From 2020 to 2021, due to the epidemic, the Hong Kong Film Awards ceremony was forced to be held online, without the scene of stars stepping on the red carpet, which indeed made this annual film event lose a lot of its luster. After waiting for two years, the 40th Hong Kong Film Awards officially returned to the red carpet yesterday, and this year’s discussions before the film competition and the list of nominees have become the talk of the town. Below is a complete list of award winners and highlights on stage for everyone!
The theme of this year is “The 40th Hong Kong Film Awards: Not Confused as Ever”. The ceremony announced as early as March this year that the Lifetime Achievement Award of the 40th Hong Kong Film Awards will be awarded to the acclaimed “King of Comedy”, Stephen Chow. Stephen Chow built the golden age of Hong Kong comedy from the 1970s to the 1990s, with iconic works including “Aces Go Places”, “All for the Winner”, “Fight Back to School”, and “The God of Cookery”. His works are still considered classics in Hong Kong cinema, making him truly deserving of this award.
Model-turned-actress Wang Danni, with her role as Anita Mui in the biographical film “Anita,” made her debut with two nominations at the Golden Horse Awards, including Best New Performer and Best Actress. In the end, she won the Best New Performer award, and she tearfully expressed her gratitude on stage, thanking Anita Mui, as well as the late veteran actor who once guided her in acting, Uncle Chi (Lau Ching-Wan), and expressed her hope to bring more good films to everyone in the future.
The Best Actress award went to mainland Chinese actress Liu Yase. At the age of 33, Liu Yase stood out among Gong Li, Josephine Siao, Wang Dannii, and Zhou Xiu Na with her outstanding performance in “Wisdom Tooth.” She was nominated for the Best Supporting Actress at the Golden Horse Awards in 2020 for her role in “The Macabre Case,” and this year she bravely won the Best Actress award at the Golden Horse Awards for her role as “Wang Tao” in the film. It can be said that her future is limitless!
As for the most discussed Best Actor of this session, it was won by the 85-year-old Xie Xian, becoming the oldest winner of the Golden Horse Award in history, and receiving a standing ovation from the audience. Lin Jiadong helped him onto the stage, not saying much, and jokingly said, “I don’t know how to speak! I just came to get this (trophy)!” In the past, his son Xie Tingfeng had teased him for many years without winning the Best Actor award, but now he can be considered the unique “Golden Horse Award father and son” in the Hong Kong film industry.
The Best Supporting Actor went to the 17-year-old Feng Haoyang, who played the young version of Su Huawei in “Mom’s Magical Boy.” Facing the veteran actress Wu Junru who played his mother in the film, he still delivered an outstanding performance, which is truly commendable. The Best Supporting Actress was awarded to the popular choice Liao Ziyu, who portrayed “Mei Aifang” in “Anita Mui.” Her sincere portrayal of sisterly love became a tearjerker in the movie.
The late director Chan Muk-sing’s final work “Rage” won the Best Film award, with Chan Muk-sing also winning Best Director for the same film. The award was presented by Andy Lau, who read out the thank-you speech written by Chan’s wife, stating that the director in heaven would surely “respond with a smile” upon hearing this news.
The complete list of winners of the 40th Hong Kong Film Awards.
Emerging Director: “Hand-Rolled Cigarette” by Chan Kin-long
Best Actor: “Twilight Survivor” by Xie Xian
Best Actress: “Wisdom Tooth” by Lau Nga-sze
Best Film: “Anger”
Best Supporting Actor: “Mom’s Magic Boy” by Fung Ho-yeung
Best Supporting Actress: “Anita Mui” by Liu Tzu-yu
Best Director: “Anger” by Chan Muk-sing
Lifetime Achievement Award: Sam Hui
Best New Performer: “Anita Mui” by Wang Dan-ni
Best Original Film Song: “Original Intention of Time” by Chow Kwok-yin, Chiu Sin-hang, Cheng Man
Best Screenplay: “Wisdom Tooth” by Sham Kwan-sin, Au Kin-yee
Best Action Design: “Anger” by Donnie Yen, Ku Hsuan-chao, Ku Yuen-ki, Lee Chung-chi
Best Cinematography: “Wisdom Tooth” by Cheng Siu-keung
Best Costume Design: “Anita Mui” by Yip Ka-yan, Ng Lai-lu
Best Editing: “Anger” by Pang Ching-hei
Best Original Film Music: “First Incense” by Ryuichi Sakamoto
Best Art Direction: “Wisdom Tooth” by Mak Kwok-keung, Wong Wai-yan
Professional Spirit Award: Film Editor Chow Kwok-chung
Best Visual Effects: “Anita Mui” by Yu Kwok-leung, Lam Ka-lok, Leung Wai-man, Hung Man-sze
Best Sound Effects: “Anita Mui” by Tu Duk-chi, Ng Shu-yiu
Best Asian Chinese Language Film: “American Girl”
Image source: instagram@l_for_louise, liuyase, hongkongfilmawards, masonfung1005
