Hong Kong Film Awards

Martial Media, Culture and Other Arts Martial Media and Popular Culture
1

Thought about putting this in the Warlords thread, but then thought Lust Caution, and even pondered RH3.

‘Protege,’ ‘The Warlords’ top contenders at Hong Kong Film Awards
The Associated Press
Published: February 2, 2008

HONG KONG: “Protege,” the story of a drug dealer’s downfall, and the historical epic “The Warlords” were among the leading contenders in the nominations list announced Saturday by the Hong Kong Film Awards, one of Chinese film’s top honors.

Derek Yee’s “Protege” was nominated in 15 out of 17 possible categories and Peter Chan’s “The Warlords,” about the friendship between three mercenaries in 19th century China, received 13 nominations.

Both movies are up for both best movie and best director honors.

Also up for best movie are Ann Hui’s “Postmodern Life of My Aunt,” Johnnie To and Wai Ka-fai’s “Mad Detective” and Yau Nai-hoi’s police thriller “Eye in the Sky.”

Both Jet Li and Andy Lau were nominated for best actor in “The Warlords,” competing against Aaron Kwok (“The Detective”), a two-time best actor winner at Taiwan’s Golden Horse Awards.

China’s Zhang Jingchu, who appeared in “Rush Hour 3,” is competing for top acting honors for her performance in “Protege,” against compatriot Siqin Gaowa, the star of “Postmodern Life of My Aunt,” and Taiwan’s Rene Liu, who was nominated for “Kidnap.”

A glaring absence is Oscar-winning Taiwanese director Ang Lee’s spy thriller “Lust, Caution,” one of the most discussed Chinese-language movies last year.

It didn’t qualify for any of the major categories at the Hong Kong event because not enough locals worked on the film, even though the movie stars Hong Kong’s Tony Leung Chiu-wai.

“Lust, Caution” was nominated for best Asian movie instead, a category for non-Hong Kong movies.

The nominations reflect a Chinese movie industry whose talent is gravitating toward fewer and larger productions.

Many of the most prominent nominees worked on each other’s films.

Lau starred in both “The Warlords” and “Protege.” Chan directed “The Warlords” but also served as one of the producers for “Protege.” To co-directed “Mad Detective” but also co-produced “Eye in the Sky.”

Sammo Hung
2

Hkfa

They’re lovin’ Painted Skin in Asia. That’s great for our man, Donnie Yen.

Karena Lam “Snoops” Hong Kong Film Awards
Channel NewsAsia - Tuesday, January 6

Movie “Claustrophobia”, starring Ekin Cheng and Karena Lam, found itself qualifying for the preliminary voting in the coming Hong Kong Film Awards (HKFA) even before the movie’s official launch. According to reports, the movie has made five screenings in November last year; therefore meeting the entry criteria. Female lead, Lam, now stands a chance for the “Best Actress” award against acclaimed China actress Zhou Xun. The latter is made eligible with her work in “Painted Skin” and “All about Women” screened in 2008.

The annual HKFA will be held in April this year. Qualifying works, including Hong Kong and regional Asian films in 2008 have been announced. Preliminary selection will commence soon.

Directed by former winner of “Best Screenplay” in HKFA, Ivy Ho, “Claustrophobia” is set for official release on Feb 12 in Hong Kong. Film distributor explains that the film has had five screenings back in Nov 2008 in AMC cinemas, hence qualifying for entry.

According to the HKFA general rules, criteria includes: having a film no less than 60 minutes; being commercially released in Hong Kong; screenings must fall between calendar year of assessment; and have at least five screenings in a single week.

Besides Zhou, Lam might also find herself running against Prudence Liew and Monica Mok for the award.

3

Hong Kong Film Awards

Good for Lau Kar-leung. He’s always been one of my heroes.

Kung fu filmmaker Lau nabs lifetime honour
Last Updated: Friday, April 9, 2010 | 12:06 PM ET

Veteran Hong Kong filmmaker and fight choreographer Lau Kar-leung, best known for directing kung fu classics such asThe 36th Chamber of Shaolin, will be celebrated for his contribution to cinema at the upcoming Hong Kong Film Awards this month.

Lau is this year’s recipient of the lifetime achievement prize for his “outstanding achievements in martial arts film, which made martial arts film into an important asset in the heritage of Hong Kong cinema,” organizers announced Friday.

The 73-year-old Lau will be presented the honour at the 29th edition of the awards gala, set for April 18.

Lau was born into both kung fu and filmmaking. His father studied under a student of Chinese folk hero Wong Fei-hung and also consulted on, choreographed the action for and starred in early kung fu movies.

Over a career spanning five decades, Lau progressed from being a martial arts stuntman in films with his father to choreographing fights in movies and directing his own.

His work spans classics such as 36 Chambers, Heroes of the East, Dirty Ho and My Young Auntie, which he helmed for the legendary Shaw Brothers studio, to Jackie Chan’s Drunken Master II to consulting for the 2005 Tsui Hark film Seven Swords.

4

And the winner is…

Bodyguards and Assassins

‘Bodyguards and Assassins’ dominates HK awards
By MIN LEE (AP) 16 hours ago

HONG KONG An action thriller about a group of volunteers who protect modern China’s founding father from imperial assassins dominated the Hong Kong Film Awards, winning best film and seven other awards.

“Bodyguards and Assassins” also clinched best director for Hong Kong filmmaker Teddy Chen.

“Echoes of the Rainbow,” a nostalgic look back at 1960s Hong Kong, won best script for director Alex Law. Veteran Simon Yam, who plays a quiet, hardworking cobbler in the movie, was named best actor at Sunday’s ceremony.

Wai Ying-hung was crowned best actress for portraying a single mother whose son faces rape charges in “At the End of Daybreak.”

Best supporting actor went to Nicholas Tse, who was a rickshaw driver in “Bodyguards and Assassins.” Michelle Ye won best supporting actress for “Accident,” in which she is part of a criminal team that masquerades murders as accidents.

Producer Huang Jianxin hailed “Bodyguards and Assassins” as a successful Hong Kong-China co-production that packages a Hong Kong story for mainland audiences at a time when the two industries are increasingly integrated. The fusing of the two film cultures has sometimes made for bland kung fu and historical epics that have appalled critics.

Set in 1906 Hong Kong, Chen’s movie is about a scrappy team of volunteers who shepherd revolutionary Sun Yat-sen to a key meeting with his allies, fending off scores of assassins dispatched by the Chinese empress. It was a big box office hit in the mainland, earning 300 million Chinese yuan ($44 million).

“This movie is based on Hong Kong subject matter. It’s a Hong Kong story. But it was embraced and praised by mainland audiences … so I want to say co-productions can be well done, as long as we work hard at them and earn the trust of the audience,” Huang said.

While “Bodyguards and Assassins” was an example of Hong Kong-mainland co-operation, “Echoes of the Rainbow” endeared fans with a strictly local flavor. Law used his childhood memories to tell the touching story of cobbler and wife struggling to make ends meet while caring for a cancer-stricken son in British-ruled Hong Kong. The family drama became a huge source of local pride after winning the Crystal Bear for youth-themed movies at the Berlin International Film Festival earlier this year.

Law thanked Yam and co-star Sandra Ng for taking a pay cut to help him tell a deeply personal story.

“I could not afford you at all, but you helped me realize this dream,” Law said.

“Echoes of the Rainbow” won best new actor for Aarif Lee, who also performed the movie’s theme song named best original song.

Yam demonstrated his versatility by being nominated for two films in the best actor category. He also played a violent husband who murders his whole family in Ann Hui’s “Night and Fog.”

Comparing himself to a Hong Kong snack, Yam thanked the filmmakers behind both of this nominated performances, saying," This pineapple bun can create a murder, but the same pineapple bun can also produce a moving story."

Veteran Hong Kong actress Wai completed a clean sweep of the awards season. Her performance in “At the End of Daybreak” also earned her acting honors at Taiwan’s Golden Horse Awards last year and at the recent Asian Film Awards. It also marked a remarkable comeback for Wai, who struggled with a career downturn and depression.

“I’m not ashamed to tell you that I had at one point given up on my life. I really couldn’t see how my future would pan out. But now I’m very confident. I know I belong to the movies. I know I belong to acting,” a tearful Wai said.

Organizers observed a moment of silence in honor of the victims of the massive earthquake in China’s western Qinghai province last week.

A group of young boys paid tribute to late kung fu star Bruce Lee ahead of what would have been his 70th birthday on Nov. 27 by donning his trademark yellow jumpsuit and performing with nunchakus - two-stick weapons he popularized in the West.

Director and martial arts choreographer Lau Kar-leung, whose credits include “The 36th Chamber of Shaolin” and “Drunken Master II,” was presented with the lifetime achievement award.

Kungfu thriller “Bodyguards and Assassins” dominates HK Film Awards
English.news.cn 2010-04-19 02:01:21 FeedbackPrintRSS

Hong Kong actors Wai Ying-hung and Simon Yam pose for pictures at the backstage after winning the Best Actress and Best Actor awards at the 29th Hong Kong Film Awards held in Hong Kong, south China, April 18, 2010. (Xinhua Photo)

HONG KONG, April 18 (Xinhua) – Kungfu thriller “Bodyguards and Assassins”, which tells a story of a group of men in early-20th- century Hong Kong who protected Sun Yat-sen from assassination, clinched best film and best director at the 29th Hong Kong Film Awards on Sunday.

