[2025.01.16] MICHELLE WAI IS DISAPPOINTED WITH THE HONG KONG FILM CRITICS SOCIETY AWARDS

Getting married next month, Michelle Wai wore red to attend the Lunar New Year activity

Hedwig Tam with MONTAGES OF A MODERN MOTHERHOOD became the surprise Best Actress at the Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards

Chung Suet Ying won Best Actress with THE WAY WE TALK last year, but only had a minor role in THE LAST DANCE
courtesy of on.cc

Michelle Wai admitted disappointment at not winning the Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards Best Actress
courtesy of singtao.com

Michelle Wai felt disappointed that THE LAST DANCE got a "goose egg" at the Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards

Michelle Wai reveals that THE LAST DANCE extended version will be released in April

Michelle Wai reveals that her fiancee performed the betrothal gift ceremony, which was a lot of fun and fruitful

Hong Kong Film Critics Society member Manfred Wong comments on this year's awards results and feels THE LAST DANCE received the cold shoulder
courtesy of mingpao.com

The bride-to-be Michelle Wai Sze Nga would marry her outside the industry handsome medical boyfriend Chau Chee On an in February after more than two years of dating. Michelle wore a red dress to Kwun Tong yesterday to attend the shopping center event, and she recently shared photos of the gift on social networks when she would wed next month, with a lot of gold and dried seafood in a strong showing. Michelle said that the gift ceremony was very fun. "There are a lot of gold objects, there are three pairs of dragon and phoenix bracelets, and there are gold chains and meteor hammers. There are so many gifts that they couldn't fit in one car. The boss (Dr. Albert Yeung Sau Sing) gives gifts and cash." When Gillian Chung Yan Tung got married, boss Yeung Sau Sing gave her a luxury home as dowry. Has Michelle received a building as dowry? She smiled and said no. "However the Boss has given a cash gift, which is a happy price."

Michelle may have to spend her Lunar New Year at work, going to Rotterdam for the film festival on the second day of the Lunar New Year and then rushing back to Hong Kong for work. Speaking of the extended version of THE LAST DANCE, she said that as far as she knew it would be released in April. Because many Lunar New Year films would be released, THE LAST DANCE's post-production has to wait in line. The director might Extend her ambulance crying scene, but she was not sure because she did not participate in the editing of the extended version of the film. She has watched every cut so far though. Was the subject not suitable to be screened in the Lunar New Year schedule? She laughed and said, "No! It's better to be out with the old and in with the new."

A few days ago, the "Hong Kong Film Critics Society" announced its award winners, but the Hong Kong film box office record breaking THE LAST DANCE did not win any award and was only one of the top ten recommended films. The "Best Actress" went to Hedwig Tam Sin Yin for MONTAGES OF A MODERN MOTHERHOOD (FU DUK BUT). Michelle admitted that she felt disappointed after not winning the Best Actress award. "Nothing I can do, everyone's preferences and evaluation are different. I can't win every time, but I am very happy for the winners. (Do you feel you shouldn't lose to Tam Sin Yin?) Absolutely not, everybody has worked very hard." Speaking of an accusation that the "Hong Kong Film Critics Society" was forming cliques, she said that she did not know, nor did she know about the voting process. Thus she could not say so. She was disappointed for THE LAST DANCE film team, because they did not win a single award. As for her co-stars Michael Hui Koon Man and Tommy Chu Pak Hong's Asian Film Awards Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor nominations, Michelle expressed that her disappointment at the lack of nomination there as well but she was very happy that someone from Hong Kong was nominated. "All Asian films can participate in the Asian Film Awards, so when I see Hong Kong people nominated I am very happy. They have won glory for Hong Kong!" Has it dampened her confidence in winning the Hong Kong Film Awards? Michelle says it did because the opponents has been strong every year, but she would try her best.

Winning Taiwan's Golden Horse Awards Best Actress last year, Chung Suet Ying fought for the Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards Best Actress with the movie THE WAY WE TALK (HONG NGOR GUM TIN JUM MOR SUET) against Tam Sin Yin and finally lost by one vote. She also appeared in the film THE LAST DANCE, unfortunately due to the length of the film, two of her scenes were deleted so she became a supporting role among the supporting roles. Director Anselm Chan Mou Yin felt that she has been mistreated, but Chung Suet Ying did not mind. She even pointed out that roles have never been differentiated between big or small.

