[2022.07.18] RAGING FIRE WINS BEST FILM AT THE 40TH HONG KONG FILM AWARD

The 85 year old Patrick Tse had help from Gordon Lam to the stage and accepted the Best Actor award from Nick Cheung
courtesy of singtao.com

Louise Wong wins Best New Performer and rises to fame with one film

With two nominations, Fish Liew wins Best Supporting Actress for ANITA

Mason Fung has a good start in the film industry
courtesy of on.cc

The 85 year old Patrick Tse becomes the oldest Best Actor.  He happily raises the award high.

Patrick Tse pulls down his mask to give his speech.  Gordon Lam rushes in to put it back on out of fear of infection.

Patrick Tse receives a standing ovation from the entire audience

Cya Liu wins Best Actress with her first nomination

18 year old Mason Yeung defeats fellow Best Supporting Actor nominee and boss Louis Koo for the prize

After 10 years in the business, Fish Liew finally wins Best Supporting Actress

Mabel Cheung strongly faces the passion of her love Alex Law and attend the award show with a smile

Popular boy band MIRROR are the guest performers

Michael Hui thanks many for the award, including his three brothers
courtesy of mingpao.com

The 40th Hong Kong Film Awards took place last night. Best Actress went to first time nominee Cya Liu while Best Actor went to Patrick Tse Yin. Best Director went to the late director Benny Chan Muk Sing for RAGING FIRE (NO FOR), which also won four awards including Best Film. Last year's film with the highest grossing opening and the most admission, ANITA won 5 awards and became the big winner. As for the most touching scene of the entire evening, when Andy Lau Tak Wa presented Best Director he read the thank you letter from Chan Muk Sing's widow. The 85 year old Tse Tin won his first Hong Kong Film Award Best Actor in his 70 year long film career and received a standing ovation, which also became a historic moment.

The 40th Hong Kong Film Award took place last night at the KITEC. With a physical award show for 2 years due to the pandemic, filmmakers came in droves to show their support. Best Actor Nick Cheung Ka Fai, Stephen Fung Tak Lun, Louis Koo Tin Lok, Gordon Lam Ka Tung, Nina Paw Hee Ching, Loletta Lee Lai Chun, Chrissie Chau Sau Na, Kay Tse On Kay, Elaine Jin (Kam Yin Ling) and a group of new generation actors Hedwig Tam Sin Yin, Fish Liew Chi Yu, Louise Wong Dan Nei, Cya Liu, Hanna Chan and others all showed their support and made the event star studded.

Yesterday the presentation began last night, the event first invited the 39th Hong Kong Film Award recipients to the stage and officially accept their awards. As for the first award presented this evening, the Lifetime Achievement Award went to Michael Hui Koon Man. He carried the award as he said, "Before for whatever awards I get I would think about what to say, this is the firs time I couldn't think of what to say. Today I want to honestly and sincerely speak from the heart, thank you the Hong Kong Film Award for giving me this valuable trophy!" He also humbly said, "I really don't feel I have made any achievement, I only feel I have been lucky my whole life. I was able to grow up in Hong Kong, the most beautiful, the most romantic place in the world with the most opportunities. It's been a good life for me."

The Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Hui Koon Man in his speech spoke of his three younger brothers and thanked them for their silent support. When he mentioned the late Ricky Hui Koon Ying he said, "Hui Koon Yin already went to Heaven. I know he is watching. I want to take this opportunity to say to him, all of your criticism of me is right, I can't be without you. I really miss and thank you. Most of this award belongs to you! Also my wife Cheng Kit Ying. She is the source of all my comedy inspiration. I also want to thank my two children and two grandchildren."

Hui Koon Man said in an interview backstage, Hong Kong people still had fire inside them and Hong Kong still had a lot of opportunities. After the award, he wanted to celebrate with his children and the grandchildren the most. He always considered his children and grandchildren as his brain trust and consultant. He never disciplined them and instead learned a lot from them.

The most touching moment of the evening included the Best Director Award presentation with Andy Lau Tak Wa. Best Director went to the late director Benny Chan Muk Sing for the film RAGING FIRE (NO FOR). Chan Mak Sing's wife as the guest presenter to read the thank you speech. "I really want to thank the Hong Kong Film Award Association for presenting this honor of Best Director to my husband! Thank you Emperor Motion Pictures, boss Mr. (Albert) Yeung Sau Sing! I believe this award would make his life complete. He definitely would reply with a smile and feel very pleased! Thank you to everyone on the staff of RAGING FIRE, special thanks to Mr. (John) Sham Kin Fun and Mr. Poon Yiu Ming! Thank you to my family members, friends, film professional elders. On behalf of my husband I express the deepest appreciation to all of you!" After the speech, the entire venue erupted into thunderous applause and gave the highest salute to the Hong Kong action film master of a generation.

