[2023.04.17] TO MY NINETEEN-YEAR-OLD YEAR WINS THE 41ST HONG KONG FILM AWARDS BEST FILM DESPITE WITHDRAWAL

Sean Lau wins Best Actor as the favorite

Michelle Yeoh presents Best New Performer to Sahal Zaman

Edan Lui and Jer Lau

Keung To performs his Best Original Film Song nomination

Woo Fung dances for joy after receiving his Lifetime Achievement Award

Ivana Wong
courtesy of on.cc

TO MY NINETEEN-YEAR-OLD SELF wins Best Film.  Co-director Kwok Wai Lun (left) give the thank you speech on behalf of himself as well as Mabel Cheung
courtesy of singtao.com

Sammi Cheng has waited for many years before finally winning the Hong Kong Film Awards Best Actress.  She happily raises the awards high and says that she no longer is an also ran, and can proudly cross the finish line

Sean Lau wins his third Best Actor and thanks the teams and his wife

Director Kwok Wai Lun and the TO MY NINETEEN-YEAR-OLD SELF team accept the award.  Kwok Wai Lun says that documentary directors need not be afraid and should continue to work hard.

Two of the students from TO MY NINETEEN-YEAR-OLD SELF are in attendance

Mabel Cheung has not attended in person, but provided a speech for Kwok Wai Lun to deliver on her behalf

TO MY NINETEEN-YEAR-OLD SELF wins Best Film amid controversy

Favorite Michael Hui wins Best Supporting Actor 

Ivana Wong is surprised to receive Best Supporting Actress

Bowie Soo celebrates his Lifetime Achievement Award with the Cha Cha with Nancy Sit

Ng See Yuen accepts the Professional Achievement Awards on behalf of Sek Kei with recipient Law Kar 

Michelle Yeoh presents the award to Sahal Zaman

The 41st Hong Kong Film Awards took place last night at the Hong Kong Cultural Center. The Best Actor and Best Actress competitions were very fierce. In the end Sean Lau Ching Wan with the film DETECTIVE VS. SLEUTHS (SUN TAM DAI JIN) won Best Actor, Wai Ka Fai with the same film won his first Best Director. The Professional Achievement Awards went to veteran filmmakers Sek Kei and Law Kar. The 91 year old Bowie Woo Fung became this year's Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.

The controversial documentary film TO MY NINETEEN-YEAR-OLD SELF (CUP SUP GAU SHUI DIK NGOR) caused a big storm due to issues with some of the subjects' permission, suspended its release on February 6th and in the end the Ying Wa school declared that it would withdraw the film from competition. No film footage was provided to the Hong Kong Film Awards, but the film was still nominated for Best Film, Best Director and Best Editing. In the end it won Best Film and received applause from the entire crowd. Director Mabel Cheung Yuen Ting did not appear in person to accept the award. Producer Wong Wai was also absent due to illness. Three of the students in the film accepted the award with the production team on the stage. Co-director Kwok Wai Lun thanked the film's soul Cheung Yuen Ting and read the speech on her behalf. "From the black hole of (Alex) Law Kai Yui's death to the release of MY NINETEEN-YEAR-OLD SELF, I momentarily hid in a little garden. Because of a storm I was thrown into a dark forest. All of these made me realize the uncertainty of life, but what Ryuichi Sakamoto said before his death has given me great inspiration. Thank you everyone who during this period still provided me with support and encouragement. Thank you to the industry for the recognition of this film, which gradually showed me the light amid darkness and let me know that although I was in an abyss of life, it still symbolized that the possibility of only going up. Thank you Headmaster Shek for giving me this mission, we have no regret. Thank you to all the students who participated in the production, thank you for your courage of facing yourselves, and facing the audience. Thank you to the team that have shared the joy and the pain with us over 10 years. How many 10 years would life give everyone to chase a dream? Facing the highs and lows together, the most valuable is the 10 years of honing that has made us acquaintances during difficult times. Thank you everyone." Kwok Wai Lun also expressed his personal gratitude. "Thank you to the Ying Wah Girls' School for the trust, permitting us to make this documentary that span ten years. I personally want to say one thing: directors who are making documentary films in Hong Kong, please continue to work hard on making documentary films. Don't be afraid, because the times require documentary filmmaking, using cameras to record what is happening to us. Remember not to turn off the machine, keep shooting, don't be scared, shoot first and worry later, edit first and worry later, release then worry about it."

