Awards keep coming for iQiyi productions

Comedy series "My Heroic Husband," an iQiyi online production, recently won the Best Comedy Program award at the 2021 Asian Academy Creative Awards, part of the Singapore Media Festival.

The 36-episode series directed by Deng Ke follows the journey of a modern businessman who travels back to the 8th century in China and becomes a matrilocal son-in-law of a cloth merchant. With his modern know-how, he helps his wife run the family business.

The series is one of the most popular on iQiyi this year. The average click-through rate for each episode has surpassed 100 million. It has also aroused heated discussion on the Internet, such as the role men play in marriages and relationships, and the importance of being true to one's personal values.

This year's Asian Academy Creative Awards attracted high-quality television, film and online productions from many Asian countries, including Japan, South Korea and India.

It's not the first time original iQiyi productions have been recognized at global award festivals. Last year, its suspense thriller "The Bad Kids" won the Asia Content Awards' Best Creative Award and Newcomer Actor Award at the 25th Busan International Film Festival.

The 12-episode drama, which aired on iQiyi's Light On platform, is a story about three children who witness a murder in a small town. In early 2021, it was also aired on Wowow, a premium Japanese subscription-based satellite television channel.

In October, it won the Mini-Series Silver Bird Prize at the 2021 Seoul International Drama Awards.

According to Dai Ying, vice president of iQiyi, productions honored with international awards were usually shot from distinct perspectives.

iQiyi's Light On platform primarily broadcasts short suspense dramas, and has cultivated many loyal fans since the release of "The Bad Kids," "The Long Night" and "The Pavilion."

"The Long Night" is centered on a prosecutor who spends seven years searching for truth and justice in a murder case.

Helmed by award-winning director Wang Xiaoshuai, "The Pavilion" uncovers the truth and secrets behind the death of a teenage girl 19 years ago.

The latest production released on the platform is "Who is the Murderer?" Starring Xiao Yang, Dong Zijian and Zhao Liying, the 16-episode series examines how a serial killer has influenced several people's lives and destinies over the course of 17 years.

Light On will soon release "Gold Panning" and "Wisher."

Set in a mysterious jungle in southwest China, "Gold Panning" follows the adventurous journey of people digging for gold. "Wisher" is about a strange mobile app called Wisher that seems to fulfill any kind of wish while controlling many young people's lives.

Additionally, iQiyi will partner with Asian production companies to shoot original films and online series targeting Asian viewers. Among them are comedy sitcom "My Ofis," romantic series "Love You Later" and comedy film "Reunion Dinner."