The 38th Golden Rooster Awards, held on November 15, 2025 in Xiamen, east China's Fujian Province, marked a historical night for 24 years old Chinese Actor Jackson Yee, who won the prestigious Best Actor award for his film "Big World" (小小的我) Where he played the Lead role Liu Chunhe (刘春和), a young man navigating life with cerebral palsy. He became the youngest Best Actor in the award’s history, breaking Liu Ye’s long-standing record of winning for 20 years.Liu Ye won the award at the age of 26 in 2004, and now Jackson Yee winning it at the age of just 24.
Jackson Yee had previously been nominated for Best Actor for “Better Days”, “A Little Red Flower”, and “Nice View”. After four nominations, he finally won the award, becoming the first post-2000s actor to receive the title.
His portrayal of Liu chunhe was widely praised & critically acclaimed and previously earned him the youngest ever recipient of the Best Actor award from China Film Directors' Guild (2024).Directors, including industry veterans like Wuershan (乌尔善), described Yee's portrayal as simply "too outstanding" to ignore. He captured the character's internal landscape – the simmering frustration, quiet resilience, and profound vulnerability – with a depth through meticulously crafted micro-expressions and constrained, authentic physicality. The role demanded more than acting; it required immersion.
On the 16th, Jackson Yee posted on social media to respond to his win. He wrote, “Thank you to everyone who supported ‘Big World.’ Being seen and recognized is a blessing for an actor. I will keep working hard and let my future projects speak for me,”
Launched in 1981, the Golden Rooster Awards is sponsored by the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles and the China Film Association.The name of the award came from the Year of the Rooster in 1981. Award recipients receive a statuette in the shape of a golden rooster, and are selected by a jury of filmmakers, film experts, and film historians. The awards are the Chinese equivalent to the American Academy Awards.
Source : Global Times China
