Running on Karma has been named best film at the annual Hong Kong Film Awards. Sunday's ceremony also saw Andy Lau named Best Actor, and Cecilia Cheung, Best Actress.

The evening brought out the region's movie heavyweights. Nineteen awards were handed out during the three-hour gala.

Johnnie To won Best Director for PTU, and Best Film with Leung Ka Fai for Running on Karma, a genre-bending hit about the tribulations of a disgraced holy man.

The same film also saw Andy Lau bagging the Best Actor award for his performance as the fallen Buddhist monk.

Best Actor Andy Lau said, "Of course, it's a major award. Before the announcement, I had been worried about the results."

The Best Actress award went, as expected, to Cecilia Cheung for her role in "Lost in Time I'm so happy and excited to have won the award, but I didn't cry when I heard the result. I think that for an actor, the most important thing is to try his best in all the roles he takes. Thanks to all my friends who supported me."

Despite being a big box office hit, Infernal Affairs III only managed one award out of eighteen nominations for Best Original Film Song.

(CCTV.com April 13, 2004)