Chung Suet Ying has a very good relationship with THE LAST DANCE film team. Whe she shared food photos on social networks last month, one of which was beautiful chicken feet. Wai Sze Nga commented, "I know how to cook chicken foot soup, are you interested?"

Hong Kong Film Critics Society founding member and veteran filmmaker Manfred Wong (Man Jun) spoke about this year's Critics Society Awards results on his online program, as he felt very bad for THE LAST DANCE. He questioned whether the results were planned to generate talk. What led to their neglect and kept THE LAST DANCE from the Society Awards' Best Film final five discussion? He thought that giving such a cold shoulder to a movie that was beloved by the Hong Kong audience and made HK$ 150 million at the box office equated to making all ticket buying Hong Kong audience the enemy.

Man Jun felt that the Critics Society's style was fewer mention of commercial films. He questioned that since TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS: WALLED IN (GAU LUNG SING JAI JI WAI SING) due to box office and audience support was able to win this year's Society Awards Best Film, why THE LAST DANCE with HK$ 150 million box office and audience support was not included in the final five discussions for "Best Film"? He felt that the Society intended through the results to influence Hong Kong Film Awards members' consideration. He suggested that the Society has gone extreme for more than 10 years. For example, the Fruit Chan Gor directed THREE HUSBAND (SAM FU) had Society support and the Hong Kong Film Awards Best Actress went to Chloe Maayan. He thus felt that Some of the Society's member calculated, guessed and gauged which films would be able to generate talk this year, and scoffed at the city wide hit THE LAST DANCE. Man Jun bluntly said, "If you really have calculations, I think you have made the enemy out of all Hong Kong viewers who bought tickets!"

Man Jun also felt Wai Sze Nga deserved to be the final two of the Society Awards Best Actress, citing that she definitely had the substance, and questioned whether the Society minded that she was not a new actor or an actor under the Emperor banner? Man Jun said that he could not speculate with conspiracy theories. Although he liked the winner Hedwig Tam Sin Yin too, he felt Wai Sze Nga deserved the consideration. He said that Tam Sin Yin's victory with the film MONTAGES OF A MODERN MOTHERHOOD was a surprise. The film has not yet been released, so many have not yet seen it. As for THE LAST DANCE's director Anselm Chan Mou Yin is ineligible to be included in the director award discussion, Man Jun also questioned whether Chan Mou Yin was too new and was looked down upon?

[2025.01.16] STANLEY YAU IS GRATEFUL TO BE ABLE TO GET "INTIMATE" WITH KAYAN NG

Stanley Yau (right) and Tommy Chu (left) fight for the heart of Kayan Ng
courtesy of on.cc

Tommy Chu, Kayan Ng and Stanley Yau look forward to being able to see everyone at the audience appreciation events after the film release
courtesy of singtao.com

Both Tommy Chu (left) and Stanley Yau (right) pursue Kayan Ng (center) in their new film
courtesy of mingpao.com

Stanley Yau Si Chun, Kayan Ng and Tommy Chu Pak Hong (Chu Hong) starred in the Lunar New Year film MY BEST BET (CHEUNG DOH BIT YANG) would soon be released, and the three of them played two men chasing the same woman in the film. Pursued by "Explosive Muscle Man" Stanley and "Chinese-Korean mix" Chu Hong at the same time, Kayan admitted that she was "not a good woman". Because the character was the favorite child of the family, she was lazy. Her main job was to sleep at home and shop on the street, she joked that she was "playing her true colors". Next to her, Stanley also immediately chimed in, said that he has witnessed Kayan's gluttonous nature and seen her kept eating snacks. In addition she kept eating without getting fat. Kayan Ng said that she would have to thank Mommy. Stanley also joked that he had a lot of intimate scenes with Kayan in the film and had to thank the gods, because he has to "hold her once"; then he revealed the "romantic rival" Chu Hong's luck was boundless as he was constantly surrounded by women in the film. Chu Hong said, "I haven't played a 'neat' character in a very long time, I always been 'neat' on the stage, but I didn't expect to grab a 'scumbag professional' after I joined the film and television industry. This time I finally met a handsome role that made me feel powerful, and I am very grateful." He had to speak Korean in the film, so he went to take lessons. "The audience has more tolerance for Lunar New Year movie, even if I don't speak it well it doesn't matter."