Ying Wah Girls' School also issued a statement. "We would like to express our gratitude for the voters' recognition, but because the school has already decided to withdraw from the competition in February, we have not sent any representative to attend the award ceremony tonight. This school hereby extends a sincere apology to the Hong Kong Film Awards and thank the organizers for their assistance and understanding over the past few months. TO took 10 years to make. The original intention of the production was through documenting the school's rebuilding and the students' growth experience to examine the meaning of education. This school thanks our alumni Mabel Cheung Yuen Ting for directing this film, alumni Wong Wai for producing it and their production team. With extremely limited resources they have completed this arduous production. We would also thank the 6 young alumni in the film for participating over the years.

In addition, many members of the production teams are Cheung and Wong's classmates and alumni. They all participated in the production work without any compensation, out of love for their alma mater and love and protection of their junior alumni. Their contribution is worth to be fully recognized. This school reiterates that during the production process of this film, the team conducted the production under the principles that the subjects knowingly granted permissions to. It absolutely has no intention of forced or hidden production. We also permitted students to withdraw during the production process."

Kwok Wai Lun said backstage that he would accept both the positive and the negative, and that the school has been in negotiation with everyone to resolve the issues. He also said that they invited the three students who were on the stage and they were willing to attend. Would he encourage other directors to tell actors shoot first then worry about it later? He felt that he was teaching film creators to protect film productions, to avoid problems. He would continue to make movies out in the open. Although he wanted to attend with Cheung Yuen Ting, but she has suffered a lot of trauma and already stated that she would not attend. He said that she probably would be pleased and encouraged by the award, and said that she certainly has suffered and had a hard time emotionally. He hoped that she would slowly exit the controversy and darkness. As for the award, he did not dare to say whether it was a vindication. He felt that it was a recognition of art and content. He did not know whether that would be separate from the controversy, regretting that not many have been able to experience the work in person. If they have seen this movie they would know what it is, and he believed that the judgment would be fairer.

Awards president Derek Yee Tung Sing after the event was asked how he felt about TO's Best Film Award. He pointed out that the Awards had no opinion and stressed that the Hong Kong Film Awards Board of Directors was an organization that serves the industry, without any relation to how many movies Hong Kong makes every year, what kind of subjects and how they are distributed. As long as their releases met the criteria, the event would provide the service. If they got the vote numbers then they would be nominated, if they got the votes then they would win. Some would win and some would lose, which would seem very cruel. However as an industry award, all of the nominees should enjoy it thoroughly. No one would know what the results would be.

As for TO, Yee Tung Sing said that earlier he has already communicated with the media. Recently he has seen online claims that the Hong Kong film industry and the Hong Kong Film Awards are small circles. He pointed out that the event has been held for over 40 years, it would depend on from what angle someone would look at this industry award. So far it has 2,000 voters, whether that would be a small circle it would also depend on the point of view. After this conflict the Hong Kong Film Awards has been unreasonable swept in. The event has not handled such a long period, as the school was willing to provide footage only a week before. Unfortunately the inspection deadline has passed and the footage in the end was not aired.