“Bodyguards and Assassins” tells a story about a group of volunteers who tried their best and sacrificed their lives to protect the founding father of the Republic of China from assassins.

Hong Kong filmmaker Teddy Chen, who made this film out of ten years’ waiting and efforts, won the best director award.

Best supporting actor went to Nicholas Tse, who was a rickshaw driver in “Bodyguards and Assassins”.

Besides the action thriller, local favorite “Echoes of the Rainbow”, the first Hong Kong film that won a crystal bear at the 60th Berlin Film Festival this year, also shone at the Hong Kong Film Awards ceremony Sunday night.

With a nostalgic lookback at 1960s Hong Kong, the low-budget film also played a dark horse at local box office this year.

The film won the best script for Director Alex Law, who told the story of his elder brother died young in the film.

He expressed his gratitude for his life partner and the film’s producer Mabel Cheung, who became well-known in 1987 for their award-winning “An Autumn’s Tale” featuring a love story of Chinese immigrants in New York city.

Veteran Simon Yam, who plays a quiet, hardworking father in the film, was crowned the best actor.

“One should always adhere to his belief,” he quoted lines from the film to encourage Hong Kong filmmakers.

As the first best actress in the history of Hong Kong Film Awards 28 years ago, local veteran Wai Ying-hung burst into tears after she was named best actress once again for portraying a single mother whose son faces rape charges in “At the End of Daybreak”.

Hong Kong actress Michelle Ye won best supporting actress for " Accident

5

In the wake of HKFA

More on Chollywood to come…:wink:

Hong Kong’s beleaguered film sector hopes for rebirth
By Peter Brieger (AFP) – 13 hours ago

HONG KONG — Hong Kong’s beleaguered film industry was a global powerhouse just two decades ago, pumping out 300 movies a year and boasting a fan base that stretched across Asia.

Led by up-and-coming action stars Jackie Chan and Chow Yun-fat along with director John Woo, the city’s film sector was among the world’s most prolific by the late eighties, trailing only Hollywood and Bollywood.

Woo – whose later directorial credits include “Face/Off” and “Mission: Impossible II” – won acclaim for his gritty 1992 cop thriller “Hard Boiled”, which became synonymous with the wildly popular Hong Kong action genre.

“That’s when Hong Kong film was in its golden age,” said director Mabel Cheung, who jointly produced the drama “Echoes of the Rainbow”, which won the Berlin International Film Festival’s Crystal Bear Award in February.

“There was a big market for Hong Kong films with all of these big names back then who were just starting. It was a very exciting time.”

As the Hong Kong Film Awards drew to a close Sunday night, Cheung and others said they hoped the hard-hit sector would enjoy a revival by tapping the mainland Chinese market.

The industry’s swift and brutal fall from grace came as Hollywood lured away Woo and other film giants, moviegoers at home and abroad grew tired of the city’s formulaic action plots and illicit piracy hammered profits.

Some of Hong Kong’s traditional markets, including Taiwan, Korea and Malaysia, also began developing their own cinema sectors, another blow to its once-mighty film industry, which splashed onto the international scene in the early seventies with late Kung Fu legend Bruce Lee’s martial arts blockbusters.

By 2003, the sector was a shell of its former self with spiralling box office receipts and producing just 55 films a year.

“Audiences got tired of the same film over and over again,” Cheung said.

“They demanded new ideas. For a while, Hong Kong films lost direction.”

Now there are early signs Hong Kong’s film sector may claw back some of its former glory with a new generation of directors eager to make a name for themselves, experts said.

“There is new blood pumping into an old industry and there is a general trend worldwide that people want to see local films,” said Jacob Wong, curator of the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society.

The number of Hong Kong productions – estimated to contribute about 4.25 billion US dollars annually to the local economy – has been rising in recent years and the government is pouring money into a film development fund.

“That’s how ‘Echoes of the Rainbow’ got made,” Cheung said, referring to the fund. “Otherwise, it might not have seen the light of day.”

Hong Kong’s stylistic filmmaking still holds wide appeal, Wong said, pointing to American director Martin Scorsese’s Oscar-winning 2006 film “The Departed”, which was a remake of the 2002-2003 “Infernal Affairs” trilogy.

Another homegrown success story, “Bodyguards and Assassins”, was one of the best-selling movies on the Chinese mainland last year, he said.

“It’s not a watershed, although it marks a turning point,” Wong added.

Still, the industry’s future success depends largely on whether it can become a major player in the fast-growing mainland Chinese market, observers said.

“The (industry) is coming back because of the huge market in China,” said Brian Chung, chief executive of the Hong Kong Motion Picture Industry Association.

“There are maybe 5,000 movie screens in China right now. In five years, there will be 10,000. More screens means more money.”

Hong Kong directors, who are already accustomed to tailoring films to different markets, have an edge over mainland producers, who often have a less international outlook, and are familiar with Chinese audiences’ tastes, Chung said.

“The advantage Hong Kong directors have is that they can make a commercial film better than a director in China,” he told AFP.

“The Chinese director treats the work as art, but the Hong Kong director will think of the film as a product suitable for the market.”

There is also room for the Hong Kong and mainland film sectors to join forces with co-productions such as 2008 historical war epic “Red Cliff”, which smashed Chinese box-office records, observers said.

Wong, from the film festival society, agreed that Hong Kong directors should focus on places “where people use chopsticks”, but said producing a film in censorship-heavy mainland China can limit what sort of films get made.

“I’m cautiously optimistic about the industry,” he said. “But I’m pessimistic about quality.”

Perry Lam, editor of Hong Kong arts and culture magazine Muse, is not convinced the mainland market will be enough to ensure the industry can turn itself around.

“One can easily find cogent reasons for arguing that the future of Hong Kong cinema lies in embracing the Chinese market,” Lam said.

“Nevertheless, I smell more desperation than inspiration in the latest race to make the Hong Kong cinema mainland-friendly.”

6

More on HKFA

Sounds like this was a great awards for the kung fu film genre. Hopefully this will elicit growth.

Slaying the competition
by Sharon Wong

A HISTORICAL action thriller revolving around a motley group of volunteers who give their lives to protect Dr Sun Yat Sun during his visit to Hongkong grabbed top honours at the 29th Hong Kong Film Awards 2010 last Sunday night.

Bodyguards and Assassins took home eight awards including best film, best director for Teddy Chen, as well as best action choreography, best supporting actor, best cinematography, best costume and make-up design, best art direction and best original film score.

Producer Peter Chan was especially moved to receive the best film award, this being his first award as a producer. He said most know him as a director despite the fact that he has produced numerous movies. Thus, winning this award is extra meaningful.

Echos of the Rainbow, which takes a nostalgic look at 1960s Hongkong, bagged four awards including best actor for Simon Yam, best new performer for Aarif Lee, best screenplay as well as the best original film song.

For Kara Hui (aka Wai Yin Hung), who took home the best actress award, the win was especially meaningful as Hui was the first recipient of the award at the first Hong Kong Film Awards 28 years ago!

Hui won this time for her stirring performance as a single mother fighting to free her son who is charged with rape in At the End of Daybreak.

The lifetime achievement award went to veteran martial artiste Lau Kar-leong, who was lauded with an impressive three-tiered lion dance.

Lau reminisced on the beginnings of kung fu as an art in films and revealed a little-known fact – that he is the fourth generation disciple of the legendary Wong Fei Hung.

“He [Wong] left me a legacy – kung fu,” he said, to thunderous applause.

He and his wife later presented the award for best action choreography, which went to Stephen Tung and Lee Tat-chiu for Bodyguards and Assassins.

The night also saw a series of songs extolling the virtues of kung fu and as a tribute to Bruce Lee as well as displays of the art including a performance by a group of little Bruce Lee-wannabes.

Prior to the announcement of the best original film song winner (which was won by Echos of the Rainbow), the nominated songs were presented by their respective singers - Aarif Lee for Echos of the Rainbow; Chris Lee for Bodyguards and Assassins; A-lan for Red Cliff 2; Stefanie Sun for Mulan; and The Pancakes for McDull Kung Fu Ding Ding Dong.

Kudos to all the stars who graced the event as well as the presenters, especially Lau Ching-wan and Nick Cheung, who poked fun at their friends and themselves and were hilarious without being overboard.

This year, there was also an unofficial award for best dressed couple, which went to Nicholas Tse, who appeared in fiery red and Denise Ho who looked elegant in a sexy little off-shoulder black number.

While Ho lost out the best supporting actress award to Michelle Yip for her role in Accident, Tse received his second best supporting actor award (he took home the same award at the recent Asian Film Awards) for his brilliant performance as a rickshaw driver in Bodyguards and Assassins.

The organising committee also turned serious at one point to observe a minute of silence for all the victims of recent disasters.

