"Election," a dark and violent tale about
gangsters, was the big winner Saturday at the Hong Kong Film Awards, taking home
the prizes for best movie, director and actor.
Johnnie To got the top honors for directing, while Tony Leung won best actor
for his portrayal of a hotheaded mobster angry about how the leaders of his gang
have been chosen.
The best actress award went to Zhou Xun of Chinese
mainland. She played a movie star caught between her present and past loves in
the Broadway-style musical "Perhaps Love."
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Chinese mainland actress Zhou Xun holds the trophy after winning
the Best Actress award for the movie "Perhaps Love" during the 25th Hong
Kong Film Awards April 8, 2006. [Reuters]
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Hong Kong's Teresa Mo was named best supporting actress for her performance
in "2 Young," about a teenage couple dealing with an unexpected pregnancy.
Anthony Wong of Hong Kong was named best supporting actor for his role in
"Initial D," a movie based on a Japanese comic about street car racing.
Wong won the same award last year at Taiwan's Golden Horse Awards -- the
Chinese-language equivalent of the Oscars.
Pop idol Jay Chou from Taiwan was named best new performer for his leading
role in "Initial D."
Chou, famous for his soulful ballads, said his success for his role as a
street car racer in "Initial D" won't cause him to walk away from his singing
career.
"I'll still focus on music. This is what I'm best at," Chou said as he
accepted his award.
He also won the best newcomer prize for the same film last year at the Golden
Horse Awards.
Mainland "Ke Ke Xi Li" won the top Asian movie honors. The film is about
volunteers protecting the Tibetan antelope from ruthless poachers in remote
western China. The movie, directed by Lu Chuan, won the best film award in 2004
at the Golden Horse Awards.
Other nominees Saturday for best Asian film were Japan's "Howl's Moving
Castle," Taiwan's "Three Times," South Korea's "Sympathy for Lady Vengeance" and
Japan's "Be With You."
The best new director award on Saturday went to Kenneth Bi for "Rice
Rhapsody" about dueling chefs.
Peter Pau won the prize for best cinematography for "Perhaps Love," a
Broadway-style musical.