Having won the Hong Kong Film Awards twice, the 59 year old Lau Ching Wan became the Best Actor favorite and did not disappoint. After 8 years he became this year's fresh out of the oven Best Actor, the third Hong Kong Film Awards Best Actor in his 40 year career. His wife Amy Kwok Oi Ming did not accompany him. When he accepted his award he humorously said, "Don't worry, I won't sing!" Then he said, "Thank you very much Mr. Yeung (Albert Yeung Sau Sing), Wai Ka Fai and the team, for spending many lonely nights with me. Thank you to several pretty girls for helping me find what I am wearing, and my wife and my team; they have always seen Detective long before this movie, because they use their abilities that the average person may not be able to withstand to tolerate my work, accepting one nuclear explosion everyday. For anyone with a dream, as long as you are willing to work hard and live long enough, the dream would one day, very strangely and with a little regret, be fulfilled; but that doesn't matter, not everything in life goes your way. I also have to thank everyone in front of the camera, friends who love Hong Kong film and Hong Kong. Cheers and jeers I would both accept, because it's better than silence."

As for the 69 year old, two time Hong Kong Film Award Best Actress Sylvia Chang with the film A LIGHT NEVER GOES OUT (DUN FOR LAN SHAN) was nominated for Best Actress. Before the race she was the favorite and had hope to win her third Best Actress, but Sammi Cheng Sau Man ended up with a surprise victory. The LOST LOVE (LAU SHUI LOK FA) actress also won Best Original Film Song.

On the stage Sammi's eyes were all red from crying and hug the guest presenter Andy Lau Tak Wa. She said, "The Best Actress award for me couldn't be more distant, sometimes it also felt like it was just a step away. I want to say that from being recognized as a comedy actor to transitioning to dramatic actor, I put in a lot of effort and ran into many difficulties; to today everyone sees the transformation in my performance. I am very grateful to have run into this LOST script. Thank you very much Director Ka Ching Fung, producer, screenwriters; thank you even more to every actor in the film, this awards consists all your effort and contribution. I also thank my family, my father in Heaven, thank you Mama in front of the television, my three older sisters and little brother, especially little brother. He has used his intelligence to help me resolve many problems." She also encouraged people who are chasing their dreams around the world, never give up. Then she screamed out of excitement, "This time finally I am not also ran on the track, I can cross the finish line!" She also followed Bowie Woo Fung's lead and sang "Do you know, I waited until the flowers are wilted". Sammi did not thank her husband Andy Hui Chi On. Backstage she said that when she got home she would celebrate with him. She knew that he has prepared cuisine for her. "When I get home I would thank him. From choosing what to wear to putting on make up, he has been cheering me on. Earlier he sent a text to me."
Another focus of the awards of course was the guy group MIRROR's Keung To, Edan and Jer. In particular Edan with two movies directly clashed with Jer for the Best New Performer. In the end the 10 year old child actor Sahal Zaman knocked them out! When the result was revealed Edan maintained his smile, while Jer appeared disappointed. Nominated for Best Original Film Song with his song RAIN OR SHINE, Keung To was defeated as well.

Presenting Best New Performer, the fresh out of the oven Oscar Best Actress Michelle Yeoh (Yeung Chi King) received a minute long ovation when she appeared. She was very touched. "You have made me very happy. Hi everyone, I am Yeung Chi King. I am very happy the Awards gave me an opportunity to be here and say to everyone, thank you for your love and support all along. I feel that I am very suitable to present this award, because my first nomination was for YES MADAM! (WONG GA SI JEH) in 1986 for Best New Performer. As long as you are willing to hard work and struggle, NEVER GIVE UP! Dreams would ultimately come true!"

Best New Performer went to THE SUNNY SIDE OF THE STREET (BAK YUN CHING CHUN)'s Sahal Zamam (Lam Lok), who defeated Edan Lui Cheuk On, Jer Lau Ying Ting and Henick Chou Hon Ning. In the audience Edan and Jer were very gracious, maintaining their smile and applauding. Lam Lok said, "Thank you Heavenly Father for giving me the ability to make movies, thank you Hong Kong Film Awards for presenting the award to me, thank you Parents. I also want to thank the director and Wong Chau Sun, who always teaches me how to act. Making the movie was a lot of fun, would everyone please go to the movies and see THE SUNNY SIDE OF THE STREET?" Wong Chau Sun applauded in the audience and was happy for Lam Lok.