7

Hkfa 2011

Nice to see so many martial arts films recognized this year. This trend is why I started my Chollywood Rising column in our print magazine last year. I was hoping that the trend I was seeing wasn’t just my own martial myopia.

* February 8, 2011, 6:26 PM HKT

‘Detective Dee’ Tops HK Film Award Nominees

Director Tsui Hark’s Tang Dynasty-era whodunit leads this year’s Hong Kong Film Awards race with 13 nominations, including best film and best director.

“Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame” also received a nod for best actress — Carina Lau — as well as two best-supporting actor nominations for Tony Leung Ka-fai and Deng Chao, and a string of technical recognitions.

The US$15 million production made extensive use of computer graphics to re-create a bustling palace and metropolis in 7th-century China.

“Reign of Assassins,” a Ming Dynasty-era martial-arts film from Taiwanese director Su Chao-pin (with co-director John Woo) starring Michelle Yeoh, received 11 nominations, while “Ip Man 2,” director Wilson Yip’s sequel to the 2008 film on the life of the legendary kung-fu master starring Donnie Yen, received 10. Both films were nominated for best film and best director.

Rounding out the best-film nominations: “Gallants,” a rollicking homage to 1970s Hong Kong kung-fu movies from co-directors Derek Kwok and Clement Cheng; and director Dante Lam’s police-action film “The Stool Pigeon.” Both films were also nominated in the best-director category.

Best-actor nominations went to Chow Yun-fat (“Confucius”), Jacky Cheung (“Crossing Hennessy”), Tong Leung Ka-fai (“Bruce Lee, My Brother”), Nick Cheung Ka-fai (“The Stool Pigeon”) and Nicholas Tse (“The Stool Pigeon”).

Best actress nominations include Fiona Sit (“Break Up Club”), Tang Wei (“Crossing Hennessy”), Miriam Yeung (“Love in a Puff”), Ms. Lau (“Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame”) and Josie Ho (“Dream Home”).

The nominations for the 30th Hong Kong Film Awards were announced Tuesday afternoon. The awards ceremony will take place on April 17 at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre.

A full list of the nominees:

Best Film

“Gallants”
“Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame”
“Ip Man 2”
“Reign of Assassins”
“The Stool Pigeon”

Best Director

Derek Kwo Tsz-kin and Clement Cheng, “Gallants”
Tsui Hark, “Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame”
Yip Wai-shun, “Ip Man 2”
Su Chao-pin, “Reign Of Assassins”
Dante Lam Chiu-yin, “The Stool Pigeon”

Best Screenplay

Lawrence Cheng Tan-shui and Barbara Wong, “Break Up Club”
Ivy Ho, “Crossing Hennessy”
Derek Kwok Tsz-kin, Clement Cheng and Frankie Tam Kwong-yuen, “Gallants”
Pang Ho-cheung and Heiward Mak, “Love In A Puff”
Jack Ng, “The Stool Pigeon”

Best Actor

Chow Yun-fat, “Confucius”
Jacky Cheung, “Crossing Hennessy”
Tony Leung Ka-fai, “Bruce Lee, My Brother”
Nick Cheung Ka-fai, “The Stool Pigeon”
Nicholas Tse, “The Stool Pigeon”

Best Actress

Fiona Sit, “Break Up Club”
Tang Wei, “Crossing Hennessy”
Miriam Yeung, “Love in a Puff”
Carina Lau, “Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame”
Josie Ho, “Dream Home”

Best Supporting Actor

Teddy Robin, “Gallants”
Tony Leung Ka-fai, “Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame”
Deng Chao, “Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame”
Wang Xueqi, “Reign of Assassins”
Liu Kai-chi, “The Stool Pigeon”

Best Supporting Actress

Mimi Chu, “Crossing Hennessy”
Paw Hee-ching, “Crossing Hennessy”
Susan Shaw, “Gallants”
Zhang Jing-chu, “City Under Siege”
Candice Yu, “Once a Gangster”

Best New Performer

Jing Boran, “Hot Summer Days”
Byron Pang, “Amphetamine”
Hanjin Tan, “Bruce Lee, My Brother”
Dennis To, “Ip Man 2”
Dennis To, “The Legend Is Born — Ip Man”

Best Cinematography

Peter Pau, “Confucius”
Chan Chi-ying and Chan Chor-keung, “Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame”
Jason Kwan, “Merry-Go-Round”
Poon Hang-sang, “Ip Man 2”
Horace Wong, “Reign of Assassins”

Best Film Editing

Yau Chi Wai, “Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame”
Cheung Ka-fai, “Ip Man 2”
Cheung Ka-fai, “Reign of Assassins”
Kong Chi-leung, “Triple Tap”
Chan Ki-hop and Matthew Hui, “The Stool Pigeon”

Best Art Direction

Lin Chao-xiang and Mao Huai-qing, “Confucius”
Silver Cheung, “Bruce Lee, My Brother”
James Choo, Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame”
Kenneth Mak, “Ip Man 2”
Yang Bai-gu and Simon So, “Reign of Assassins”

Best Costume and Make-Up Design

Yee Chung-man, “Confucius”
Stanley Cheung, “Bruce Lee, My Brother”
Bruce Yu Ka-on, “Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame”
Dora Ng Li-lo, “Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen”
Emi Wada, “Reign of Assassins”

Best Action Choreography

Yuen Tak, “Gallants”
Sammo Hung, “Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame”
Sammo Hung, “Ip Man 2”
Donnie Yen, “Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen”
Stephen Tung, “Reign Of Assassins”

Best Original Score

Mak Chun-hung, “Break Up Club”
Teddy Robin and Tommy Wai, “Gallants”
Peter Kam Pui-tat, “Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame”
Kenji Kawai, “Ip Man 2”
Peter Kam Pui-tat, “Reign pf Assassins”

Best Sound Design

Wang Dan-rong and Zhao Nan, “Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame”
Kinson Tsang and George Lee, “Ip Man 2”
Kinson Tsang, “Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen”
Tu Duu-chih, “Dream Home”
Kinson Tsang, “The Stool Pigeon”

Best Visual Effects

Lee Yong-gi and Nam Sang-woo, “Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame”
Henri Wong, “Ip Man 2”
Victor Wong, “Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen”
Andrew Lin, Ho Pui-kin, Leung Wai-kit and Ng Yuen-fai, “Dream Home”
Foo Sing Choong, “Reign of Assassins”

Best New Director

Ivy Ho, “Crossing Hennessy”
Felix Chong Man-keung, “Once a Gangster”
Freddie Wong Kwok-shiu, “The Drunkard”

Best Asian Film
“Under The Hawthorn Tree”

“Seven Days in Heaven”
“Confessions”
“After Shock”
“Monga”

Correction

“Reign of Assassins” received 11 nominations. An earlier version of this article incorrectly said it received 10.

8

top three all martial

Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame 13 nominations
Reign of Assassins (Jianyu Jianghu) 11 nominations
Ip Man 2 10 nominations

I still gotta see Gallants.

‘Detective,’ ‘Assassins’ top Hong Kong nominees
(AP) – 1 day ago

HONG KONG (AP) — Director Tsui Hark’s new costume drama, former Bond girl Michelle Yeoh’s latest kung fu thriller and Donnie Yen’s second biopic of Bruce Lee’s kung fu master were the top nominees in the Hong Kong Film Awards shortlist announced on Tuesday.

Tsui’s “Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame” was nominated in 13 categories. The Hong Kong filmmaker’s latest picture was also nominated for the top Golden Lion Award at the Venice Film Festival last year.

“Reign of Assassins,” which stars Yeoh as a killer who uses plastic surgery to escape her past, is up for 11 awards. Yen’s portrayal of a famed Hong Kong martial arts teacher, “Ip Man 2,” had 10 nominations.

The three pictures are contending for best movie honors against the kung fu comedy “Gallants” and the Dante Lam police thriller “The Stool Pigeon.”

Lam, Tsui and “Ip Man 2” director Wilson Yip are vying for the best director trophy against Taiwanese filmmaker Su Chao-pin, who made “Reign of Assassins,” and Derek Kwok and Clement Cheng, the two-man team behind “Gallants.”

Hong Kong veteran Chow Yun-fat is among the best actor nominees, shortlisted for his role as the ancient Chinese sage Confucius in last year’s biopic. He is competing against Chinese pop legend Jacky Cheung, who played a shopkeeper who dodges matchmaking attempts in the romantic comedy “Crossing Hennessy,” and Tony Leung Ka-fai, who starred as the father in “Bruce Lee, My Brother,” a biopic that focuses on the late kung fu icon’s youth.

“The Stool Pigeon” was double-nominated in the category, with both Nick Cheung and Nicholas Tse in the running for their roles as a police inspector and an informant.

The best actress competition pits Chinese actress Tang Wei against Hong Kongers Carina Lau, Miriam Yeung, Fiona Sit and Josie Ho. Tang played Jacky Cheung’s love interest in “Crossing Hennessy” — her first role since being catapulted to fame by her starring role in Oscar-winning director Ang Lee’s 2007 World War II-era spy thriller “Lust, Caution.”

