[2016.04.04] 35TH HONG KONG FILM AWARDS

Best Actor Aaron Kwok

Best Actress Jessie Li

Sean Lau does a decent job as the host

Nick Cheung and Jacky Cheung mess around to rile up the crowd

Child star representative Petrina Fung presents the Best Director award to Tsui Hark

Elaine Jin

Michael Ning hugs Jessie Li before going to the stage

Cecilia So and Neo Yau

Andrew Lam, Ronald Cheng

Kathy Chow

Fiona Sit

Poyd

Even Jacky Cheung and Karena Lam are shocked to win Best Dressed

Guest performer Carmen Soup

Sisley Choi

Jacky Cai

Angie Chiu
courtesy of on.cc

courtesy of singtao.com

PORT OF CALL's Best Actress Jessie Li and Best Actor Aaron Kwok prove with good characters both new and veteran actors have equal chance to win

Aaron Kwok wins his first Hong Kong Film Award Best Actor after five nominations.  He tearfully thanks everyone for making him the Hong Kong Best Actor for the first time

Jessie Li performs without any baggage in PORT OF CALL, which wins her her first Best Actress

Michael Ning wins Best Supporting Actor and Best New Performer.  He is afraid of  being called big headed if he asks for a raise.

The controversial film TEN YEARS wins Best Film and preserves some domestic style for Hong Kong film

Hong Kong Film Award Association president Derek Yee personally present Best Film to TEN YEARS

Tsui Hark receives Best Director from former child stars like Paul Chun and Petrina Fung

Sean Lau hosts the show alone as his wife Amy Kwok supports him in the audience

Gregory Wong, Ng Siu Hin, Babyjohn Choi and Darren Wang present Best Editing

John Chiang and Paul Chun present the Lifetime Achievement Award to Li Lihua.  Her daughter Maggie accepts it on her behalf.

Li Lihua attended the Golden Horse Award last year
courtesy of mingpao.com

Janice Man shocks the crowd

Kathy Chow

Fiona Sit

Carina Lau

Jacky Cheung, Karena Lam and Steve Yuen.  Jacky Cheung and Karena Lam win Best Dressed

Miriam Yeung works out to fit into the dress.  She attends with her husband Real Ting

Ronald Cheng and Sammie Yu take a day off from the kids to attend

Ada Choi and Max Zhang

Darren Wang and Vivian Sung

Tony Leung Ka Fai

Cecilia So and Neo Yau

Chin Ka Lok and Angela Tong

Sisley Choi

Andy Lau says that many people have been congratulating him lately

Aaron Kwok feels normal about the Best Actor race
courtesy of mingpao.com

The 35th Hong Kong Film Awards took place last night at the Cultural Center. This year's Best Actor and Best Actress races have been fierce. After being nominated five time, Aaron Kwok Fu Sing finally with PORT OF CALL (DAP HUET CHUM MUI) won his first Best Actor award. Best Actress went to his co-star and new comer Jessie Li (Chun Xia) in a surprise victory. With 13 nominations, the Philip Yung Tsz Kwong directed PORT OF CALL won seven awards to become the big winner, but Yung Tsz Kwong did not win Best Director. The honor went to THE TAKING OF TIGER MOUNTAIN's Tsui Hark. Best Film went to TEN YEARS (SUP NIN).

The five time nominee Kwok Fu Sing has won with PORT the Hong Kong Film Directors' Guild and the Berlin Chinese Film Festival Best Actor awards, naturally he had an advantage. Last night he successfully defeated Jacky Cheung Hok Yau, Andy Lau Tak Wa, Nick Cheung Ka Fai and Tony Leung Ka Fai to win Best Actor, his first at the Hong Kong Film Award.

Guest presenter Carina Lau Ka Ling claimed to be the "Best Actor" study expert. "According to my years of clinical trial, Best Actor winners have to put family first because putting family first is a type of acting. Cheung Hok Yau really puts his family first, both Ka Fai live up to the name 'Family First Fai' (sounds like Joseph Koo). Sing Sing misses just by a little; secondly they have to be faithful, actually being faithful is a very rare acting ability. Lau Tak Wa, Cheung Hok Yau are very faithful. Both Ka Fai are 110% faithful. Sing Sing you have to work a little harder. I know you have always been working hard." Later Ka Ling asked Sing Sing if he felt like she was targeting him? Sing Sing shook his head. He was her top "Best Actor" favorite, his eyes were always like he was at war. Once a famous director said to her, a look was enough to start a war. Her clinical trial target often gave her those looks. Later when Ka Ling announced Sing Sing to be the victor, cheers erupted. Sing Sing after accepting the award from Ka Ling said, "I am very happy, the victory feels a little surprising because every opponent is very outstanding." He also said that because he has been nominated five times already, he once thought whether he should keep working harder. Actually he has already let the award go. He also remembered to thank manager Siu Mei, Yung Tsz Kwong, his parents and even people who were jerks to him in the film industry.

