Influential stars, filmmakers honored at 2025 Weibo Night

The 2025 Weibo Night took place on Feb. 5 in Beijing, recognizing more than 100 individuals, works and events that shaped the Chinese social media platform over the past year, while also highlighting internationally influential stars and works.

Zhang Yimou receives the Weibo International Influential Director award at the 2025 Weibo Night in Beijing, Feb. 5, 2026. [Photo courtesy of Weibo]

Zhang Yimou won the Weibo International Influential Director award for his continued innovation in Chinese cinema and enduring influence on the industry.

"After the lights come up in the cinema, what remains in the audience's memory is always a story," he said. "What is film? Film is essentially a beam of light. We hope it illuminates our stories."

Zhang has been exploring different genres and themes in recent years. His Spring Festival release, the spy thriller "Scare Out," marks the first Chinese film to focus on contemporary national security.

The Weibo International Influential Actress award went to Shu Qi. In 2025, she released her directorial debut, "Girl," and starred in the acclaimed "Resurrection" by Bi Gan. Both films won over critics after premiering at international film festivals.

Jackson Wang receives the Weibo International Influence Singer of the Year award at the 2025 Weibo Night in Beijing, Feb. 5, 2026. [Photo courtesy of Weibo]

Pop star Jackson Wang won the Weibo International Influence Singer of the Year award following the release of his album "Magic Man 2" and subsequent world tour last year.

Wang's international reach has been noted by industry executives. At a recent Beijing forum, Hung Tik, CEO of CMC Live Entertainment, and Shine Zhou, vice president of AEG Presents Asia, said that while many Chinese artists performing abroad primarily reach overseas Chinese audiences, Wang is among the few with genuine international appeal, attracting fans across different nationalities.

Wang plans to release a new album this year while continuing his concert tour and pursuing work in variety shows and fashion. Filmmaker Wu Jing announced at the event that Wang will perform the theme song for Yuen Woo-ping's upcoming martial arts film "Blades of the Guardians."

Other notable awards included Weibo Movie of the Year, which went to "Ne Zha 2," "Zootopia 2," "Dead to Rights" and "Detective Chinatown 1900."Labubu was named Weibo Favorite IP of the Year. Athletes Su Bingtian, Wang Shun and Chen Yuxi were among those honored as Weibo Athletes of the Year, while the Chinese National Badminton Team received the Weibo Sports Team of the Year award.

Film executives and distributors receive the Weibo Movie of the Year award on stage at the 2025 Weibo Night in Beijing, Feb. 5, 2026. [Photo courtesy of Weibo]

Veteran actors Huang Bo, Huang Xiaoming, Kara Wai, Li Bingbing, Shen Teng, Wu Jing and Yao Chen received the Cinema Icons of the Time honor. The segment marked the 120th anniversary of Chinese cinema last year, with the actors sharing their perspectives on film in a vintage-themed stage setting.

The Weibo Performance of the Year award was presented to the Macao International Comedy Festival for its promotion of comedy culture with an international focus.

The festival generated significant online engagement, with related topics on Weibo attracting 300 million views, with livestreams reaching 16.72 million views and trending more than 75 times. The festival, which launched in 2024, will hold its next edition in April.

Mai Jiabao, head of the publicity department of the Macao International Comedy Festival, receives the Weibo Performance of the Year award at the 2025 Weibo Night in Beijing, Feb. 5, 2026. [Photo courtesy of Weibo]

The award was shared with the Xiami Music & Arts Festival in Aranya, Qingdao Comedy Festival, Tencent Music Entertainment Awards and Wuzhen Theatre Festival.

The event also featured appearances by cast and crew from five anticipated Spring Festival films: "Blades of the Guardians," "Pegasus 3," "Scare Out," "Boonie Bears: The Hidden Protector" and "Panda Plan: The Magical Tribe."

Weibo, as a social media platform that tracks trending topics, uses Weibo Night to celebrate national pride, cultural heritage and perseverance, organizers said. The event blends entertainment with social values, turning every honor and story into a channel for positive energy.

The cast and crew of "Blades of the Guardians" promote the film at the 2025 Weibo Night in Beijing, Feb. 5, 2026. [Photo courtesy of Weibo]

The gala honored both personal and major public events. These included actor Wang Xing's rescue, a Thai cliff fall victim's divorce case, China's Sept. 3 military parade marking the 80th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, and the Zhuque-3 commercial rocket launch.

Unitree Robotics' dance demonstration and the Tongyi Qwen3 large language model were honored in the Sci-Tech Innovation Influence category.

Pop icon Xiao Zhan and actor Yang Mi receive Weibo King and Queen awards at the 2025 Weibo Night in Beijing, Feb. 5, 2026. [Photo courtesy of Weibo]

The annual Weibo Night, launched in 2004, honors figures in entertainment, culture, and significant social events. Organizers pledged to uphold its vision of "using the power of Weibo to make the world a better place" through innovation, value expansion and IP development, aiming to be a platform that connects the public and documents cultural moments.