Chloé Zhao, Bowen Yang and Extra Honored at 2026 Unforgettable Awards

Character Media and GoldenTV celebrated a 12 months in leisure and tradition at its annual Unforgettable Awards.

The occasion — which celebrates Asian and Pacific Islander excellence in movie, TV and tradition — occurred Saturday on the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles, bringing out a slew of big-name honorees together with Hamnet director Chloé Zhao, Saturday Night Live alum Bowen Yang and KPop Demon Hunters voice actors Arden Cho and Ji-young Yoo.

GoldenTV CEO Takashi Cheng kicked off the occasion earlier than leaping into the awards. Beef season two star Charles Melton introduced Zhao with the worldwide icon award. The actor gave a shifting introduction to the director, recalling a dialog the 2 had when Melton advised her that he hadn’t absolutely grasped Shakespearean prose and sharing how wanted Zhao is to the world as a storyteller. “We need her films. We need her voice. We need her way,” he advised the group.

“Chloé Zhao for president,” he joked, getting a cheer from the viewers. Zhao gave Melton a protracted hug after taking the stage. “You are an incredible human being and artist,” she advised the actor.

Zhao spoke about how proud she was to be Chinese and expressed how fortunate she feels to have the ability to inform tales for a residing throughout her speech. “It is the birthright of every human being to use their creativity to alchemize their life experiences, no matter how difficult they are,” she stated, including it’s not a interest or job however, once more, a birthright. “I want to thank everyone of you who exercised that birthright to experience the luminous and to connect with your own inner divinity, and thank you for helping others remember that too.”

Yang was introduced with the actor in movie award for his function in The Wedding Banquet. Comedian Atsuko Okatsuka introduced the SNL alum with the award. “Wow, I cannot believe that I beat out Jackie Chan in The Karate Kid for this,” he stated to kick off his speech, eliciting laughs from the group.

“Look, acting is so weird because you basically stand on a piece of tape, you say some stuff, maybe you’re wearing a toupee like I did in Wicked, and you’re supposed to cry on cue after someone’s offered an Altoid [mint],” Yang continued. “Then six months later, a flight attendant will bring it up and call you brave while you’re stepping into the lavatory.”

Yang famous appearing could make one transfer via life within the third particular person and talked in regards to the actuality of API visibility up till just lately. “Step into rooms and you were very aware of yourself immediately. You were noticed but maybe not in the way you would want to be. Be seen but maybe too seen, too flattened, too misunderstood,” he stated.

“That makes you move through life in the third person too,” he continued. “I’m so, so happy and lucky that it’s starting to change now because of rooms like this.”

KPop Demon Hunters was introduced with the Vanguard Award. Yoo and and Cho, two of the three principal voice actors for the movie, accepted the award on the film’s behalf. The pair emphasised what a love letter the movie is to Korean tradition and music but in addition that it’s actually a celebration of tradition and neighborhood.

Daniel Dae Kim and Park Chan-wook have been introduced with the actor in tv and director award, respectively. Both have been unable to attend however despatched in video messages thanking the group and the group.

Several different awards have been handed out all through the evening. Lawrence Shou obtained the breakout in movie award; Te Ao o Hinepehinga obtained the breakout in tv award; Lloyd Lee Choi obtained the obtained the author award; Leenda Dong obtained the digital influencer award; Jet Tila obtained the culinary excellence awards.

There have been performances sprinkled all through the evening, together with Traitors star Eric Nam, magician and mentalist Kevin Li, singer Peng Peng and singer-songwriter Sinéad Harnett.

The 2026 Selection Committee was co-chaired by Simu Liu and Chen and consists of Agnes Lew, Adele Lim, Awkwafina, Bao Nguyen, Benedict Wong, Bing Chen, Brandon Rieggs, Bretman Rock, Celine Song, Daniel Henney, Daniel Wu, Domee Shi, Janet Yang, Jeanne Yang, Jennifer Yuh Nelson, Jeremy Tran, Jessica Gao, Jessica Henwick, Jinny Howe, Joan Chen, Jodi Long, Joseph Lee, Julia Cho, Julia Gouw, Ken Jeong, Kevin Kwan, Leonardo Nam, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Miranda Kwok, Nico Santos, Nina Yang, Norman Chen, Phil Wang, Phillip Sun, Randall Park, Rebecca Sun, Samantha Quan, Shannon Lee and Takashi Cheng. 

The 2026 Unforgettable Gala is ready to stream as a particular on GoldenTV on March 13.