Lau played a Chinese empress in “Detective Dee,” a murder mystery that features the real-life Tang Dynasty detective, Di Renjie. Yeung portrayed a cosmetics saleswoman who has a romance with a fellow smoker in “Love in a Puff.” Sit starred alongside Jackie Chan’s son, Jaycee, in the romance “Break Up Club,” while Ho, the daughter of Macau casino tycoon Stanley Ho, played a serial killer upset by Hong Kong’s expensive real-estate prices in “Dream Home.”

The winners will be announced in an awards ceremony on April 17.

Along with Taiwan’s Golden Horse Awards, the Hong Kong Film Awards ceremony is one of the Chinese-language industry’s top events, closely watched because this southern Chinese territory remains a leading hub for film talent despite the rapid growth of the mainland industry.

9

H.K.F.A. results

It’s all about Gallants & Dee.

Winners at the 30th Hong Kong Film Awards
By The Associated Press
Sunday, April 17, 2011

(04-17) 09:02 PDT , (AP) –

Winners at the 30th Hong Kong Film Awards, announced late Sunday:

Best film: “Gallants”

Best director: Tsui Hark, “Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame”

Best screenplay: Pang Ho-cheung and Heiward Mak, “Love In a Puff”

Best actor: Nicholas Tse, “The Stool Pigeon”

Best actress: Carina Lau, “Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame”

Best supporting actor: Teddy Robin, “Gallants”

Best supporting actress: Susan Shaw, “Gallants”

Best new performer: Hanjin Tan, “Bruce Lee, My Brother”

Best cinematography: Peter Pau, “Confucius”

Best film editing: Cheung Ka-fai, “Ip Man 2”

Best art direction: James Choo, “Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame”

Best costume and make-up design: Bruce Yu, “Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame”

Best action choreography: Sammo Hung, “Ip Man 2”

Best original film score: Teddy Robin and Tommy Wai, “Gallants”

Best original film song: “Here to Stay,” music, lyrics and performed by Jun Kung

Best sound design: Wang Danrong and Zhao Nan, “Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame”

Best visual effects: Lee Yong-gi and Nam Sang-woo, “Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame”

Best new director: Felix Chong, “Once a Gangster”

Best Asian film: “Confessions” (Japan)

Professional achievement: Willie Chan

Lifetime achievement: Terry Lai

10

It’s awards season!

I poached all the HKFA posts off the Asian Film Festivals and Awards thread to make this new thread.

Bullet, War lead HK Awards nominations
By Patrick Frater
Wed, 06 February 2013, 10:55 AM (HKT)

The Bullet Vanishes (pictured), and Cold War (2000) grabbed the lion’s share of nominations for the Hong Kong Film Awards. The Silent War and The Viral Factor were close behind.

Bullet Vanishes claimed 12 nominations, Cold War 11, Silent War 8 and Viral Factor 7. Also not far off were Vulgaria and Motorway , with six each.

Best film nominations were bestowed on Vulgaria, Motorway, Bullet, Viral Factor and Cold War.

There were personal triumphs for ZHOU Xun , who collected two nominations for best actress in The Great Magician and Silent War, and for writer-director PANG Ho-cheung , who earned six nominations for Vulgaria and a further three for Love in the Buff .

HONG KONG FILM AWARDS NOMINATIONS 2013

Best Film
The Bullet Vanishes
Cold War
Motorway
The Viral Factor
Vulgaria

Best Director
Soi CHEANG (Motorway)
Pang Ho-cheung (Love In The Buff)
LO Chi-leung (The Bullet Vanishes)
Dante LAM (The Viral Factor)
Longman LEUNG , Sunny LUK (Cold War)

Best Screenplay
Pang Ho-cheung, LAM Chiu-wing , Jody LUK (Vulgaria)
Pang Ho-cheung, Jody Luk (Love in the Buff)
Lo Chi-leung, YEUNG Sin-ling (The Bullet Vanishes)
Longman Leung, Sunny Luk (Cold War)
Alan MAK , Felix CHONG (The Silent War)

Best Actor
Nick CHEUNG (Nightfall )
Chapman TO (Vulgaria)
Lau Ching-wan (The Bullet Vanishes)
Tony LEUNG Ka-fai (Cold War)
Tony LEUNG Chiu-wai (The Silent War)

Best Actress
Zhou Xun (The Great Magician)
Miriam YEUNG (Love in the Buff)
Sammi CHENG (Romancing in Thin Air)
Elanne KWONG (Love Lifting (2011))
Zhou Xun (The Silent War)

Best Supporting Actor
Ronald CHENG (Vulgaria)
LIU Kai-chi (The Bullet Vanishes)
Gordon LAM (Cold War)
Chapman To (Diva)
Alex MAN (The Bounty )

Best Supporting Actress
Susan SHAW (Vulgaria)
Dada CHAN (Vulgaria)
JIANG Yiyan (The Bullet Vanishes)
Elaine JIN (The Viral Factor)
Mavis FAN (The Silent War)

Best New Performer
ZHANG Lanxin (CZ12 )
Joyce FENG (The Last Tycoon )
Jayden YUAN (Taichi Zero , Taichi Hero )
Alex Tsui (Cold War)

Best Cinematography
Andrew LAU , Jason KWAN (The Last Tycoon)
CHAN Chi-ying (The Bullet Vanishes)
Kenny TSE (The Viral Factor)
Jason Kwan, Kenny Tse (Cold War)
Anthony PUN (The Silent War)

Best Film Editing
YAU Chi-wai (CZ12)
David RICHARDSON, Allen LEUNG (Motorway)
KWONG Chi-leung , Ron CHAN (The Bullet Vanishes)
Azrael CHUNG (The Viral Factor)
Kwong Chi-leung, WONG Hoi (Cold War)

Best Art Direction
YEE Chung-man , Eric LAM (The Last Tycoon)
Timothy YIP (Taichi Zero, Taichi Hero)
LAU Sai-wan (The Guillotines)
Silver CHEUNG , LEE Kin-wai (The Bullet Vanishes)
MAN Lim-chung (The Silent War)

Best Costume & Make Up Design
Yee Chung-man, Jessie TAI (The Great Magician)
Timothy Yip (Taichi Zero, Taichi Hero)
Dora NG (The Guillotines )
Stanley CHEUNG (The Bullet Vanishes)
Man Lim Chung (The Silent War)

Best Action Choreography
Jackie CHAN , HE Jun (CZ12)
Sammo HUNG (Taichi Zero, Taichi Hero)
CHIN Ka-lok , WONG Wai-fai , Thomson NG (Motorway)
Dante Lam, Chin Ka-lok, Wong Wai-fai, Thomas Ng (The Viral Factor)
Chin Ka-lok & Wong Wai-fai (Cold War)

Best Original Film Score
Comfort CHAN , Yu Peng (The Last Tycoon)
TEDDY Robin , Tommy WAI (The Bullet Vanishes)
Peter KAM (Cold War)
Eman LAM & Veronica LEE (Diva)
Comfort Chan (The Silent War)

Best Original Film Song
The Last Tycoon
The Guillotines
Romancing in Thin Air
Lan Kwai Fong 2
Diva

Best Sound Design
Kinson TSANG (The Guillotines)
Benny Chu & Steve Miller (Motorway)
Phyllis CHENG (The Bullet Vanishes)
Kinson Tsang (The Viral Factor)
Kinson Tsang (Cold War)

Best Visual Effects
HAN Yeong-u , Victor WONG , Patrick Chui, Jang Seong-ho (CZ12)
Chas CHAU , Kim HO , NG Yuen-fai , A Law (Tai Chi Zero, Tai Chi Hero)
Victor Wong (The Guillotines)
Law Wai-ho & Hellowing Cheung (Motorway)
Cecil Cheng (Cold War)

Best New Director
Roy CHOW (Nightfall)
Brian TSE (McDull, the Pork of Music )
Andrew FUNG (The Bounty)

Best Film from Mainland and Taiwan
Back to 1942
Gf*Bf
Love Is Not Blind (2011)
Painted Skin: The Resurrection
Love

11

33rd HKFA

Here are our threads on the nominees:
Grandmaster
Journey to the West
Unbeatable
Young Detective Dee
Did I miss any?

Grandmaster leads HK Film Award nominations
By Kevin Ma
Thu, 06 February 2014, 09:15 AM (HKT)

Nominations for the 33rd Hong Kong Film Awards were announced yesterday in Hong Kong. The Grandmaster leads the pack with a total of 14 nominations out of 19 categories.

WONG Kar-wai 's martial arts epic’s nominations include Best Actor (Tony LEUNG Chiu-wai ), Best Actress (ZHANG Ziyi ), Best Screenplay, Best Director and Best Picture.

This is the most number of nominations a Wong Kar-wai film has received at the awards.

Joining The Grandmaster in the Best Picture category are Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons , The White Storm , The Way We Dance and Unbeatable .

Unbeatable received the second highest number of nominations with 11, including Best Director (Dante LAM ), Best Actor (Nick CHEUNG ), Best Supporting Actor (Eddie PENG ), Best Supporting Actress (Crystal LEE ) and Best Screenplay. This is the fourth Best Director nomination for Lam, after Beastcops (1998), The Stool Pigeon (2010) and The Viral Factor (2012).