Speaking of the film using comedy and gambling as its main axis, Kayan and Stanley both said that they would only gamble for fun with friends. Kayan admitted that she played mahjong and the Big Deuce, she also had the game of skills Rummikub. Chu Pak Hong misheard her and said, "You dare to play (Liza) Wang Ming Chuen?!" Stanley said that he lacked both gambling luck and skill. Aside from friendly mahjong, Big Deuce, Baccarat, he excelled at none. He would only host the Hoo Hey How (Fish Prawn Crab) game during the Lunar New Year, and his mahjong mates would mainly be his MIRROR teammates and manager. Who was the "Mahjong King" among the 12 members? He said that harmless looking Jeremy Lee Chun Kit, but then he also said, "I have beaten him before. (What is the sucker?) I won't say who, it's still Jer (Lau Ying Ting) and Anson Lo. Anson Lo is very distracted while playing. He plays just to be a part of the game, winning or losing doesn't matter." Who has won the most? He said they were rather close. "We takes turns winning. Jer once won ten times in a row. Because that day was his birthday, he probably used all of his good luck. Everyone has good mahjong manner, we are all cultured."

Chu Hong joked again, "I don't gamble at all, I even have to learn to gamble for this movie. (What's your usual pastime?) The work of an actor is already very "brain-burning", so I spend my free time at home in a daze, doing nothing, or reading books and watching movies. Actually, I have tried calligraphy, and I wanted to hike and rock climb; but in the end, I still felt that the bed at home was the most comfortable, haha." After that, the three of them picked up fai chun together and wish everyone an early Happy New Year.

[2025.01.15] FOR THE WEEK ENDING SUNDAY, JANUARY 12 2025

For For the week ending Sunday, January 5 2025

10 OCTOPUS WITH BROKEN ARMS
  Can : Ng Sat 3
    d. Jacky Gan
    Xiao Yang, Tong Liya, Duan Yihong, Cya Liu
    Stone Tsang Siu Keung, Nikki Han, Salomon Wettstein,
      Jack Leung Chun Keung, Will Hayward, Law Kai Pong, Tom Robertshaw,
      Sarah Pemberton, Hyun Chang Chung
  Rating : IIB
  Length : 110 mins.
  Opening January 9 2025
  Trailer : https://youtu.be/cz8WTp3G3u8

[ CINEMA CITY ]
    Kidnap my daughter? I'll kill you! Zheng Bingrui's precious daughter Tingting is kidnapped in public. Li Huiping,who always accompanies the father and daughter, joins the rescue mission. However, the cunning kidnapper skillfully evades the intense pursuit of police captain Zhang Jingxian and manipulates Zheng and Li, who are eager to save the daughter. Driven to the brink of desperation, Zheng Bingrui chooses a road to hell to rescue his daughter. Even if he turns into a "devil", he cannot let go of the villain who hurt his daughter! Little do they realize that a bigger conspiracy is quietly unfolding, and no one involved can escape.

  9 WICKED
    d. Jon M. Chu
    Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande

  8 CONCLAVE
    d. Edward Berger
    Ralph Fiennes, Stanle Tucci, John Lithgow, Isabella Rossellini

  7 SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3
    d. Jeff Fowler
    Jim Carrey, Krysten Ritter, Natasha Rothwell,
      Shemar Moore, James Marsden, Tika Sumpter,
    English Voices: Ben Schwartz, Colleen O'Shaughnessey,
      Idris Elba, Keanu Reeves

  6 LION KING: MUFASA
    d. Barry Jenkins
    Disney Animation
    English Voices: Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr.,
      Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, Tiffany Boone,
      Donald Glover, Mads Mikkelsen, Thandiwe Newton,
      Lennie James, Anika Noni Rose,
      Blue Ivy Carter, Beyonce Knowles-Carter

  5 PAPA
    d. Philip Yung Tsz Kwong
    Sean Lau Ching Wan, Jo Koo Cho Lam,
      Dylan So Man To, Lainey Hung Lok Yi
  Rating : IIB
  Length : 130 mins.
  Opening October 31 2024 at the 37th Tokyo International Film Festival
  Opening November 10 2024 at the Hong Kong Asian Film Festival
  Opening December 5 2024
  Trailer : https://youtu.be/aBUtM2eodBk
  Site : https://2024.tiff-jp.net/en/lineup/film/37002CMP10
  fb : https://www.facebook.com/people/%E7%88%B8%E7%88%B8-PAPA/61566260245857/

