Chinese, South Korean sweep Asian film awards
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Stars in the Asian Film Awards: (from left to right) Zhang Yimou, Nicholas Tse, Wang Xueqi and Tony Leung [Xinhua] |
Filmmakers, movie stars from China and South Korea dominated the Asian Film Awards in Hong Kong on Monday evening, which opened an annual industry gathering of Asia.
The Asian Film Awards, launched in 2007, were dominated by South Korean films in its first two years, and top honors including best actor and best film were grabbed by Japan last year. Thirty-seven films from across the region vied for this year's 14 prizes.
"Mother", a South Korean film, finally beat other hot nominees, including high-grossing Chinese films "Bodyguards and Assassins" and "city of Life and Death", to win the best film award this year. The film told a story about a woman's quest to prove the innocence of her mentally incapacitated son.
Kim Hye-ja, who played the mother, also beat Chinese leading actress Li Bingbing and Japan's renowned Matsu Takako to win the best actress award.
"Mother" also bagged the best screenplay prize for director Bong Joon-ho and co-writer Park Eun-kyo.
However, Chinese films won the ground in other leading awards.
Wang Xueqi clinched the best actor award for starring in kungfu thriller "Bodyguards and Assassins" which tells a story of a group of men in early 20th century Hong Kong who protect Sun Yat-sen from assassination.
"Everyone is outstanding in the movie, which won me this great recognition." said Wang.
Chinese director Lu Chuan bagged the best director award for his feature film "City of Life and Death", which is about the Nanjing Massacre in 1937, which killed hundreds of thousands of Chinese civilians during Japan's invasion of China in World War II.
Lu said the biggest challenge in making the film was to conquer his fear of death.
Zhang Yimou, director of "Raise the Red Lantern", won the prize for outstanding contribution to Asian cinema.
Zhang's films have brought several Chinese actresses to star, like Gong Li and Zhang Ziyi.
Zhang said he hoped the new generation of directors could boost the Asian film industry further more and bring Asian cultures to the world audience.
Hong Kong actor Nicholas Tse won the best supporting actor for his role in "Bodyguards and Assassins", as a rickshaw puller who devoted his life to protect Sun Yat-sen from assassins.
Best supporting actress went to Hong Kong television veteran Wai Ying-hung, for playing an emotionally disturbed single mother in "At the End of Daybreak".
The prize for top-grossing film director for 2009 went to world- renowned director John Woo for "Red Cliff".
Veteran Indian film producer and actor Amitabh Bachchan, dubbed the "Godfather of Bollywood", was given the lifetime achievement award.
Asian Film Awards, organized by Hong Kong International Film Festival, aim at appreciating the talent of Asian film makers.
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