Saturday November 25, 2006 Taiwan TAIPEI (AFP) - The cream of Hong Kong cinema has swept the 43rd annual Golden Horse Film Awards, dubbed the Chinese-language "Oscars", at a glittering ceremony attended by top stars here. Hong Kong director Peter Chan, twice nominated for best director, finally garnered the award for his musical, "Perhaps Love", about a country girl striving to become a star and her relationships with two men. The film led the nominations with 12 nods, and ended up winning four awards. Chan, who was absent from the ceremony, defeated fellow Hong Konger Johnnie To, a two-time best director winner here, Taiwan's Su Chao-ping and Chinese newcomer Ning Hao. Hong Kong actor and singer Aaron Kwok won his second consecutive award for best actor with his impressive portrayal of a single and abusive father who indulges in gambling in "After This Our Exile". "The movie is a huge challenge for me... but I never thought I could win (best actor) again," said a tearful Kwok, thanking his colleagues in the film and his fans Saturday. He defeated compatriots Francis Ng and Sam Lee. China's Zhou Xun, as widely expected, took home the best actress prize for her versatile performance in "Perhaps Love", after winning the same award at the recent Hong Kong Film Awards. "I want to thank director Peter Chan, my fellow actors... and the production team of the movie, I will work harder in the future," said Zhou. She beat Siqin Gaowa, also from China, Taiwan's Lee Sinje and Hong Kong's screen siren Carina Lau. The night's biggest surprise was "After This Our Exile" which edged out favorites "Perhaps Love" and "Exiled" to win best feature film. Nine-year-old Goum Ian Iskandar became the youngest ever Golden Horse winner when he beat three grown-up actors to collect best supporting actor as Aaron Kowk's smart and loyal son in "After This Our Exile". Hong Kong's Nikki Shie beat the better-known Zhao Wei of China and compatriot Amy Chum to win best supporting actress for her role in "Reflections", about a lesbian relationship intruded on by a man. Oscar-winning designer Tim Yip took the awards for best art direction and best make up and costume design for the period drama "The Banquet", featuring two of China's leading ladies, Zhang Ziyi and Zhou Xun. "Face/Off" director John Woo, heart-throb actor Takeshi Kaneshiro who starred in "Perhaps Love", and pop diva CoCo Lee were among the stars who trod the red carpet at the Golden Horse Film Awards in Taipei arena. In a tribute to Taiwanese director Ang Lee, ceremony hosts Kevin Tsai and Patty Hou rode horses to stage a scene from Lee's Oscar-winning "Brokeback Mountain" during the opening. The run-up to the glamorous ceremony was overshadowed by the sudden withdrawal of nominations from internationally acclaimed director Tsai Ming-liang and noted Chinese contemporary Tian Zhuangzhuang. An angry Tsai, who has won awards at the prestigious Cannes, Berlin and Venice film festivals, vowed to "forever boycott" the Golden Horse awards after judges criticised his latest work, "I Don't Want To Sleep Alone", during the nomination process. He had received two nods for the film. Tian's "The Go Master", nominated for four gongs including best actor, was also abruptly withdrawn with no official explanation given. In a further controversy, Taiwan director Leste Chen, also nominated for four, has been accused of copyright infringement by a screenplay writer and a composer for his hit "Eternal Summer". The Golden Horse Awards are styled on the US Academy Awards, but are decided by a jury along the lines of the independent-minded Cannes film festival. Complete List of Nominees and Winners: http://www.goldenhorse.org.tw/gh_main/gh-e-5.aspx credits: yahoo, aaronkwokmusic, asianfanatics.