[ SCREEN DAILY ]
    A family drama about a cafe owner who leads a pedestrian existence after a family tragedy. His only wish is to have his 15 year old son return home, but the boy is locked up in a psychiatric prison for the murder of his mother and sister

[ 2024 BUSAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ASIAN COTENTS AND FILM MARKET ]
    Café owner Nin’s mundane but contented life is shattered forever when his fifteen-year-old son Ming slashes his mother and younger sister to death one evening. Diagnosed with acute schizophrenia, Ming is remanded to a psychiatric prison indefinitely until full recovery. Aside from visiting his son twice a month, Nin continues to lead a pedestrian existence, while memories of his wife, daughter, and son keep flooding into his head. As time passes, Nin has given up on knowing the reason behind the misfortune. He only wishes that one fine day, Ming, his sole remaining family but also the murderer of his family, will come home again.

  4 FOUR TRAILS
    d. Robin Lee
    Documentary
    Stone Tsang Siu Keung, Nikki Han, Salomon Wettstein,
      Jack Leung Chun Keung, Will Hayward, Law Kai Pong, Tom Robertshaw,
      Sarah Pemberton, Hyun Chang Chung
  Rating : IIA
  Length : 101 mins.
  Opening December 6 2024

[ BROADWAY CIRCUIT ]
    At the time, they said it couldn't be done. In 2012, Andre Blumberg set off by himself, to run all four of Hong Kong's iconic ultra distance trails in just four days. 298km and over 14,500m of climbing later, one of the hardest ultra marathons in the world - the Hong Kong Four Trails Ultra Challenge - was born.

    With the 2021 edition of the challenge as the backdrop, 'Four Trails' takes you on a journey from when the concept was first was conceived to it's current format. Under 60 hours to be deemed a 'Finisher' and under 72 hours to be a ‘Survivor’, unsupported and with an ever evolving set of rules. It takes a deep dive into the famous four trails that make up the challenge and you will both laugh and cry as the astonishing stories of those who dare attempt such a feat unfold.

  3 LAST SONG FOR YOU
  Can : Gau Bit Chung Fung
    d. Jill Leung Lai Yin
    Dior Cheng Yee Kin, Ian Chan Cheuk Yin,
      Natalie Hsu (Hui Yan Yi), Cecilia Choi Sze Wan
  Rating : I
  Length : 107 mins.
  Opening December 20 2024
  Teaser 1 : https://youtu.be/SKDIUeQO1ok

[ 2024 BUSAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ASIAN COTENTS AND FILM MARKET ]
    So Sing Wah, a former lead singer of the band, fell into the trough of marriage and career in middle age. He met his ex-girlfriend Ha Man Huen in the hospital. Recalling the love in the midsummer, she now has natural grace and elegance. But it is a pity that she left without leaving any contact. Unexpectedly, there is a bad new from her after half a year; it would be her smiling face in the photo in the mourning hall when meeting her again. So thought that everything now has become the past, but a week later, an uninvited guest came to him. Summer, a fifteen-year-old girl claimed to be daughter of Ha Man Huen and have a presumptuous request. Ha Man Huen entrusted the lawyer before her death, hoping that So and Summer would scatter the ashes under the Bodhidharma sun to make up for the regret of breaking up that year. The two lonely people with thirty years apart, hugged the ashes and finally decided to go to Japan together.

[ BROADWAY CIRCUIT ]
    That summer, young Ha Man Huen and young So Sing Wah crossed paths through a shared love of music, wondering just how far this love could take them.

    Years later, musician So unexpectedly encounters his first love Ha, in a hospital during troughs of their lives. Struck by how much he has changed, ailing Ha decides to send him to a journey as a parting gift, hoping this will reignite his life.