Juno MAK 's Rigor Mortis received nine nominations, including Best Actress (Nina PAW ), Best Supporting Actor (Anthony CHAN ), Best Supporting Actress (Kara HUI ) and Best New Director.

A late entry to the qualifying list (thanks to early previews during the Christmas holidays), firefighter drama As the Light Goes Out earned eight nominations, including Best Director (Derek KWOK ), Best Cinematography, Best Editing and other technical awards.

Also receiving eight nominations is Benny CHAN 's The White Storm. In addition to Best Picture, the film is also nominated for Best Director, Best Supporting Actress (Helena LAW ) and two Best Actor nominations for stars Louis KOO and LAU Ching-wan .

Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon also received eight nominations, mostly in the technical categories.

With a total of six nominations, The Way We Dance is the first Film Development Fund of Hong Kong -produced film to receive a Best Picture nomination. However, the film did not receive a Best Director or a Best Screenplay nomination. Director Adam WONG did receive a Best New Director nomination, despite this being his third feature-length film.

Johnnie TO 's Drug War (2012) received only one nomination in the Best Director category. To’s Blind Detective received three nominations: Best Screenplay, Best Actress (Sammi CHENG ) and Best Original Song.

HONG KONG FILM AWARDS — PARTIAL LIST OF NOMINEES
Best Picture

The Grandmaster
Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons
The Way We Dance
The White Storm
Unbeatable

Best Director

Wong Kar-wai; The Grandmaster
Johnnie To; Drug War
Benny Chan; The White Storm
Derek Kwok; As the Light Goes Out
Dante Lam; Unbeatable

Best Screenplay

ZOU Jingzhi , XU Haofeng , Wong Kar-wai; The Grandmaster
Robert CHOU , ZHANG Ji , Aubrey LAM ; American Dreams in China 
XUE Xiaolu ; Finding Mr. Right 
WAI Ka-fai , YAU Nai-hoi , Ryker CHAN , YU Xi ; Blind Detective
Jack NG , FUNG Chi-fung , Dante Lam; Unbeatable

Best Actor

Tony Leung Chiu-wai; The Grandmaster
Louis Koo; The White Storm
Lau Ching-wan; The White Storm
Anthony WONG ; Ip Man: The Final Fight 
Nick Cheung; Unbeatable

Best Actress

Zhang Ziyi; The Grandmaster
TANG Wei ; Finding Mr. Right
Cherry NGAN ; The Way We Dance
Sammi Cheng; Blind Detective
Nina Paw; Rigor Mortis

Best Supporting Actor

Max ZHANG ; The Grandmaster
TONG Dawei ; American Dreams in China
HUANG Bo ; Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons
Eddie Peng; Unbeatable
Anthony Chan; Rigor Mortis

Best Supporting Actress

DU Juan ; American Dreams in China
Carina LAU ; Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon
Helena Law; The White Storm
Crystal Lee; Unbeatable
Kara Hui; Rigor Mortis

Best New Performer

Du Juan; American Dreams in China
Fish LIEW ; DoomsdayParty 
Kenny LIN ; Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon
BabyJohn CHOI ; The Way We Dance
Angel CHIANG ; A Secret Between Us

Best New Director

Adam Wong; The Way We Dance
Alan YUEN ; Firestorm 
Juno Mak; Rigor Mortis

Best Film from Mainland and Taiwan

Rock Me to the Moon 
Lost in Thailand  (2012)
The Last Supper  (2004)
Touch of the Light  (2012)
So Young
12

And the winner is…

A few months late with this, but there you have it.

33rd Annual Hong Kong Film Awards

Awarded on April 13th, 2014 in Hong Kong

Best Picture
Winner:
The Grandmaster
Nominees:

  • Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons
  • Unbeatable
  • The Way We Dance
  • The White Storm

Best Director
Winner:
Wong Kar-Wai (The Grandmaster)
Nominees:

  • Derek Kwok Chi-Kin (As the Light Goes Out)
  • Johnnie To Kei-Fung (Drug War)
  • Dante Lam Chiu-Yinn (Unbeatable)
  • Benny Chan Muk-Sing (The White Storm)

Best Actor
Winner:
Nick Cheung Ka-Fai (Unbeatable)
Nominees:

  • Tony Leung Chiu-Wai (The Grandmaster)
  • Anthony Wong Chau-Sang (Ip Man - The Final Fight)
  • Louis Koo Tin-Lok (The White Storm)
  • Lau Ching-Wan (The White Storm)

Best Actress
Winner:
Zhang Ziyi (The Grandmaster)
Nominees:

  • Sammi Cheng Sau-Man (Blind Detective)
  • Tang Wei (Finding Mr. Right)
  • Bau Hei-Jing (Rigor Mortis)
  • Cherry Ngan Cheuk-Ling (The Way We Dance)

Best Supporting Actor
Winner:
Zhang Jin (The Grandmaster)
Nominees:

  • Tong Dawei (American Dreams in China)
  • Huang Bo (Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons)
  • Anthony Chan (Rigor Mortis)
  • Eddie Peng Yu-Yan (Unbeatable)

Best Supporting Actress
Winner:
Kara Hui Ying-Hung (Rigor Mortis)
Nominees:

  • Du Juan (American Dreams in China)
  • Kara Hui Ying-Hung (Rigor Mortis)
  • Law Lan (The White Storm)
  • Carina Lau Ka-Ling (Young Detective Dee: Rise Of The Sea Dragon)

Best Screenplay
Winner:
Zou Jingzhi, Xu Haofeng, Wong Kar-Wai (The Grandmaster)
Nominees:

  • Zhou Zhiyong, Zhang Ji, Aubrey Lam Oi-Wah (American Dreams in China)
  • Wai Ka-Fai, Yau Nai-Hoi, Ryker Chan, Yu Xi (Blind Detective)
  • Xue Xiaolu (Finding Mr. Right)
  • Jack Ng Wai-Lun, Fung Chi Fung, Dante Lam Chiu-Yin (Unbeatable)

Best New Performer
Winner:
Babyjohn Choi (The Way We Dance)
Nominees:

  • Du Juan (American Dreams in China)
  • Fish Liew (Doomsday Party)
  • Angel Chiang Ka-Man (A Secret Between Us)
  • Lin Gengxin (Young Detective Dee: Rise Of The Sea Dragon)

Best Cinematography
Winner:
Philippe Le Sourd (The Grandmaster)
Nominees:

  • Jason Kwan Chi-Yiu (As the Light Goes Out)
  • Ng Kai-Ming (Rigor Mortis)
  • Kenny Tse Chung-To (Unbeatable)
  • Anthony Pun Yiu-Ming (The White Storm)

Best Editing
Winner:
William Cheung Suk-Ping, Benjamin Courtines, Poon Hung-Yiu (The Grandmaster)
Nominees:

  • Wong Hoi (As the Light Goes Out)
  • Kwong Chi-Leung, Ron Chan (Firestorm)
  • Azrael Chung Wai-Chiu (Unbeatable)
  • Yau Chi-Wai (The White Storm)

Best Art Direction
Winner:
William Cheung Suk-Ping, Alfred Yau Wai-Ming (The Grandmaster)
Nominees:

  • Eric Lam (As the Light Goes Out)
  • Eric Lam (Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons)
  • Irving Cheung (Rigor Mortis)
  • Ken Mak (Young Detective Dee: Rise Of The Sea Dragon)

Best Costume & Make-Up Design
Winner:
William Cheung Suk-Ping (The Grandmaster)
Nominees:

  • Dora Ng Lei-Lo (American Dreams in China)
  • Bruce Yu Ka-On, Lee Pik-Kwan (Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons)
  • Miggy Cheng, Phoebe Wong, Kittichon Kunratchol (Rigor Mortis)
  • Bruce Yu Ka-On, Lee Pik-Kwan (Young Detective Dee: Rise Of The Sea Dragon)

Best Action Choreography
Winner:
Yuen Woo-Ping (The Grandmaster)
Nominees:

  • Chin Kar-Lok (Firestorm)
  • Ling Chi-Wah (Unbeatable)
  • Yuen Bun (Young Detective Dee: Rise Of The Sea Dragon)

Best Original Film Score
Winner:
Shigeru Umebayashi, Nathaniel Mechaly (The Grandmaster)
Nominees:

  • Teddy Robin, Tommy Wai (As the Light Goes Out)
  • Henry Lai (Unbeatable)
  • Day Tai, Afuc Chan (The Way We Dance)
  • Kenji Kawai (Young Detective Dee: Rise Of The Sea Dragon)

Best Original Song
Winner:
(from The Way We Dance)
Composer: Day Tai
Lyrics: Saville Chan
Performer: DoughBoy, Shimica Wong
Nominees:

  • (As the Light Goes Out)
    Composer: Nicholas Tse Ting-Fung
    Lyrics: Nicholas Tse Ting-Fung, Qiao Xing,
    Kit@24 Herbs, Phat@24 Herbs
    Performer: Nicholas Tse Ting-Fung, 24 Herbs
  • Love is Blind (from Blind Detective)
    Composer: Hal Foxton Beckett, Marc Baril
    Lyrics: Lam Jik
    Performer: Andy Lau Tak-Wah, Sammi Cheng Sau-Man
  • (from The White Storm)
    Composer: RubberBand
    Lyrics: RubberBandTim Lui
    Performer: RubberBand
  • (from Young And Dangerous: Reloaded)
    Composer: Paul Wong Koon-Chung
    Lyrics: Paul Wong Koon-Chung
    Performer: Paul Wong Koon-Chung

Best Sound Design
Winner:
Robert Mackenzie, Traithep Wongpaiboon (The Grandmaster)
Nominees:

  • Phyllis Cheng (As the Light Goes Out)
  • Benny Chu, Steve Miller (Rigor Mortis)
  • Phyllis Cheng (Unbeatable)
  • Kinson Tsang King-Cheung Young Detective Dee: Rise Of The Sea Dragon)

Best Visual Effects
Winner:
Enoch Chan (Rigor Mortis)
Nominees:

  • Henri Wong, Hugo Kwan, Walter Wong (As the Light Goes Out)
  • Yee Kwok-Leung, Lai Man-Chun, Ho Kwan-Yeung, Garrett K. Lam (Firestorm)
  • Pierre Buffin (The Grandmaster)
  • Wook Kim (Young Detective Dee: Rise Of The Sea Dragon)

Best Film from Mainland and Taiwan
Winner:
So Young (CHINA)
Nominees:

  • The Last Supper (CHINA)
  • Lost In Thailand (CHINA)
  • Rock Me To The Moon (TAIWAN)
  • Touch Of The Light (TAIWAN)

Best New Director
Winner:
Adam Wong Sau-Ping (The Way We Dance)
Nominees:

  • Alan Yuen Kam-Lun (Firestorm)
  • Juno Mak Chun-Lung (Rigor Mortis)

Lifetime Achievement Award
Winner:
Zhang Xin-Yan (director, producer)

13

Lost in Thailand

So I really came by this thread today to review Lost in Thailand. It’s not really a martial arts film per se, even though there is a finale fight, so I didn’t think it really deserved it’s own thread. It was more because it was such a significant film for China.

I found it very entertaining but it doesn’t translate well just because it’s Asian cinema. You have to know who Fan Bingbing is. It’s a classic buddy travel flick complete with a villain close on their tails. It had some really good moments, surprising in the way that Asian cinema can be, kitchy in that very same way. It’s a little long-winded at times, but it got a good chuckle out of me and it captures modern Thailand magnificently (although my opinion of Thailand is based on just a few weeks spent there in '97). There’s some innovative cinematography too. But by Hollywood standards, it’s not mind-blowing on any level, just a typical buddy travel flick - only the buddies are Chinese and the travel is in Thailand. There’s even a sword fight (well, more of a ratchet fight, but that totally counts). It’s a must-see for anyone watching Asian cinema now as it had such impact, but I wouldn’t really recommend it otherwise. You got to be into the genre to want to check it out.

14

Hkfa 2015

Overhe3rd leads HK Film Award nominations

By Kevin Ma
Fri, 06 February 2015, 10:30 AM (HKT)
Awards News

Alan MAK and Felix CHONG 's Overh3ard is the forerunner at this year’s Hong Kong Film Awards with 11 nominations in 10 categories.

The crime drama, about a land war that breaks out in a rural village, has nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor (LAU Ching-wan ) and two Best Supporting Actor nominations (Kenneth TSANG and Alex FONG Chung-sun ).

Three years ago, Overheard 2 (2011) scored nine nominations at the HKFA, but it went home empty-handed.

Two films from Edko Films Ltd , The Golden Era and Rise of the Legend , grabbed ten nominations each. The former a biopic about writer Xiao Hong was nominated in most of the major categories, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress (TANG Wei ) and Best Screenplay.

Aside from a Best Actor nomination for Eddie PENG his first in the category nine of Rise of the Legend’s ten nominations are in the technical categories, including Best Action Choreography, Best Cinematography, Best Editing and Best Visual Effects.

Apocalyptic thriller The Midnight After has received eight nominations, including Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor (LAM Suet ) and Best Supporting Actress (Kara HUI ). Last month, it won the Best Film and Best Director prizes from the Hong Kong Film Critics’ Society (HKFCS) .

Aberdeen received seven nominations the highest number of nominations ever earned for a film by PANG Ho-cheung . The family drama is nominated for Best Film, Best Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor (NG Man-tat ), Best New Actor and three technical awards. Pang was not nominated for Best Director.

Pang’s romantic comedy Women Who Flirt also secured a Best Actress nomination for ZHOU Xun .

Rounding out the Best Picture category is Peter CHAN 's Dearest . The child abduction drama earned four additional nominations: Best Director, Best Actor (HUANG Bo ), Best Actress (Vicki ZHAO ) and Best Screenplay.

Ivana WONG set a new HKFA record for the highest number of nominations received by an individual with a total of five. The singer-songwriter received three Best New Actor nominations for each of her supporting film roles in 2014: Matt CHOW 's Golden Chickensss , Lawrence CHENG 's Break Up 100 and Patrick KONG 's Delete My Love . She also received a Best Supporting Actress nomination for Golden Chickensss and a Best Original Song nomination as the performer of Break Up 100’s main theme.

Despite having a 30-year career that includes an Academy Award for Best Short Subject Documentary, Ruby YANG is nominated for a Best New Director award for My Voice, My Life , which is only her second feature-length film. She is joined in the category by Amos WHY (for Dot 2 Dot ) and David LEE (for Insanity ).

Any director who has made only one or two feature films is eligible for the Best New Director award at the HKFA.

This year’s Best Film from Mainland and Taiwan nominees are ZHANG Yimou 's Coming Home , DIAO Yi’nan 's Black Coal, Thin Ice , Doze NIU 's Paradise in Service , CHIANG Chin-lin 's Café. Waiting. Love and NING Hao 's No Man’s Land (2013).

The 34th Hong Kong Film Awards will be held on 19 Apr 2015.

NOMINEES OF THE 34TH HONG KONG FILM AWARDS

Best Film
Golden Era
Aberdeen
Dearest
Overh3ard
The Midnight After

Best Director
Ann Hui Golden Era
Felix Chong and Alan Mak Overh3ard
Peter Chan Dearest
Fruit Chan Midnight After
Dante Lam Demon Within

Best Screenplay
Overh3ard
Dearest
Aberdeen
The Golden Era
The Midnight After

Best Actor
Huang Bo Dearest
Eddie Peng Rise of the Legend
Daniel Wu That Demon Within
Lau Ching-wan Overh3ard
Lau Ching-wan Insanity

Best Actress
Tang Wei The Golden Era
Zhou Xun Women Who Flirt
Vicki Zhao Dearest
Sandra Ng Golden Chickensss
Charlene Choi Sara

Best Supporting Actor
Ng Man Tat Aberdeen
Kenneth Tsang Overh3ard
Lam Suet The Midnight After
Wang Baoqiang Kung Fu Jungle
Alex Fong Overh3ard

Best Supporting Actress
Fiona Sit Girls
Nina Paw Insanity
Hao Lei The Golden Era
Ivana Wong Golden Chickensss
Kara Hui The Midnight After

Best New Actor
Jessica Choi Aberdeen
Ivana Wong Golden Chickensss
Ivana Wong Delete My Love
Ivana Wong Break Up 100
Candy Cheung Dot 2 Dot

Best New Director
Ruby Yang My Voice, My Life
Amos Why Dot 2 Dot
David Lee Insanity

Best Cinematography
The Golden Era
Rise of the Legend
The Midnight After
Overh3ard
The Crossing Part 1

Best Editing
Rise of the Legend
The Golden Era
The Crossing Part 1
That Demon Within
Overh3ard

Best Visual Effects
Kung Fu Jungle
The Monkey King
That Demon Within
Rise of the Legend
The Midnight After

Best Action Choreography
Once Upon a Time in Shanghai
Rise of the Legend
The FourL Final Battle
The White Haired Witch of Lunar Kingdom
Kung Fu Jungle

Best Art Direction
The Crossing Part 1
Overh3ard
The Golden Era
Rise of the Legend
Aberdeen

Best Sound Effects
The Crossing Part 1
Overh3ard
Kung Fu Jungle
Rise of the Legend
That Demon Within

Best Costume
The Golden Era
Rise of the Legend
The Monkey King
The Crossing Part 1
Overh3ard

Best Original Score
Aberdeen
The Crossing Part 1
The Golden Era
Rise of the Legend
The Midnight After

Best Original Song
Break Up 100
Aberdeen
Rise of the Legend
Insanity
Golden Chickensss

Best Film from Mainland and Taiwan
Coming Home
Black Coal Thin Ice
No Man’s Land
Café. Waiting. Love
Paradise in Service

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Nominated films discussed here:
The FourL Final Battle
Kung Fu Jungle
Once Upon a Time in Shanghai
The Monkey King
Rise of the Legend
The White Haired Witch of Lunar Kingdom

15

And the winner is…

Best Action Choreography: Kung Fu Jungle
Best Visual Effects: Rise of the Legend

Golden Era tops Hong Kong Film Awards

By Kevin Ma

Mon, 20 April 2015, 09:50 AM (HKT)
Awards News

The Golden Era was the top winner at the 34th Hong Kong Film Awards last night, taking prizes in five categories including Best Film.

