The 31st Hong Kong Film Award took place last night. With its international success and eight nominations A SIMPLE LIFE (TOH JEH) won five major awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Screenplay to become the big winner. With its 13 nominations FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE (LUNG MOON FEI GAP) also won 5 technical awards; WU XIA and LIFE WITHOUT PRINCIPLE (DUET MING GUM) won two awards each. It was Lau Tak Wa's third Best Actor Hong Kong Film Award and Sister Deanie's first Best Actress Hong Kong Film Award. Although she broke through zero, it was also her sixth Best Actress award with A SIMPLE LIFE.
Sister Deanie tasted her first Best Actress Hong Kong Film award. She admitted that since she did not win until she was in her sixties, she believed that would not have another chance. Although she made it sound like a will reading, the words truly came from her heart. Without Lau Tak Wa and Ann Hui On Wa's appreciation she might not possibly have this chance. She even gave a special thanks to director Wong Jing for constantly encouraging and trusting her, as well as viewers who enjoyed A SIMPLE LIFE and Hong Kong film. Wa Jai who defeated Lau Ching Wan, Jiang Wen and Ge You admitted that the biggest reason that he won was his contribution to Hong Kong film, which made everyone give him a lot of points. Thus he had to thank the voters. The host Eric Tsang Chi Wai improvised, "Brother Wa, it's luck from the baby." Wa Jai also thanked Sister Deanie. Without her he could not perform either. He also thanked the director for cutting out a lot of his poor performance and joked that A SIMPLE LIFE should have won Best Editing.
Backstage, Sister Deanie was very happy because she did not think that she would win before hand. She thought everyone had equal chances. How would she celebrate? She said that later she would have vegetable, Wa Jai joked that they would even have plain congee. As for her sixth Best Actress award, Sister Deanie honestly said that it was a perfect end. Would Wa Jai thank his wife? He continued to avoid the subject. "Don't talk about that, I only want to share this award with everyone." As for A SIMPLE LIFE becoming the big winner, he admitted that it was quite complete. Aside from thanking everyone, he also stated that he will continue to work hard. Wa Jai last night repeatedly went on stage. When he presented the Best Supporting Actor and introduced Lo Hoi Pang's comedy skit SHRIMP CRAZY FAMILY, he joked that he used to always want to play "Shrimp" but now he has become Daddy. When Sandra Ng Kwan Yu and Carina Lau Ka Ling presented the Best Actor, Kwan Yu praised, "Wa Jai is very mighty and talented, at such an age he still got someone pregnant." Wa Jai in the audience immediately put away his smile and pointed at Kwan Yu. With 11 Hong Kong Film Award nominations and 4 wins, Best Director Ann Hui On wa admitted that this time she was rather lucky and thanked the city of Hong Kong, where she grew up and was educated, received a scholarship to study film, then made money. It also had her favorite pineapple bun and milk tea. From now on she will keep doing her part for this city.
Lo Hi Pang and So Hung Shuen with LIFE WITHOUT PRINCPLE (DUET MING GUM) won Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress. Unfortunately Sister Shuen who defeated Lau Ka Ling, Wai Ying Hung and others was hospitalized due to illness and could not attend. She could only give her speech over the phone. As for Brother Pang this was his first Hong Kong Film Award nomination and victory. He admitted that after toiling away for so many years he never thought about any award. Perhaps the event took pity on him for toiling away for so long. Then he gave another golden quote. "It's like Lo Hoi Pang tests the mic, never thinking he would win with might." Then backstage reporters jokingly asked if Brother Pang wanted to test the mic again? he joked, "I tested out an award as soon as I tested. (Do you feel it came late?) It's better than nothing, if I work my entire life without one, wouldn't I be very 'lea hea'?" He admitted that this award was quite comforting but now as he was thinking about retirement he won. Why would he consider retirement? He admitted that he was already 70. Reporters pointed out that Wu Fung is still working at 80. Brother Pang said that this business was very tough and he might not be able to take it, but now with the award he could not stop even if he wanted to. Reporters said that he could increase his price. He said, "That's pointless! Am I the MTR? (Who would you like to thank the most?) I want to thank the viewers the most because without viewer recognition I wouldn't have this award." Today Brother Pang will return to Zhuhai to work on Johnnie To Kei Fung's new film. Yesterday he deliberately rushed back to attend the award show but never thought that he could win. Thus he appeared in his costume. Speaking of Best Supporting Actress So Hung Shuen was hospitalized and unable to accept the award in person, Brother Pang said, "I am luckier. (Do you know about her condition?) I don't, but she is my elder. She was in the first artist training class, I was in the third. She worked so many years that she went to sell vegetarian dishes. Only recently she came back to have fun and got this Supporting Actress. Seeing her stuttering in her speech, perhaps later I will visit her."