  2 THE LAST DANCE
  Can : Por. Dei Yuk
  Lit : Breaking. Hell
    d. Anselm Chan Mau Yin
    Dayo Wong Tsz Wah, Michael Hui Koon Man,
      Michelle Wai Sze Nga, Tommy Chu Pak Hong,
      Catherine Chau Ka Yee, Paul Chun Pui,
      Elaine Jin (Kam Yin Ling), Rachel Leung Yung Ting,
      Rosa Maria Velasco (Wai Law Sha), Chung Suet Ying
  Rating : IIB
  Length : 126 mins.
  Opening October 10 2024 at the Hawaii International Film Festival
  Opening November 14 2024
  Trailer : https://youtu.be/om4lN8N-TIc
  Site : https://hiff.org/events/thelastdance/

[ HAWAII INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ]
    Starring current Hong Kong comedy king Dayo Wong and comedy legend Michael Hui, THE LAST DANCE is the story of a debt-ridden wedding planner who finds unexpected success as a funeral planner, but he has to win over a traditional Taoist priest to stay in the business...The pandemic has sent most industries into recession. Mired in debt, wedding planner Dominic gets a miraculous chance to turn things around when a funeral planner retires and passes the baton to him. Planning weddings and funerals are polar opposites, but Dominic puts his all into his new job, from opening graves, digging coffins, to handling the deceased. No matter how unpleasant it gets, he takes on everything with gusto. However, the biggest obstacle is getting the approval of respected Taoist priest, Master Man. In his 70s, Master Man is a traditional man who has devoted his life to his Taoist faith. He wants to pass the mantle to his son, Ben, but Ben is more devoted to his wife and kids than to Taoism. Master Man's daughter, Yuet, respects her father greatly. However, since her ancestors dictated that women are filthy by nature, Yuet doesn't take romantic relationships seriously.

  1 THE PROSECUTOR
  AKA : MISJUDGEMENT
  Can : Ng Poon
    d. Donnie Yen Chi Tan
    Donnie Yen Chi Tan, Julian Cheung Chi Lam,
      Michael Hui Koon Man, Francis Ng Chun Yu, MC Cheung Tin Fu,
      Kent Cheng Jut Si, Lau Kong, Yu Kang, Adam Pak Tin Nam,
      Locker Lam Ka Hei, Shirley Chan Yan Yi,
      Mason Fung Ho Yeung, Tommy Chu Pak Hong,
      Ray Lui Leung Wai, Mark Cheng Ho Nam, Sisley Choi Si Bui,
      Mandy Wong Chi Man, Justin Cheung Kin sing, Liza Wang Ming Chuen.
  Rating : IIB
  Length : 117 mins.
  Opening December 21 2024
  Trailer : https://youtu.be/DitF9p1tZcs

[ BROADWAY CIRCUIT ]
    Based on true events. A young man is charged with drug trafficking. He pleads guilty under undue influence from his defense lawyer, in exchange for a reduced sentence. Hard-edged former cop Fok is the unconventional prosecutor assigned to the case. He becomes convinced that the conviction is unusual and decides to conduct his own investigation. Fok is forced to risk his own life and career to uncover the truth and bring the real villains to justice.

    Where the law ends, his justice begins...

[ THE FILM CATALOGUE ]
    Inspired by a true story in Hong Kong. A young man wrongfully charged with drug trafficking, pleads guilty under undue influence from his defense lawyer, letting the actual convict escaped from penalty. Fok, an unconventional prosecutor assigned to the case, firmly believes that the case is full of doubts and decides to conduct a private investigation for the young man. Fok risks his life and career to uncover the truth and bring the real culprit to justice

[2025.01.15] FOR THE WEEK STARTING SATURDAY, JANUARY 11 2025

For the week starting Saturday, January 11 2025 (Week 2)

VIUTV CHILL CLUB CHART

  5 ENDLESS LIFE PLANNING
  Can : Yat Sai Mo Yau Gei Wat
  ToNick

https://youtu.be/rRe2iYZR-V0

  4 COFFEE, TEA, OR ME
  Can : Ga Feh Yuen Yeung Nai Cha
  Cath Wong Yin

https://youtu.be/6r0Gtmcfi7U

  3 TWENTY IS FINE
  Can : Yi Sup Wan Ho
  KOLOR

https://youtu.be/TUymQ7Pk8lg

  2 SSS
  COLLAR

https://youtu.be/lUoGPZgZUrAE

  1 THE LAST DANCE
  Can : Po Doh Juen Sun
  Terence Lam Ka Him

https://youtu.be/3ZVt2fBcPak

[2025.01.14] STEPHY TANG WOULD HONOR HER MOTHER WITH RED BEAN SOUP

Stephy Tang personally enters the kitchen and cook the red bean soup for the film
courtesy of on.cc

