Fan Bingbing’s Call To Chinese Filmmakers During Golden Horse Best Actress Speech Sparks Controversy

It was big night for Chinese star Fan Bingbing at the Golden Horse Awards. The 44-year-old clinched Best Actress for her role as a farmer-healer in Malaysian movie Mother Bhumi.

Though Bingbing was the hot favourite, she did not attend the ceremony in Taipei and instead delivered her acceptance speech over the phone.

The win marks Bingbing’s second Golden Horse following her Best Supporting Actress victory for The Matrimony in 2007. She was last nominated for Best Actress in 2016 for I Am Not Madame Bovary.

An emotional Bingbing thanked the Golden Horse executive committee for the honour and praised director Chong Keat Aun for his unwavering trust.

“When he asked, ‘Would you allow me to destroy your face for this film?’ I said, ‘Fan Bingbing will go all the way with you,’” she said.

She added that the Golden Horse Awards continue to inspire filmmakers to stay true to their craft, expressing hope that cinema would continue to thrive.

However, her closing words — “May Chinese filmmakers shine even brighter in the light and shadows of cinema” — unexpectedly stirred controversy online.

On Taiwan’s PTT forum, reactions were divided. Some felt she needlessly emphasised “Chinese filmmakers,” interpreting it as an attempt to navigate political sensitivities.

“Fan Bingbing really knows what she’s doing. The Golden Horse Awards use the term ‘Chinese-language films,’ not ‘Chinese films.’ She walks a tightrope in China and is careful with every word," wrote one user.

Another said: “She’s saying nice things to stay safe. Otherwise, she’ll be investigated for tax evasion again.”

Others, however, found her remarks harmless and factual.

“She really is Chinese,” one wrote.

“She’s representing her own country — what’s wrong with that?” asked another.

Once one of China’s biggest stars, Bingbing’s career derailed after her tax evasion scandal in 2018, which resulted in a ban from acting and producing in her home country.

In recent years, she has turned to international film projects.

Her nomination for the Golden Horse Awards drew much attention, with many speculating she would skip the ceremony — as attending might spark controversy given her apparent desire to return to China’s film industry.

Meanwhile, Mediacorp’s Richie Koh, who was nominated for his role as a drag queen in Singapore film A Good Child, lost out to Taiwanese actor Chang Chen in the Best Actor category.

Richie, 32, later posted on Instagram that although he went home empty-handed, he’s grateful to have participated in one of the highest honours in the Chinese-language film industry.