Despite early signs pointing to a major awards haul for “local power” film The Midnight After , Ann HUI 's China-produced biopic went home with Best Film, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction and Best Costume & Make-up.

Overh3ard became the most successful film of the franchise at the Awards with three wins: Best Actor (LAU Ching-wan ), Best Supporting Actor (Kenneth TSANG ) and Best Screenplay. The first film of the series won Best Editing five years ago.

The biggest individual winner of the night was singer-songwriter Ivana WONG , who won both Best New Performer and Best Supporting Actress for her role as a Mainland prostitute in Lunar New Year comedy Golden Chickensss . However, her theme song for Break Up 100 lost the Best Original Song award to Aberdeen .

Despite its wins at the Hong Kong Film Critics’ Society (HKFCS) 's awards, Fruit CHAN 's The Midnight After went home with only one prize, for Best Original Score.

With ten nominations, Rise of the Legend also went home with only one award, for Best Visual Effects.

Repeating her HK Film Critics Society win, Vicki ZHAO defeated popular favourite Charlene CHOI in the Best Actress category for her role in Peter CHAN 's Dearest .

Overall, the award ceremony was mired with numerous technical problems.

Two of the three hosts were first-time presenters that had difficulty delivering their scripts (as they admitted on stage). At least two segments including TSUI Hark 's Professional Achievement award presentation to LEE Kwan-long were abruptly cut off. Local broadcaster TVB interrupted two musical performances to go to commercial breaks.

34TH HONG KONG FILM AWARD WINNERS

Best Picture: The Golden Era
Best Director: Ann Hui; The Golden Era
Best Actress: Vicki Zhao; Dearest
Best Actor: Lau Ching-wan; Overh3ard
Best Supporting Actor: Kenneth Tsang; Overh3ard
Best Supporting Actress: Ivana Wong; Golden Chickensss
Best Screenplay: Alan Mak and Felix Chong; Overh3ard
Best New Director: David LEE ; Insanity 
Best New Performer: Ivana Wong; Golden Chickensss
Best Cinematography: WANG Yu ; The Golden Era
Best Editing: The Crossing: Part 1 
Best Art Direction: The Golden Era
Best Costume & Make-up: The Golden Era
Best Action Choreography: Kung Fu Jungle 
Best Original Film Score: The Midnight After
Best Original Song: Aberdeen
Best Sound Design: The Crossing: Part 1
Best Visual Effects: Rise of the Legend
Best Film From Mainland and Taiwan: Coming Home
Professional Achievement Award: Lee Kwan-long
16

Boycotting the Oscars? How about this one then?

Hong Kong and Taiwan film awards won’t be broadcast live in the mainland this year, because politics

Yet more drama has arisen between the mainland and Hong Kong with China announcing a media boycott of the Hong Kong Film Awards being held on April 3rd, but won’t be shown on either CCTV or Tencent. The sudden decision apparently comes as a response to the dystopian HK film Ten Years getting nominated for “Best Film.”

Set 10 years in the future, the film depicts a dystopian Hong Kong under Communist Party rule, where shops are attacked by soldiers for selling banned materials and activists self-immolate as a statement for independence. SCMP has called the film “a reminder of the power of independent, intelligent filmmaking as a vehicle for social and political critique.”

Despite limited showings, Ten Years has grossed HK$6 million – a decent profit considering its modest HK$600,000 budget. The film has struck a chord with Hong Kong audiences, who “left packed screenings in tears.”
But needless to say, Beijing was not entertained, the Global Times lambasted the film as a “virus of the mind” and even blamed it for the Mong Kok riots earlier this month.
On Friday, CCTV and Tencent notified the Hong Kong Film Awards Association of their cancellations, the latter even in spite of already paying HK$4 million for webcast rights. Chairman Derek Yee Tung-Sing expects a loss of at least HK$4 million, reports Mingpao.
“It is very strange. What are they afraid of?” remarked Ng Ka-leung, one of the film’s five directors, on China’s about-face. “It is a small independent film and now with all this attention, it makes people even more curious.”

But apparently the mainland isn’t stopping at just Hong Kong – according to China Digital Times, word is that Taiwan’s Golden Horse Film Awards in November will also be snubbed from broadcasting in China, in the Tsai Ing-wen’s rise to presidency. Here’s the announcement from the CCP’s publicity department and SAPPRFT:

[QUOTE]Due to social changes in Hong Kong and Taiwan this year, and to prevent the negative influence of speech, film, and television which do not conform to the national condition, all major websites and mobile apps must suspend live and relay broadcasts of the Hong Kong Film Awards in April and of Taiwan’s Golden Horse Awards at the end of the year. Major media may continue to report on the Hong Kong and Taiwan awards. (February 21, 2016)

For the last 3 years the event was live-casted in China through Sina, but a spokesman from the awards show admits plans for this year are indeed up in the air, although they are “in the process of negotiation with other mainland portals.”
Even more ominously, screenings of Ten Years in Hong Kong have now mysteriously ceased – but fortunately for its directors the film’s international rights have now been bought by Golden Scene, so it should escape being stifled altogether.
Check out the trailer here:

//youtu.be/M4zebygSaZE

[Images via Wikicommons/screencaps // Video via YouTube]

Contact the author of this article or email tips@shanghaiist.com with further questions, comments or tips.
By Shanghaiist in News on Feb 23, 2016 4:00 PM[/QUOTE]

Now I want to see Ten Years. :rolleyes:

17

35th HKFA

Hong Kong Film Industry Weakens, While China’s Strengthens
Hong Kong Film Industry Weakens, While China’s Strengthens
Vittorio Hernandez | Mar 31, 2016 10:19 AM EDT


2013 Hong Kong Film Awards - Awards Room (Photo : Getty Images)

There is less interest in the 35th Hong Kong Film Awards (HKFA), and it has nothing to do with China Central Television and Tencent not broadcasting the awards night on April 3.
Even within the special administrative region (SAR), enthusiasm of Hong Kong media for the awards night is waning. Proof of this are the lesser space that the press has given to report on the forthcoming event, reported Global Times.
There are no predictions on who would be the winners and no interview either with nominees. As it is, reception to the film festival was already cold in 2015, but it just turned colder this year. In contrast, while not only the award’s night but Hong Kong’s movie industry is weakening, the opposite is true in mainland where movies like “The Mermaid” are breaking box office records.
Even Hollywood movies, such as “The Revenant” and “Zootopia” are also doing well in the mainland, while the popularity of American films in Southeast Asia, once a dollar earner for Hong Kong film producers, negatively affected the movie industry in the SAR.
Derek Yee, chairman of the 35th HKFA, admitted that the Hong Kong movie industry appears to be “an already aging man at the age of 34.” Yee said that to boost the film festival, the organizers thought of expanding by allowing non-Hong Kong films to participate, but there is too much competition with similar film festivals.
Yee cited the mainland’s Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Awards, Taiwan’s Golden Horse Awards and Hong Kong’s International Film Festival’s Asian Film Awards as examples.
The 34th HKFA in 2015 was actually a foretaste of the growing strength of mainland films when actress Zhao Wei won the Best Actress Award, while “The Golden Era” got most of the awards.
The reason behind CCTV and Tencent’s decision not to broadcast the 35th HKFA is “Ten Years,” a movie about life in the mainland by 2025 under tight control of the Communist Party of China, is a nominee for the Best Picture, reported Reuters.

//youtu.be/KLD0mofwEbA

Not sure what’s nominated this year. I should look that up. Or maybe I’ll just wait until next week, for the results.

18

And the winner is…

Hong Kong film awards: Ten Years wins top prize amid China anger
Micro-budget film about growing anxiety that Beijing is eroding the citys freedoms wins best film after proving popular with the local audience


Executive producer Andrew Choi speaks in front of directors and cast members of movie Ten Years after winning best film at the Hong Kong film awards. Photograph: Reuters
Agence France-Presse
Sunday 3 April 2016 20.11 EDT

A controversial movie about the future of Hong Kong won the top prize at the citys film awards on Sunday, after being a local box office hit but antagonising Beijing over its portrayal of the semi-autonomous territory in 2025.

Ten Years scooped the best film prize at the Hong Kong film awards, following a short cinema release that was widely believed to have been curtailed for political reasons.

The film is made up of a series of five vignettes that tap residents worst fears for the future of the southern Chinese city as Beijings grip tightens.

The film had only a short general release, while some cinemas refused to screen it altogether, and it raised hackles on the mainland with Chinas state-run Global Times newspaper describing it as totally absurd and a virus of the mind.

The films producer Andrew Choi said after the awards ceremony: The meaning of this prize is that it shows Hong Kong still has hope. It reminds us that we could have courage to be creative. I would like to thank everyone who has watched it.