PORT's first time Best Actress and New Actor nominee Chun Xia was the surprise Best Actress winner, beating two pre race favorites Miriam Yeung Chin Wa and Karena Lam Ka Yun. Chun Xia was the most inexperienced among the five nominees. Sylvia Chang (Cheung Ngai Ga) and the pregnant Tang Wei did not attend.

With 13 nominations, the Yung Tsz Kwong directed PORT OF CALL won seven awards including Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best New Actor, Best Cinematography and Best Screenplay to become the big winner.

Raman Hui Sing Ngai with MONSTER HUNT won New Director. The film also won Best Costume and Make Up Designs and Best Visual Effects. Hui Sing Ngai said that as someone from Hong Kong, returning to accept an award in Hong Kong was very meaningful. Later he also joked that he actually was very old, but he won New Director.

This year's Hong Kong Film Award host was the two time Best Actor winner Sean Lau Ching Wan. At the opening Ching Wan used his "spaceship comment" from when he won Best Actor last year to poke fun at the lead in the Hong Kong water supply incident. "I thought there was a parking lot next to the Space Museum, with valet parking for spaceships. My spaceship doesn't use gas, it uses tap water. It has to have lead, Hong Kong has it!" Ching Wan also said that when he was nominated for Best Actor for the first time he already wanted to be the Hong Kong Film Award host. Last night his dream finally came true. "Whether I perform well or not, everyone has to tolerate me for one night." At the opening he explained the process from nomination, voting to awards and he was "split" into a number of them on the stage. Later when he presented Best Actress he joked that he was doing it all.

In the past the Hong Kong film industry has cultivated many memorable classic child stars. To coordinate with this year's theme "Child Voices, Same Film" design, the event invited many classic famous child stars to attend. They included Petrina Fung Bo Bo, Paul Chun Pui, John Chiang Dai Wai, Michael Lai Siu Tin, Yuen Siu Fai, Shek Sau, Meiki Wong and the already retired from show business Kwan Pui Lam and Wong Ka Ming. They shared with everyone their interesting highlight as child stars. Tsui Hark with THE TAKING OF TIGER MOUNTAIN won Best Director. When he saw the former child stars he admitted that he was very excited. "Thank you to such a big group of people for presenting the award to me, With so many people full of historical experience presenting to me, it is very memorable for me." The event also with piano accompaniment remembered filmmakers who passed away.

The "Film Industry Evergreen" Li Lihua received the Lifetime Achievement Award. Because Li Lihua went to the hospital for examination she was unable to personally accept the award. The event showed a video of brothers Chiang Dai Wai and Chun Pui presenting the honor to her daughter Maggie.

Elaine Jin (Kam Yin Ling) was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for the nineth time. This time with PORT OF CALL she won the honor for the third time. When the award was announced, she was moved to tears as she graciously thanked her same sex "close friend" Suzie Wong.

Kam Yin Ling got choked up as she said, "I am 61 this year. Each time I divorced I chose to return to Hong Kong to start over. Here I have job opportunities. After returning I didn't make a lot of movies, but I was very lucky to be able to wait for this film. Thank you director for having this courage and insight to trust me. After decades in the business, I don't remember how many movies I have made but I definitely will remember this film. I have never made a movie in which everyone have been so united. After so many roads, I can't be any luckier. I never imagined that this moment would happen. I have to thank (William) Chang Suk Ping. A friend for several decades, no matter what happened to me, he wouldn't say no even when he wouldn't be paid. I also have to thank my daughter, (Rosamund) Kwan Chi Lam, Ah So (Suzie Wong), without you I wouldn't be standing here today. I wouldn't know where I would be."

Kam Yin Ling revealed back stage that her mind went blank when she accepted the award. She also pointed out that she cried easily, not because this award made her stronger than others but because she felt that life has ups and downs. After work she wanted to be recognized. The most emotional was every co-star treated everyone like a family. She never had that before. Everyone wanted each other to do well. Thus this award had a different meaning.

