List of Chinese Artists Nominated for the Korea International Streaming Festival

Kapanlagi.com - The Asian drama awards stage is once again filled with big names from the Chinese entertainment industry. The Korea International Streaming Festival (KISF), through the Global OTT Awards, has just announced the latest nomination list for the Asian Contents category, and a series of Chinese dramas are prominently featured this year.

From modern romance dramas, conflict-filled historical pieces, to grand visual fantasy and criminal thrillers, many Chinese projects have successfully entered the main categories. Not only the dramas, but also the actors, actresses, and OST singers are receiving attention through their nominations. Check out more details below.

1. Song Weilong Nominated for Best Actor Through Shine On Me (2025)

Portrait of Song Weilong (MyDramaList)

Song Weilong successfully received a Best Actor nomination for his role as Lin Yu Sen in Shine On Me (2025). This drama tells the story of Nie Xi Guang entering the workforce after experiencing unrequited love during college. The presence of Lin Yu Sen, a former doctor now working in the solar energy industry, becomes one of the emotional centers of the story.

Song Weilong's performance in this drama has been widely discussed because his character feels calm yet warm. His chemistry with Zhao Jinmai also helps make Shine On Me (2025) one of the standout modern romance dramas of its airing season.

2. Tian Xiwei Competing in the Best Actress Category

Portrait of Tian Xiwei (instagram.com/forxiaotian)

Tian Xiwei's name is nominated for Best Actress through the historical drama Pursuit of Jade (2026). In this drama, she plays Fan Chang Yu, the daughter of a butcher who must face war, loss, and a long journey to seek justice alongside a man who was initially only bound to her through a fake marriage.

The character Fan Chang Yu herself captures attention for her strong physical and emotional presence. This drama is also known for its intense blend of romance, war, and mystery, making Tian Xiwei's performance stand out even more in the eyes of international audiences.

3. Deng Kai Nominated for Best Supporting Actor

Portrait of Deng Kai (instagram.com/voguechina)

Deng Kai helped make Pursuit of Jade (2026) shine even more with his nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He plays Qi Min or Sui Yuan Huai in the drama, a character involved in a major conflict amidst the situation of war and power struggles.

Although he appears as a supporting actor, Deng Kai's presence is often discussed by viewers due to his strong aura in the costume drama. Pursuit of Jade (2026) has indeed become one of the Chinese projects that has appeared most frequently in this year's KISF nomination list.

4. Cai Wenjing Enters Best Supporting Actress with Thriller Drama

Portrait of Cai Wenjing (instagram.com/caiwenjing_vnfc)

The Best Supporting Actress category is filled by Cai Wenjing through the thriller drama The Devil Between Us (2026). In this thriller, she plays Li Xiao Ya amidst a story of a coastal city that descends into chaos due to the disappearance of a bag of drugs.

The story of this drama is filled with characters with complicated backgrounds, ranging from detectives, desperate fathers, to siblings caught in addiction. The dark and intense atmosphere of The Devil Between Us (2026) makes Cai Wenjing's performance feel different compared to the romance dramas that more often dominate streaming platforms.

5. Three Chinese Actors and Actresses Nominated for Best Newcomer

Portrait of Lai Weiming, Lin Muran, and Dou Jingtong (facebook.com)

This year's Best Newcomer category also features several young names from the Chinese entertainment industry who have started to gain attention through their latest drama projects.

Lai Weiming received a nomination for his role as Zhuang Xu in Shine On Me (2025). Although he appears as a supporting role, his character plays an important part in the emotional journey of Nie Xi Guang from college to entering the workforce.

Meanwhile, Lin Muran is nominated for Dead End (2025) as Ran Dong Dong. His name has also drawn attention as one of the young actors emerging in more serious and intense drama projects.

Additionally, Dou Jingtong also managed to secure a nomination thanks to his role as Liu Yan or 'Salty' in Her (2025). Leah Dou's presence is quite noteworthy as she was previously known as a singer before becoming more active in the acting world in recent years.

6. Born to Be Alive (2026) Nominated for Best Work

Poster of the Drama Born to Be Alive (MyDramaList)

The drama Born to Be Alive (2026) has successfully been nominated for Best Work. This project stars Yang Zi and Hu Ge, with a story set in the Qinghai-Tibet region since the 1990s.

The drama follows the journey of Bai Ju, who grows up in the Gobi Desert before eventually becoming a mountain patrol police officer. In addition to showcasing environmental and criminal conflicts, the story of Born to Be Alive (2026) also highlights the struggle to protect the homeland and the lives of the surrounding community.

7. Pursuit of Jade (2026) and Shine On Me (2025) Nominated for Best Asian Project

Pursuit of Jade and Shine on Me Drama Poster (MyDramaList)

This year's Best Asian Project category also includes a number of popular Chinese dramas throughout their airing season. Two titles that have successfully been nominated are Pursuit of Jade (2026) and Shine On Me (2025), with very different genres and story tones.

Pursuit of Jade (2026) presents a historical backdrop filled with war, revenge, and relationships evolving from a fake marriage to deeper love. This drama, starring Zhang Linghe and Tian Xiwei, is also known for its strong female lead character and quite intense battlefield action throughout the story.

Meanwhile, Shine On Me (2025) brings a warmer and more emotional modern romance vibe. This drama follows Nie Xi Guang's journey as he enters the workforce and slowly finds new love with Lin Yu Sen, a character played by Song Weilong. The chemistry between Song Weilong and Zhao Jinmai has also made this drama widely discussed by viewers since its premiere.

8. Love Beyond the Grave (2026) Dominates the Visual Category

Poster for the Drama Love Beyond the Grave (MyDramaList)

The fantasy drama Love Beyond the Grave (2026) received a nomination for Best Visual Effects. This drama stars Dilraba Dilmurat and Chen Feiyu, featuring a love story between a ghost queen and a mysterious young general.

The supernatural visuals and xuanhuan elements in this drama are indeed one of its main attractions. From the spirit world, combat effects, to its dark fantasy atmosphere, Love Beyond the Grave (2026) stands out compared to other dramas in the category.

9. In the Name of Justice (2025) Nominated for Best Streaming Original

Drama Poster In the Name of Justice (MyDramaList)

The Best Streaming Original category features the crime drama In the Name of Justice (2025). This drama tackles a major corruption case involving law enforcement in Haidong Province, complete with a lengthy investigation to uncover an organized crime network.

This drama stars Zhang Yi, Li Guangjie, Jiang Xin, and Liu Jia. Its serious tone and legal themes make it quite different compared to the dominance of romance in this year's nomination list.

10. List of Chinese Drama OST Competing

The Best OST category is also filled with big names from the Chinese music industry. Faye Wong and Dou Jingtong are nominated for the song 'You Are Here Too' from Her (2025), while JJ Lin competes with 'Careful With Fate' for Pursuit of Jade (2026). On the other hand, Zhang Hao is also nominated with 'Coming For You' from Shine On Me (2025).

The presence of these musicians shows that OSTs are still an important element that enhances the emotions and appeal of Asian streaming dramas, not just a complement to the story.

(kpl/chi)