The film LITTLE RED SWEET (HUNG DAU) earlier held a word-of-mouth screening. The film's editing consultant, master artist William Chang Suk Ping, also made a rare appearance to share with the audience. He admitted that art or editing is creation, "So I can't teach it, you have to explore it slowly." On the same day, the film company released its first production special - Tong Sui chapter, and arranged for real Tong Sui masters and food stylists to teach the actors how to fry red beans and postures. Among them Simon Yam Tak Wah and Stephy Tang Lai Yan both cooked red bean soup by themselves. Yam Tak Wah said, "I play an older generation of dessert masters, very stubborn. The process can't have mistakes, and if it is the whole pot has to be replaced." Jeffrey Ngai Chun Sun said that if he had a bowl of red bean soup, he would like to give it to every viewer in the audience and hope everyone will go to the movies and feel a warmth! As for Tang Lai Yan, she said that she would give it to Mama. "She has worked hard from my childhood to adulthood, I hope she would get a little sweeter and happier."

[2025.01.14] SEAN LAU WINS HIS FIFTH HONG KONG FILM CRITICS SOCIETY AWARD BEST ACTOR

THE LAST DANCE has broken many records and is one of the recommended films
courtesy of singtao.com

Sean Lau wins Best Actor with PAPA and calls for everyone to support the film at the movies

Hedwig Tam wins her first Best Actress with MONTAGES OF A MODERN MOTHERHOOD 

TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS: WALLED IN wins the Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards Best Film

Philip Yung with PAPA wins Best Director

The Hong Kong Film Critics Society's Ten Recommended Films of the Year include ROB N ROLL, OBEDIENCE, FOUR TRAILS, THE WAY WE TALK, ALL SHALL BE WELL, LOVE LIES, PAPA, WINTER CHANT, THE LAST DANCE and AN ABANDONED TEAM

The 2024 Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards announced the winners yesterday, Sean Lau Ching Wan won the Best Actor for PAPA, and MONTAGES OF A MODERN MOTHERHOOD (FU DUK BUT)'s Hedwig Tam Sin Yin won the Best Actress. TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS: WALLED IN (GAU LUNG SING JAI JI WAI SING) won Best Film. Last year's highest-grossing film THE LAST DANCE (POR. DEI YUK) became one of the recommended movies and did not win any major awards. Lau Ching Wan defeated THE WAY WE TALK (HONG NGOR GUM TIN JUM MOR SUET)'s Neo Yau Hawk Sau by one vote to win Best Actor. The first time Film Critic Society Best Actor Lau Ching Wan thanked the Society, saying that PAPA was still in theaters and still more than HK$ 70 million before reaching HK$ 100 million. He called on everyone to support the film at the movies. Chung Suet Ying won the Golden Horse Film Award Best Actress last year with THE WAY WE TALK, but this time she lost to Tam Sin Yin by one vote. Tam Sin Yin was excited after winning Best Actress for the first time, and thanked the team of MONTAGES OF A MODERN MOTHERHOOD for achieving her first film award.

The Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards were announced its winners yesterday, with a total of 5 awards and 10 recommended films, including Best Film TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS: WALLED IN, Best Actor Sean Lau Ching Wan of PAPA, Best Actress Hedwig Tam Sin Yin of MONTAGES OF A MODERN MOTHERHOOD, Best Director Philip Yung Tsz Kwong of PAPA, and Ryker Chan Wai Bun, Albert Mak Kai Kwong and Man Uen Ching won Best Screenplay for ROB N ROLL (LUM SI GIP ONG). As for the ten recommended movies, they included ROB N ROLL, OBEDIENCE (SUP FONG JI DEI), FOUR TRAILS (HEUNG GONG SEI GAING DAI BO JAU), THE WAY WE TALK (HONG NGOR GUM TIN JUM MOR SUET), ALL SHALL BE WELL (CHUNG GUM YI HAU), LOVE LIES (NGOR TAM DIK NA CHEUNG LUEN OI), PAPA, WINTER CHANTS (DONG MEI LOI), THE LAST DANCE (POR. DEI YUK), and AN ABANDONED TEAM (DUT CHUNG SIN SUN).