Michael Ning (Bak Ji) won Best Supporting Actor and Best New Performer. Before going to the stage both times he hug his co-star Jessie Li (Chun Xia), but she pouted once. Bak Ji thanked the director, Kwok Fu Sing and others. He winked at the camera to thank this friends back stage. Later he gave special thanks to Chun Xia. "This award is yours! Without you there is no me!" Bak Ji said back stage that this was the last time that he and Chun Xia would attend an event for PORT so he was more reluctant to part. Later he even gave thanks in his rotten Putonghua but he turned "production team" and "Chun Xia" into "Pig Morning" and "Spring Sand".

The second time Bak Ji went to the stage for Supporting Actor he thanked his parents and sisters. He also expressed his love for Chun Xia, "I love you!" Later Bak Ji was asked about his relationship with Chun Xia. He only said, "My relationship with her is like the love of parents. I love her, but it is only limited to the love of co-stars. Without here there is no me. So it isn't romantic love between a man and a woman."

This year's Hong Kong Film Awards still followed the rules of the contest. The nomination came from the first round voting. In the second round the "55 people professional jury" had 55% of the votes, the Hong Kong Film Award's 13 affiliated member organizations and the Composers and Authors Society of Hong Kong members' votes in their respective categories counted for 25% of the 2nd round and 20% in other categories.

This year's new Hong Kong Film Award Association president Derek Yee Tung Sing said that the most important job for the jury was to ensure the fairness of this standard and rules and consider how they would develop going forward.

Yee Tung Sing said that he was the proudest of the entire board of directors for insisting on doing the best job to keep everything confidential. Even he did not know the results before the presentation. Only during the official announcement would the accountants hand the results to the crew.

Gregory Wong Chung Hiu, Darren Wang, Ng Siu Hin and Babyjohn Choi Hong Yik presented the Best Editing award. Choi Hong Yik said, "One editor is a master." Wong Chung hiu pretended to hide the microphone and said, "He isn't a person, we may be edited out too. Be careful about what you say." He hinted that TVB was petty in its broadcast. Andrew Lam Man Chung and Ronald Cheng Chung Kei before presenting "Best Original Film Song" played guitar and sang. They kept dropping jokes. Lam Man Chung even twice used faux foul language. He said, "Cheng Chung Kei, when you sing how many people are applauding? Hok Yau is here and you dare to sing? Since you sing so well when will your concert be? I heard that you weren't approved. My condolences, if it can't be at the HK Coliseum then the police station, if not then the funeral home." First he joked about the "plastic" difficult. Cheng Chung Kei corrected him and said, "It's highly difficult. You are better off not saying anything!" Lam Man Chung said, "You shouldn't randomly sing other people's 'plastic' (high) pitch."

Although Nick Cheung Ka Fai did not win New Director, he was still in great spirit. Raman Hui Sing Ngai thanked the absent editor Cheung Ka Fai, but the star of the "same name" immediately stood up and waved. The crowd cracked up. Christopher Doyle (To Ho Fung) with PORT OF CALL won Best Cinematography. He might have had a little to drink as he not only flew all over the venue but also kept going on and on with his speech. Guest presenters Choi Hong Yik, Wong Chung Hiu and others were left stunned.

On the red carpet two suspicious people snuck into the media crowd and often went to check the program rundown. The event was worried about any unpleasantness and contacted the police for assistance due to their suspicious behavior. They claimed that they "bought passes from reporters" to the police. After questioning they were believed to be "chasing stars" under the guise of reporters. Thus the event decided not to press charges.

Kathy Chow Man Kei was the Best Dressed judge. Cheung Hok Yau and Lam Ka Yun won the awards as one of them wore black and the other white and were very well matched.

Ka Yun warned earlier that with her director husband Steve Yuen Kim Fai next to her she had to dress "conservatively". Indeed she appeared in a very "conservative" pure white long dress. She explained that it was continuing the spirit of the film HEAVEN IN THE DARK (UM SIK TIN TONG) because in the film she wore white throughout. Hok Yau spoke with other Best Actor nominees about what to wear. They all wore black. Everyone joked if Hok Yau felt very "black" (jinxed) after losing the Hong Kong Film Award Best Actor so many times? He joked, "No, but I am already used to it." How did his wife May Lo (Law Mei Mei) support him? He said, "She told me not to be nervous. On the red carpet I am still not nervous yet. Maybe when I will be in my seat and the camera will be on me then I will be nervous. (Your wife and daughter are supporting you at home?) They will go to the beach first. Actually they have no idea which station it is on, but when my daughter knew that I was going to an award show, she said to me 'good luck' as I walked out the door."

