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'Election' wins top honors at Hong Kong film awards
2006-04-08
Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi arrives at the 25th Hong Kong Film Award presentation ceremony in Hong Kong on Saturday, April 8, 2006. |
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Gangster flick "Election" scooped the top honors at the Hong Kong film awards, as heavily-hyped martial arts epic "Seven Swords" failed to win any prizes. "Election" -- the story of a bloody power struggle for the chairmanship of Hong Kong's oldest triad, The Wo Shing Society -- won for best film, best screenplay and also earned Johnnie To an award for best director. The Chinese musical "Perhaps Love" swept up the most gongs -- many of them in the minor categories -- at the 25th Hong Kong Film Awards, the territory's premier movie awards ceremony. Tony Leung Ka-fai pipped co-star Simon Yam to win the best actor award for "Election", while Chinese starlet Zhou Xun won the best actress crown for her role in "Perhaps Love." To was not present to claim his best film prize, presented by action hero Jackie Chan. Peter Chan Ho-sun's "Perhaps Love" also picked up awards for best costumes, makeup design, art direction and cinematography. Xun choked back tears while accepting her prize before an audience of 6,000 at the Hong Kong Coliseum. "I am feeling much calmer now. My heart was beating...I wanted to thank my parents and the directors who helped me to get to where I am today," she told reporters. Peter Kam, who won the Silver Bear for best music for "Isabella" at this year's Berlin Film Festival, also earned himself two prizes for the romantic musical: the best film song, as well as film score with co-composer Leon Ko. "I feel very excited about receiving the awards. I wouldn't underestimate this prize just because I've won the others," Kam told reporters backstage. The Mandarin-language film, co-produced by Andre Morgan of Oscar-winning "Million Dollar Baby", tells the story of a film director and actor who are making a musical set in 1930s China and who are caught in a love triangle. It was a hugely disappointing night for the team behind "Seven Swords" which was nominated in 11 categories but failed to win a single award. Car racing movie "Initial D" picked up four gongs including sound design and visual effects. It earned veteran local star Anthony Wong the best supporting actor award. Taiwanese pop sensation Jay Chou bagged the first prize of the night as the best new performer. "I felt very nervous. This is the first award of the night. I didn't have many expectations," said Chou, clad in a sleek black suit. "I feel very happy." "Initial D" was directed by Andrew Lau and Alan Mak, the same pair who made the "Infernal Affairs" trilogy, which were smash hits at the box office. Teresa Mo took home with the best supporting actress prize for "2 Young" while Donnie Yen, star of "Hero" and "Seven Swords", won the action choreography award for "SPL." An array of celebrities attended the glittering event including "Memoirs of a Geisha" star Zhang Ziyi, veteran action star Sammo Hung, heart-throbs Tony Leung Chiu-wai and Andy Lau as well as Korea's Jun Ji-hyun, Lee Sung-jae and Jung Woo-song. Although not as prestigious as the Golden Horse Awards, the Hong Kong Film Awards are considered among Chinese cinema's top accolades. Films must meet one of several criteria establishing a strong Hong Kong connection to be eligible.
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