According to the Society, 46 Hong Kong films met the criteria of first run public ticketed screenings at Hong Kong cinemas with no less than 5 screenings held within a week. Finally, the best works revolved around the discussion were mainly 12 to 15 films. The five awards were all hotly contested, and the results were obtained after 9 hours of heated discussion and three rounds of voting. Each of the five finalists for Best Film had their own supporters, and in the end, the Soi Cheang Pou Soi directed TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS: WALLED IN and the Yung Tsz Kwong directed PAPA faced off, with the former narrowly winning by a small number of votes to take the lead.

Yung Tsz Kwong with PAPA defeated THE WAY WE WALK's Adam Wong Sau Ping, OBEDIENCE's Wong Siu Bong and others to win Best Director. In terms of screenplay, ROB N ROLL stood out, beating LOVE LIES, ALL SHALL BE WELL and others to win Best Screenplay. Last year's highest-grossing film THE LAST DANCE was not nominated for more than 3 awards, but Michael Hui Koon Man and Michelle Wai Sze Nga were nominated for the third round of voting for Best Actor and Actress.

The audience considered Lau Ching Wan's performance in PAPA to be his "best performance of his film career", earlier he competed for Best Actor at the Tokyo International Film Festival and Asian Film Awards. The Film Critics Society said that Lau Ching Wan defeated THE WAY WE TALK's Neo Yau Hawk Sau by one vote to become the Best Actor, his fifth time after FULL ALERT (GO DOH GAI BEI), LA BRASSIERE (JUET SAI HO BRA), LIFE WITHOUT PRINCIPLE (DUET MING GUM) and OVERHEARD 3 (SIT TING FUNG WON 3).

The Society said that in the face of the family tragedy, from the loss of consciousness and not understanding the reasons for the bad news at first glance, to the trauma of loneliness and loss of love, and the persistence of reluctance to reconcile, the actor had a great test with each plot turn. Lau Ching Wan with a "reserved" method to control his performance, displaying a low profile, sorrow and sense of life between silence and eruption, intricate and complex skill wise. The actor showed the understanding and digestion of unpredictability and love. In the past 10 years, Lau Ching Wan has repeatedly played the role of genre films. This Lau Ching Wan performance has a rarely seen aspect, especially his interaction with new actors; showing the power of the presence of top actors.

Lau Ching Wan thanked the Hong Kong Film Critics Society for his best actor award, "PAPA is still in theaters, and is still more than 70 million from being able to break 100 million. As the saying goes, 'where there's a will, there's a way.' I hope everyone would continue their support."

Tam Sin Yin won the Best Actress for her first film award. She defeated the Golden Horse Best Actress Chung Suet Ying by one vote. The Society said that Tam Sin Yin as the first time mother Suk Ching not only gained weight, but also showed the pain from the body to the heart in detail. In the face of parenting pressure and the conservative concept of gender division of labor, she went from disappointment to despair and gradually collapsed in the baby's cry. Tam Sin Yin gave this highly difficult role a strong appeal.

The first time Best Actress Tam Sin Yin emotionally thanked the team. "Thank you to director (Oliver) Chan Siu Kuen, who dares to cast me. Without you accompanying me to find Suk Ching, I wouldn't have been able to reach this step. Thank you for choosing me. Thank you to everyone involved in front of and behind the scenes of MONTAGES OF A MODERN MOTHERHOOD, the distribution company Golden Scene, my co-stars in the film, every Mamas who selflessly shared with me, and everyone who accompanied me step by step. Finally, thank you to my family for always letting me do what I want to do, and thank you to my mother. If there is a power in the award, I would like to give this little bit of power to every mother in the world so that you know that you are not alone."

PAPA won the Best Director, Best Actor and the Recommended Film of the Year awards, Yung Tsz Kwong was especially grateful to producer Amy Chin Siu Wai and co-producer Suen Fei, as he knew that he was a difficult director to manage; as well as the investors of this film. "I am very happy that Lau Ching Wan won the award, PAPA being appreciated is my biggest wish from making this movie. I hope that "Mama", "Son" and "Daughter" will have good luck at the Hong Kong Film Awards. PAPA is still in theaters, and I hope everyone will go to the theater to see this movie and support us to make another new movie."