The 85 years Tse Yin with a 70 year film career won Best Actor with TIME (SAT CHOOK GOR WONG FUN). It was his first Hong Kong Film Award Best Actor. When Best Actor Nick Cheung Ka Fai announced Sei Gor as the winner, the entire crowd stood up and cheered. Gordon Lam ka Tung accompanied Sei Gor to the stage to accept the award. When Tse Yin accepted the award, he often pulled down his mask. Lam Ka Tung could only help Sei Gor with pulling the mask back up and said, "The doctor says with so many people don't take it off." When asked about how he felt, Tse Yin said, "I don't know what to say. I just know to pick this thing up." Finally Sei Gor only said thank you and put his hands together.

This year the film industry had many newcomers. 17 year old newcomer Mason Fung Ho Yeung with the film ZERO TO HERO (MAMA DIK SUN KEI SIU JI) won the Best Supporting Actor. Portraying So Wa Wai in his adolescence, Yeung Yeung defeated a group of elders including Louis Koo Tin Lok, Lam Suet, Tse Kwan Ho and Will Or Wai Lam for his first award. When he accepted the award from the hands of Elaine Jin and Stanley Kwan Kam Peng, he got choked up and said that the award was very heavy. He was moved to tears as he thanked his parents on the stage. "Looking back at your support for me, I really feel I don't deserve it. I hope from now on I would use my greatest effort to play every role well, as a show of appreciation for you. I hope one day I would be able to very confidently say I am an outstanding actor."

Yeung Yeung later said that he forgot to thank So Wa Wai and So Mama for their determination, without them this movie would not be made. They were the pride of Hong Kong. He said that although he has Asperger syndrome and was considered lacking emotions and sympathy, a year ago he already decided to become an actor. He had a lot of experience from growing up and from now on would try to be a good actor.

Best Supporting Actress went to Fish Liew Chi Yu, who had two nominations, for the film ANITA. when she accepted the award she broke into tears of joy. As a Malaysian she tearfully thanked in Putonghua her family for their unconditional support. "This would be my 10th full year in Hong Kong. I went from not knowing anyone at all, to now looking in the audience at many of my friends, colleagues and directors I have worked with. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to make movies here. I am very honored that my dream has come true in Hong Kong. Thank you for including me in the fun." She joked that she believed she would be excited for 1 month and planned to take her entire company on a boat party. "I want to call my family the most, I believe they are crying very hard. I have been away from the family for a long time. Papa says that tonight he would book a room to watch the Hong Kong Film Awards with his co-workers." When she was interviewed backstage, Mother Liew suddenly called. She cried as she spoke on the phone. Would she ask for a raise? She immediately turned and asked her manager, and said that she wanted to have large scale productions to continue to make her offers. She would like to make a costume wuxia film the most.

Her co-star and best Actress nominee Louise Wong Dan Nei with the film ANITA won Best New Performer. She was in tears when she accepted the award, and joked that "I am very ugly when I cry."

"Everyone's hard work made this award happen for me. Thank you to my family, you are my strongest support. I hope to make even more good movies in this place where I grew up and in the industry that I like."

When she heard her name she was dizzy, seeing stars and had difficulty breathing, but luckily she was able to say what she wanted to say on the stage. Then she again thanked Anita Mui Yim Fong. Speaking of not thanking her husband on the stage, she explained that was because he was family. She said that she was very lucky to have the love and the acceptance of her family. She could bravely challenge anything and felt that the modern women would need to jump out and accept different challenges.

The 33 year old Cya Liu with her heart wrenching performance in LIMBO (CHI JI) defeated strong competition from good actors like Gong Li and won Best Actress with her first nomination. Actually Cya Liu came from the Mainland in March and stayed until now, mainly because she wanted to witness this event in person. When she accepted the award she appeared very calm. First she said in Cantonese that her heart was beating very fast and thank the Hong Kong Film Awards and the team. Then she switched to Putonghua and said, "I am very nervous, thank you Hong Kong for giving me this opportunity so I get to make movies many times in Hong Kong. Film has given me a ray of light, I hope in the future I would have even more opportunity to go even further with film. I didn't cry!"