The Hong Kong box office record breaking Taiwan film YOU ARE THE APPLE OF MY EYE won the Best Mainland and Taiwan Film. Director Giddens Ko brought many actors to accept the award and let them each speak, leaving him without any time to give a speech. However when he, Michelle Chen and Ko Chen-Tung presented an award earlier, he had a lot to say as soon as he got on stage. He said that he was "this year's luckiest director" and joked with Ko Chen-Tung, "You are a newcomer, but I let you play me at my tallest and most handsome in my youth......since I treated you so well, I have something to discuss with you. Can I kiss Michelle Chen?" Ko Chen-Tung replied, "But you have to kiss me first." Giddens Ko then truly rushed up and kissed Ko Chen-Tung for a few seconds, Michelle Chen immediately changed the subject and introduced the New Director nominees. Taiwan singer Jam Hsiao (Siu King Tung) with THE KILLER WHO NEVER KILLS won Best New Performer. He said that the award was quite a surprise but it was quite a decent feeling and he was very happy. What characters would he like to play in the future? He said it would depend on the director. He also would like to work with many actors and even joked that if the reporters would be willing to make movies he would be willing to work with the reporters.
31ST HONG KONG FILM AWARD NOMINATIONS
BEST PICTURE
A SIMPLE LIFE (TOH JEH)
BEST DIRECTOR
Ann Hui On Wa (A SIMPLE LIFE)
BEST SCREENPLAY
Susan Chan Suk Yin (A SIMPLE LIFE)
BEST ACTOR
Andy Lau Tak Wa (A SIMPLE LIFE)
BEST ACTRESS
Deanie Ip Tak Han (A SIMPLE LIFE)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Lo Hoi Pang (LIFE WITHOUT PRINCIPLE)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
So Hung Shuen (LIFE WITHOUT PRINCIPLE)
BEST NEW PERFORMER
Jam Hsiao (THE KILLER WHO NEVER KILLS)
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Jake Pollack, Lai Yiu Fai (WU XIA)
BEST FILM EDITING
Yau Chi Wai (FLYING SWORDS OF DFRAGON GATE)
BEST ART DIRECTION
Yee Chung Man, Ben Lau Man Hung (FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE)
BEST COSTUME DESIGN AND MAKE UP
William Chang Suk Ping (LET THE BULLETS FLY)
BEST ACTION CHOREOGRAPHY
Yuen Bun, Lan Haihan, Sun Jiankui (FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE)
BEST ORIGINAL FILM SCORE
Chan Kwong Wing, Peter Kam Pui Tat, Chatchai Pongprapaphan (WU XIA)
BEST ORIGINAL SONG
TWO HEARTED FLOWER (HI, FIDELITY)
Composer: Jun Kung Shek Leung
Lyrics: Calvin Poon Yuen Leung
Performer: Sandy Lam Yik Lin
BEST SOUND DESIGN
Kim Suk-Won (FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE)
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Wook Kim, Josh Cole, Frankie Chung Chi Hung (FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE)
BEST FILM OF MAINLAND AND TAIWAN
YOU ARE THE APPLE OF MY EYE
BEST NEW DIRECTOR
Jessey Tsang Tsui Shan (BIG BLUE LAKE)
PROFESSIONAL SPIRIT AWARD
Fong Ho Yuen
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Ni Kuang (Ngai Hong)
BEST DRESSED
Lau Ching Wan, Shu Qi
Source: Takungpao
Translated by: hktopten
