The 'Unforgettable Gala Awards', co-hosted by Character Media and GoldenTV, is a prestigious ceremony with over 20 years of history, aiming to honor the outstanding achievements of Asian & Pacific Islander (API) artists and to expand opportunities and visibility for future generations.
This year's ceremony also saw director Chloé Zhao, an Academy Award nominee, receive the 'Global Icon Award', and Bowen Yang from 'The Wedding Banquet' win the 'Actor in Film' award, among other stars from the API community. Additionally, director Park Chan-wook of 'No Other Choice' won the 'Director Award', and actor Daniel Dae Kim received the 'Actor in Drama' award.
Before the ceremony, Arden Cho delivered a speech at the 'Asian Women Are Strong 2026: Beyond the Spotlight' panel in San Francisco and arrived at the event despite a flight delay to share the joy of the award. She expressed, "This film truly celebrates culture and community," adding, "It's a meaningful project completed by artists worldwide infusing their voices and life experiences."
The Vanguard Award is part of KDH's impressive award-winning journey. Arden Cho previously won the 'Best Voice Acting' award at the 53rd Annie Awards for her role in this film. Additionally, the film's soundtrack 'Golden' became the first K-pop song to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song, drawing global attention. This Unforgettable Awards win is seen as a symbolic recognition of the broader acceptance of API artists' stories and voices on the global stage, beyond mere entertainment achievements.