The Ray Yeung Yiu Hoi directed film about lesibans in their twilight years, ALL SHALL BE WELL (CHUNG GUM YI HAU) was selected as one of the Recommended Films of the Year. He said that the team was very honored to be included in the list of recommended films by the Hong Kong Film Critics Society, and was delighted to witness a series of wonderful Hong Kong films releases that showcased a rich variety of subjects and styles and injected vitality into the local film industry last year. He hoped that more Hong Kong audiences would flock to cinemas in the coming year to support local films.

THE 2024 HONG KONG FILM CRITICS SOCIETY AWARDS
https://www.filmcritics.org.hk

BEST FILM: TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS: WALLED IN

BEST DIRECTOR: Philip Yung (PAPA)

BEST SCREENPLAY: Ryker Chan, Albert Mak, Man Uen Ching (ROB N ROLL)

BEST ACTOR: Sean Lau (PAPA)

BEST ACTRESS: Hedwig Tam (MONTAGES OF A MODERN MOTHERHOOD)

RECOMMENDED FILMS: ROB N ROLL, OBEDIENCE, FOUR TRAILS, THE WAY WE TALK, ALL SHALL BE WELL, LOVE LIES, PAPA, WINTER CHANTS, THE LAST DANCE, AN ABANDONED TEAM

[2025.01.14] IAN CHAN IS PRAISED FOR HANDLING HIS EMOTIONS WELL

Ian Chan attends the audience appreciation event for his film LAST SONG FOR YOU, leading the group of Hellosss to grab tickets
courtesy of singtao.com

The Dior Cheng Yee Kin (Ekin), Ian Chan Cheuk Yin and Natalie Hsu (Hui Yan Yi) starred refreshing and innocent romance LAST SONG FOR YOU (GAU BIT CHUNG FUNG) would head straight to HK$ 9 million at the box office. The day before yesterday, film director Jill Leung Lai Yin led the three leads Ekin, Ian and Hui Yan Yi, as well as the musician who scored the film Chan Kwong Wing, to a cinema in Tsim Sha Tsui to thank the audience and share their production experience. Among them without much acting experience, Ian received the director's praises for handling an emotional scene accurately.

Playing the girl Ha Man Huen and Summer in the film, Hui Yan Yi is only 20 years old. The team praised her for being young, full of vitality, and extremely high energy. She often played with Ekin and danced during breaks, and kept asking questions to the introverted Ian. She was the source of joy on the set. Ian revealed that the most interesting part of filming was playing a student role, "Since I studied in a boys' school, I had no female classmates. It felt very special to play a classmate with Natalie in the film, like I got a chance to repeat at a co-educational school."

Director Leung Lai Yin specifically mentioned a more difficult to handle emotional scene in the movie, when the teenager So Sing Wa found out that his father had an extramarital affair. He was sad and helpless. The director praised Ian that in the face of experienced actor Tommy Chu Pak Him, he handled his emotions very well. "I asked him to only use his expressions to interpret this scene, without any superfluous dialogue. Ian appropriately interpreted the chaotic thoughts at the moment as a son, the uncertain feeling of whether he should step forward or retreat. The tears also flowed naturally, and it was done well."

In the film, Chan Kwong Wing chose one of Ekin's old songs MY SONG to connect the story of the teenager and the adult So Sing Wa, and also wrote a new song LAST SONG FOR YOU for the movie for Ekin and Ian. The director praised all of the singing scenes of the 3 actors were recorded live, so none of the live performances had post-production. "When the young So Sing Wa asks Ha Man Huen to guess the meaning of the melody, Ian even performed on the spot and got it in one take." In addition, speaking of the movie interlude TIDES, it turned out to be the first time Ian participated in the film music composition. He originally planned to compose a new melody, but he remembered that he had a melody in his demo library that matched the beach theme. He recommended it to the director, not expecting the director to adopt it as soon as he heard it. The songs in the movie caused heated discussions on the Internet, and many fans of Ekin and Ian beg for the release of the original soundtrack of the movie. At the audience appreciation shows viewers asked directly. The director did not eliminate this possibility but would leave the decision to the film company.