a reflection of shifting regional politics. Since cross-strait tensions escalated in recent years, participation by mainland filmmakers has fluctuated, creating a delicate balance between cultural recognition and political pressure. Despite this, the Golden Horse Awards remain a stage where directors, actors, and crews from across Asia converge to share stories that transcend borders.
Muted protests and cross-border winners
The 2025 ceremony was marked by symbolic silence. During the announcement of certain films, the audience response was subdued, signaling quiet dissent over political issues beyond the screen. While not overt, these moments underscored the role of cultural events as mirrors of broader tensions.
Yet the awards themselves reflected a shared cinematic identity. Mainland directors earned recognition in technical categories, Hong Kong filmmakers won prizes in narrative innovation, and Taiwanese productions secured key honors, including Best Director and Best Feature Film.
The mix of winners demonstrated the complexity of Greater China’s cultural ecosystem. Despite political divides, the films shared themes of migration, family, and resilience—topics resonating with audiences across the region.
Cinema as soft power and protest
The Golden Horse Awards once again proved that cinema operates not just as entertainment, but as a form of soft power and political expression. Taiwan uses the event to project its identity as a cultural hub, even as Beijing keeps a wary eye on the symbolism.
Muted protests by audience members highlighted how awards nights can become subtle spaces of political discourse. The lack of loud disruption did not lessen the impact; the silence itself served as commentary. In a polarized environment, artists and viewers alike often resort to coded or symbolic gestures to express their stance.
For Hong Kong, participation in the Golden Horse Awards carries another layer of meaning. Filmmakers from the city see the platform as an opportunity to preserve creative independence, even as the local industry faces increased constraints. Their recognition in 2025 reaffirmed the enduring voice of Hong Kong cinema within the broader Chinese-language world.
Navigating arts and geopolitics
Looking forward, the Golden Horse Awards will continue to stand at the intersection of cinema and geopolitics. If political divides widen, the participation of mainland filmmakers may face further pressure. Yet the awards’ credibility and prestige suggest that directors across the region will still aspire to recognition on this stage.
The role of international observers will also grow. As global audiences turn to Asia for cinematic innovation, the Golden Horse Awards could amplify its voice beyond regional borders. Streaming platforms and global film festivals have already created new channels for Asian cinema, positioning the Golden Horse Awards as a cultural anchor with global influence.
For Taiwan, the awards represent more than entertainment. They symbolize the island’s soft power—its ability to shape narratives, elevate voices, and project values of artistic freedom. Even in times of political strain, the Golden Horse Awards showcase the unifying potential of storytelling.
A night of art, silence, and significance
The 2025 Golden Horse Awards highlighted the dual role of cinema—as both art and political expression. Silent gestures of protest blended with applause for creative achievement, capturing the delicate balance of Greater China’s cultural scene.
In recognizing directors from Taiwan, Hong Kong, and mainland China, the awards reaffirmed cinema’s ability to transcend divides. At the same time, the muted reactions served as reminders of the political realities that shape cultural spaces.
The Golden Horse Awards remain a symbol of both artistic excellence and the complexities of identity in Asia’s film landscape. Each year, they remind audiences that in cinema, as in politics, silence can often speak the loudest.