Cya Liu thanked her boss Yeung Sau Sing, and texted him with the news as soon as she won. However he would not ask the boss for a home. She admitted tht when she made the film she thought about winning an award. She contributed a lot to the character and believed many people could see that. She pointed out that LIMBO was a meaningful movie. When she was hopeless, wanted to quit acting and switch jobs she would think of this movie. She thanked director Soi Cheang Pou Soi for his trust and experiencing the first recognition in her life. It was a miracle. In addition, she felt disappointed for Ka Tung's Best Actor defeat. She was the most disappointed for Cheang Pou Soi. As for her next goal, Cya Liu said that her first goal was the New Performer Award, the second goal was the Best Actress Award before age 30. Although she is already in her 30s, the dream came true late but still did.

Best New Director went to HAND-ROLLED CIGARETTE (SAU GUEN YIN)'s Chan Kin Long. In his speech he thanked Lam Ka Tung because he took the role for zero salary.

In addition, the program began with official award presentations to the 39th Hong Kong Film Award winners. Eman Lam, Cheung Tat Ming, Norris Wong Yi Lam and others all spoke on the stage. The previous Best Director winner Derek Tsang Kwok Cheung even described their situation as being "orphans". As he gave the speech, the "tricky mic stand" suddenly descended and made the scene a little awkward. Luckily several seconds later it rose again and he continued with his speech. The previous Best Original Film Song went to FLY from BETTER DAYS. Its performer Yoyo Sham Ning Yi accepted the award and thanked on multiple occasions the late song writer and singer Ellen Loo Hoi Tung.

The event also arranged for Wong Dan Nei and Leung Chung Hang to perform YEARS FLOW LIKE WATER in memory of filmmakers who passed away in the past two years. They included Chor Yuen, Kenneth Tsang Kong, Lee Heung Kam, Ng Man Tat, Liu Kai Chi, Alex Law Ka Yui, Lo Hung, Leung Kit Wa, Tsang Wai Kuen, Chan Ho Kau and Yau Sing Po. Director and screenwriter Law Kai Yui's love Director Mabel Cheung Yuen Ting yesterday made an appearance and was the "Best Screenplay" guest presenter with John Chong Ching. She was dressed in black and had a smile on her face as she often waved to the audience.

THE 40TH HONG KONG FILM AWARDS NOMINATIONS
http://hkfaa.com/winnerlist.html

BEST FILM
• RAGING FIRE

BEST DIRECTOR
• Benny Chan (RAGING FIRE)

BEST SCREENPLAY
• Au Kin Yee, Shum Kwan Sin (LIMBO)

BEST ACTOR
• Patrick Tse (TIME)

BEST ACTRESS
• Cya Liu (LIMBO)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
• Fung Ho Yeung (ZERO TO HERO)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
• Fish Liew (LIMBO)

BEST NEW PERFORMER
• Louise Wong (ANITA)

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
• Cheng Siu Keung (LIMBO)

BEST FILM EDITING
• Curran Pang (RAGING FIRE)

BEST ART DIRECTION
• Kenneth Mak, Renee Wong (LIMBO)

BEST COSTUME AND MAKE UP DESIGN
• Dora Ng, Karen Yip (ANITA)

BEST ACTION CHOREOGRAPHY
• Donnie Yen, Ku Huen Chiu, Tanigaki Kenji, Li Chung Chi (RAGING FIRE)

BEST ORIGINAL FILM SCORE
• Ryuichi Sakamoto (LOVE AFTER LOVE)

BEST ORIGINAL FILM SONG
• THE ORIGINAL INTENTION OF TIME (ONE SECOND CHAMPION)
  Composer：Endy Chow, Chiu Sin Hang@ToNick
  Lyricist : Cheng Man
  Vocal Artist：Endy Chow, Chiu Sin Hang@ToNick

BEST SOUND DESIGN
• Tu Duu-Chih, Wu Shu-Yao (ANITA)

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
• Yee Kwok Leung, Garrett K Lam, Raymond Leung, Candy Hung (ANITA)

BEST NEW DIRECTOR
• Kin Long Chan (HAND ROLLED CIGARETTE)

BEST ASIAN CHINESE LANGUAGE FILM
• AMERICAN GIRL

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
• Michael Hui

PROFESSIONAL SPIRIT
• Tony Chow Kwok Chung