Ngô Kinh's martial arts film "The Outcast: Rise of the Desert" has made headlines as it competes for the Best Film award at the 2026 Bách Hoa Awards, one of the most prestigious film awards in mainland China. The nominations were announced on July 9, 2026, for the 38th edition of the awards, which are considered alongside the Golden Rooster and Huabiao Awards.

This year, the Best Film category features a competitive lineup of six films, including "My Little Boy," "The King’s Avatar: For the Glory," "Ne Zha: The Devil's Birth," "The Legend of the Condor Heroes," "Silent Sea," and Ngô Kinh's "The Outcast: Rise of the Desert." The latter has particularly caught the attention of audiences as it has broken box office records for martial arts films in China, grossing an impressive 1.448 billion yuan.

In the Best Actress category, the nominations have sparked discussions, especially with the inclusion of two young actresses born in 2001, Zhang Da Fei and Zhang Zi Feng. Zhang Zi Feng received nominations for her roles in "The Volunteer Army: The War of Life and Death" and "The Legend of the Condor Heroes." The other nominees include seasoned actresses from the 1980s, such as Ma Le, Wei Shi Yi, Song Jie, and Gao Die.

For Best Actor, 2000-born actor Yushi Tian Ti has made history as the youngest nominee for his portrayal of a boy with cerebral palsy in "My Little Boy." He faces competition from renowned actors including Jackie Chan, Leung Ka Fai, Wang Baoqiang, Zhu Yilong, and Liu Haoran.

The Best Supporting Actress category has garnered attention with nominations for two prominent actresses from the '85 Flower Generation,' Yang Mi and Liu Shishi, both recognized for their roles in "Silent Sea." Notably, Yang Mi has received nominations for two performances, including her role as Bai Fan in "Silent Sea" and Zheng Yuting in "The Fabric of Chang'an." The Best Supporting Actor category includes six nominees: Wu Zhi, Wang Jiu, Wang Chuanjun, Wen Junhui, Zhang Tan Cheng, and Huang Jingyu.

In a related announcement, actress Dương Tử has been appointed as the "Bách Hoa Beijing Promotion Ambassador," while Liu Haotong will serve as the "Bách Hoa Beijing Cultural Ambassador." Despite not being nominated due to the absence of a film release in the past year, Dương Tử remains a prominent figure in television, recently winning the Best Actress award at the 2026 Bạch Ngọc Lan Television Awards. Liu Haotong has also made waves with his leading role in the series "The Mastermind," which has achieved a rating of 4.615%, placing it at the top of Chinese television ratings for 2026 so far.

The 38th Bách Hoa Awards will take place in Beijing from August 7 to 10, with the awards ceremony scheduled for August 10.