Major China-based TV channels pulled out from broadcasting the awards on the mainland, with the nomination of Ten Years widely believed to be the reason.

But one of the films directors, Ng Ka-leung, said he was not concerned by Beijings opinion, only by what his fellow Hong Kongers thought of the film.

If you ask me what Beijing might feel towards us, I would say it doesnt really matter. The movie was made for Hong Kong people. We are open-minded to anyone who likes it or not. We just hope that Hong Kong people can share our feelings. We would like people to think about the future of Hong Kong, he said.

The chairman of the Hong Kong film awards, Derek Yee, acknowledged the controversy that had arisen from the films nomination.

President Roosevelt said one thing: the only thing we have to fear is fear itself, Yee said before announcing the winner of the best film category.


People watch Ten Years next to the Quarry Bay wet markets in Hong Kong. Photograph: Isaac Lawrence/AFP/Getty Images

Since its release at the end of December, the movie, made for just HK$500,000 ($64,000), has earned an unexpected HK$6m, but its run stopped despite still playing to packed theatres.

On Friday thousands flocked to watch the film at various community screenings across the city, as the buzz around the movie continued long after its cinema release ended.

The five-part film, each directed by different people, examines different elements of a future Hong Kong, where there is growing anxiety that Beijing is eroding the freedoms enshrined in the 1997 handover deal between Britain and China.

In one, young children in military uniforms prowl the street looking for subversive behaviour, another shows the erosion of the local language Cantonese.

In the final short, a protester self-immolates outside the British consulate a scene that moved many viewers to tears.

Hong Kong police thriller Port of Call also won big at the awards, scooping seven prizes including best actor for singer Aaron Kwok and best actress for newcomer Jessie Li.

Full list of winners
Best Film: Ten Years

Best Actor: Aaron Kwok (Port Of Call)

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Best Actress: Jessie Li (Port Of Call)

Best Director: Tsui Hark (The Taking Of Tiger Mountain)

Best Screenplay: Philip Yung Tsz Kwong (Port Of Call)

Best Supporting Actor: Michael Ning (Port Of Call)

Best Supporting Actress: Elaine Jin (Port Of Call)

Best New Performer: Michael Ning (Port Of Call)

Best Cinematography: Christopher Doyle (Port Of Call)

Best Film Editing: Cheung Ka Fai (Ip Man 3)

Best Art Direction: William Chang Suk Ping, Yau Wai Ming (Office)

Best Costume and Make Up Design: Yee Chung Man (Monster Hunt)

Best Action Choreography: Li Chung Chi (SPL 2: A Time For Consequences)

Best Sound Design: Kinson Tsang, George Lee Yiu Keung, Yiu Chun Hin (The Taking Of Tiger Mountain)

Best Visual Effects: Jason Snell, Ellen Poon, Tang Bingbing (Monster Hunt)

Best New Director: Raman Hui (Monster Hunt)

Best Original Film Score: Dayu Lo, Chan Fai Young (Office)

Best Original Film Song: We Almost Fly (She Remembers, He Forgets)

Best Film From the Mainland and Taiwan: The Assassin

[URL=“http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?48362-The-Assassin”]
The Assassin
Monster Hunt
Ip Man 3
The Taking Of Tiger Mountain

But wait! There’s more…

19

More!

This made me lol for realz. You gotta imagine some PRC fan pirating this because it was banned and then going ‘WTH?’ :stuck_out_tongue:

Channing Tatum romcom boosted by Chinese download blunder


Film fans got the wrong 10 Years: Channing Tatum’s rom-com and not Hong Kong thriller
Martin Chilton, culture editor
8 APRIL 2016 1:08PM

Oh dear. Thousands of Chinese film fans wanting to watch a controversial Hong Kong Dystopian movie have been mistakenly ordering a Channing Tatum comedy.

Unfortunately, the film about the bleak future of Hong Kong and Tatum’s school reunion rom-com share the same name: 10 Years. The new 10 Years ( ) is set in 2025, a future in which Hong Kong is patrolled by children dressed in military uniforms and where self-immolation is a standard mode of protest against Chinese rule. The film won the city’s “best movie” prize at the weekend, sparking interest on the mainland.

But as people in China rushed to get the film from popular Chinese download site zimuzu.tv, they instead mistakenly ordered the one about cheerleader romances being reignited as High School pals re-unite after a decade. The Channing Tatum film then shot to No1 on the zimuzu.tv charts.


Channing Tatum CREDIT: REX FEATURES

China has had a media blackout of the Hong Kong film’s success and directors have said they believe political pressure was behind the difficulty in getting it shown in Hong Kong cinemas, where it received a short run despite full houses.

Let’s hope people enjoyed the Tatum one (although it has only a 60% rating on rotten tomatoes) and take comfort from the fact that there is a long history of films sharing the same name. As an Alfred Htch**** fan you might want to be careful when ordering Notorious, just in case you find that what turns up is not the Cary Grant classic but the Biggie Smalls biopic of the same name about the late rapper.

Five films with the same name but different plots

The Kid (1921 and 2000) The iconic Charlie Chaplin comedy about a tramp should not be confused with Bruce Willis hanging out with his younger self.

Notorious (1946 and 2009) An Alfred Hitch**** masterpiece or a Biggie Smalls biopic. You pays your money…

Crash (1996 and 2005) A David Cronenberg film about sexual weirdness and car-crash fetishes v Paul Haggis’s clever film about race relations in Los Angeles.

Deep Blue Sea (1999) and The Deep Blue Sea (2012) Killer sharks and an OTT Samuel L Jackson or Rachel Weisz having hanky panky with pilot Tom Hiddleston. Either way there are a lot of white teeth on show.

Twilight (1998 and 2008) What a difference a decade can make. Paul Newman as an ageing private detective or the teen vampire romance movie.

20

And the winner is…

…Trivisa

Hong Kong Film Awards: Crime Thriller ‘Trivisa’ Bags 5 Wins
11:05 PM PDT 4/9/2017 by Karen Chu


‘Trivisa’

This year’s awards marked the emergence of a new generation of local filmmakers.
Crime thriller Trivisa led the 36th Hong Kong Film Awards with five wins.

The Johnnie To and Yau Nai-hoi-produced film swept the best film, best director, best screenplay and best film editing categories, and leading man Gordon Lam — who played the King of Thieves in '90s Hong Kong — took home his first best actor award. This was the feature debut for two of the film’s directors, Frank Hui and Vicky Wong, while the third, Jevons Au, helmed a part of last year’s controversial omnibus best film winner, Ten Years. This is the second consecutive year newcomer Au has contributed to the direction of the best film winner.

This year’s awards mark the emergence of a new generation of filmmakers, as not only did Trivisa win with its three new helmers, but also Mad World and Weeds on Fire, which were the directorial debuts of Wong Chun and Steve Chan, respectively. Both films were made for US$257,000 as winners of the First Film Initiative, sponsored by Hong Kong government department CreateHK. Mad World nabbed three awards while Weeds on Fire took two.

Director Wong Chun of Mad World was named best new director, and the film’s best-supporting actor and actress, Eric Tsang and Elaine Jin, won in their respective categories. Tsang noted that it has been 25 years since the first time he went on stage to take home the best actor statuette for director Peter Chan’s Alan & Eric: Between Hello and Goodbye, and he additionally won best supporting actor in 1997 for Comrades: Almost a Love Story, also by Chan. Whereas Jin, who has been nominated 10 times at the Hong Kong Film Awards, won for the fourth time with her portrayal of a temperamental ailing mother taken care of by her bipolar son.

Best Actress winner Kara Wai, for drama Happiness, was also a repeat victor. Wai was named best actress at the first ever Hong Kong Film Awards 36 years ago for her role in My Young Auntie, and subsequently won best actress again for the 2009 film At the End of Daybreak, and took a best-supporting actress award for the 2014 horror pic Rigor Mortis. Wai tearfully revealed in her acceptance speech that she paid tribute in her role as a cognitive disorder patient in Happiness to her late mother, who suffered from Alzheimer disease.

List of Winners at the 36th Hong Kong Film Awards

Best Film - Trivisa

Best Director - Frank Hui, Jevons Au, Vicky Wong, Trivisa

Best Screenplay - Trivisa

Best Actor - Gordon Lam, Trivisa

Best Actress - Kara Wai, Happiness

Best Supporting Actor - Eric Tsang, Mad World

Best Supporting Actress - Elaine Jin, Mad World

Best New Performer - Tony Wu, Weeds on Fire

Best Cinematography - See You Tomorrow

Best Film Editing - Trivisa

Best Art Direction - See You Tomorrow

Best Costume and Makeup Design - The Monkey King 2

Best Action Choreography - Operation Mekong

Best Original Film Score - Soul Mate

Best Original Film Song - Weeds on Fire

Best Sound Design - Cold War 2

Best Visual Effects - The Monkey King 2

Best New Director -Wong Chun, Mad World

Best Film From Mainland and Taiwan -Godspeed

I think the only winning film we’ve discussed here is The Monkey King 2. I thought about starting a thread on Operation Mekong and Cold War 2, but never got around to either. :o