Lau Ka Ling was not nominated before still showed her support. When asked about how sexy many young stars were, Ka Ling jokingly stared at her chest and said, "I already did all I could. It's not about being sexy, everyone is trying to be pretty. Because the Hong Kong Film Award is a film industry product, as a part of it I would support it. So everyone constantly would see me here." Ka Ling also revealed that her husband Tony Leung Chiu Wai was unable to attend because he was working on FERRYMAN (BAI DOH YUN) in the Mainland.

Janice Man Wing Shan was very confident in her very daring dress. She spent three hours to prepare and siad that the dress was based on her film's cold and cruel killer character. She said, "In this dress I can't take any precaution, it really is very daring. I really can't use any tape except on the upper half of my body. After I go in I will change. I didn't show it to anyone, I only told everyone that it would be a surprise."

Lau Tak Wa was asked about rumors that he would become a father again but he neither denied or admitted anything. However he told the media that for anything they could congratulate him first.

Everyone asked Wa Jai if he would have double happiness. Wa jai said, "Hey, how can you say that. However whether it's true or not I won't comment. Thank you everyone for your concern. Everyone can pay attention to my official site. The truth will appear on there. (If you don't talk about it then it's true?) If I don't then......make up your mind for yourselves. Thank you media and many friends who care, people who are familiar with me would understand and know. (This one is rumored to be a boy?) I was once said to be gay too. (Are you in a welcoming mood?) No, I feel normal, just like competing for the best Actor. If I have it in the future, you congratulate me first no matter what. You are all very nice."

New Performer nominee Cecilia So Lai Shan appeared in the arms of boyfriend Neo Yau Hawk Sau. Reporters tried to get them to stop for photos but could not call out his name in time. In a rush they screamed, "Hey boyfriend, pictures!" Wong Chung Hiu appeared around the same time as Emperor artist Bryant Mak Chi Lok. He revealed that they already wore the same thing. Wong Chung Hiu said, "Clashing isn't important, everyone have good taste!" Justin Cheung Kin Sing remembered his late father. "I promised him that I have to be nominated for a Hong Kong Film Award. This year I haven't had the chance, being invited to introduce Best Film is another way to fulfill the promise." THE 35TH HONG KONG FILM AWARD NOMINATIONS
http://hkfaa.com/winnerlist.html

BEST FILM
TEN YEARS

BEST DIRECTOR
Tsui Hark (THE TAKING OF TIGER MOUNTAIN)

BEST SCREENPLAY
Philip Yung Tsz Kwong (PORT OF CALL)

BEST ACTOR
Aaron Kwok (PORT OF CALL)

BEST ACTRESS
Jessie Li (PORT OF CALL)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Michael Ning (PORT OF CALL)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Elaine Jin (PORT OF CALL)

BEST NEW PERFORMER
Michael Ning (PORT OF CALL)

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Christopher Doyle (PORT OF CALL)

BEST FILM EDITING
Cheung Ka Fai (IP MAN 3)

BEST ART DIRECTION
William Chang Suk Ping, Yau Wai Ming (OFFICE)

BEST COSTUME AND MAKE UP DESIGN
Yee Chung Man (MONSTER HUNT)

BEST ACTION CHOREOGRAPHY
Li Chung Chi (SPL 2: A TIME FOR CONSEQUENCES)

BEST ORIGINAL FILM SCORE
Dayu Lo, Chan Fai Young (OFFICE)

BEST ORIGINAL FILM SONG
WE ALMOST FLY (SHE REMEMBERS, HE FORGETS)
Composer: Day Tai
Lyric: Saville Chan
Performer: Feanna Wong

BEST SOUND DESIGN
Kinson Tsang, George Lee Yiu Keung, Yiu Chun Him (THE TAKING OF TIGER MOUNTAIN)

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Jason Snell, Ellen Poon, Tang Bingbing (MONSTER HUNT)

BEST NEW DIRECTOR
Raman Hui (MONSTER HUNT)

BEST FILM FROM MAINLAND AND TAIWAN
THE ASSASSIN

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Li Lihua

PROFESSIONAL SPIRIT AWARD
Chow Wing Kwong

BEST DRESSED
Jacky Cheung, Karena Lam