As for Best Supporting Actor, Michael Hui Koon Man with WHERE THE WIND BLOWS (FUNG JOI HEI SI) defeated Louis Cheung Kai Chung, Peter Chan Charm Man, Jan Lamb Hoi Fung to win. Hui Koon Man actually won the 1st Hong Kong Film Awards Best Actor. After receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award last year, this time he was on the stage again to accept the award. He said, "Getting an award for a non comedy is something I never even dream of, because I have always wanted to make people laugh. I have no interest in playing serious roles, but this movie I had a lot of fun making. It made me feel like a newcomer, especially after the pandemic I have a different view. I feel life is short and needs to be cherished even more. When Director (Philip) Yung Tsz Kwong asked me to play this role, I didn't have any confidence at all because it wasn't a funny character. I even had to deliver a 10 minute monologue in English in one take, which wasn't simple at all. My wife just told me, 'Just try it. Sun Wukong knows more than just doing flips. During the shoot I didn't get a single laugh on the set, the director even cried. If you have the courage to try something news, anything can happen." He continued that he still had a wish, he has not directed and starred in a comedy that has touched his heart. He planned to challenge that this year. He joked that his brother Sam Hui Koon Kit was jumping around like a monkey at his concerts, so he would invite him to guest star.

This year's Best Supporting Actress had a considerably fierce battle. Finally TABLE FOR SIX (FAN HEI GUNG SUM)'s Ivana Wong Yuen Chi defeated Lin Minchen, Jennifer Yu Heung Ying, Patra Au Ka Man to win. Having won the award in 2015, this was her second award. As soon as she reached the stage she let out a scream, "Thank you everyone, and to the entire TABLE FOR SIX family, and thank you very much Director for letting me join into this family." She joked that sometimes she would ask herself whether she was a singer, an actor, or a creator? "Because I have many dreams, everyone welcome me to perform on different platforms. Only then was I able to get closer to my dreams. Thank you everyone for accepting my becoming of an actor." Of course she also had to thank her family and her fans. She thanked her music fans for supporting her films. She also hoped that if she had film fans, they would support her singing.

This year's Lifetime Achievement Award Bowie Woo Fung received a standing ovation from the entire event. "The Hong Kong Coliseum applause makes me very excited, the applause here makes me feel very touched. Please be seat. I am touched because the applause came from the best of film." Called Brother Sau by everyone, he said that starting in film at age 21 and has worked for a full 70 years in the industry. Time really has been very long, but looking back it seemed like it was just several months ago. Brother Sau also proudly said that he has a personal record that so far no one would be able to break. "I set this record, no one can break it. During the Cantonese film era, I have worked with all the actresses. This is something that is worth me being proud of, hahaha, with Pak Yin, Tsi Law Lin, Pak Suet Sin, Yam Kim Fai, (Patricia) Lam Fung, Ng Kwan Lai, (Patsy) Ka Ling, (Josephine) Siao Fong Fong, (Connie) Chan Bo Chu, (Nancy) Sit Ka Yin."

Brother Sau said that he never fought for fame in the industry, which made his friends worry but he said that people would naturally know if he was good. "As Cantonese films declined I no longer had lead roles to play. If I did I would definitely be in a support role. Just as I thought that, my wife woke me up. She said that the lead role is a title. If you like it just do it, so I kept working. I went into television and had a lot of fun, I even took in 16 godchildren."

Later co-star and good friend Nancy Sit Ka Yin presented the award to him. Sister Ka Yin praised Brother Sau for his professional spirit that was worth young generations to learn from. He truly deserved the Lifetime Achievement Award. After accepting the award Brother Sau humorously said, "The award is very heavy, (Nick) Cheung Ka Fai said, 'Godfather, this award should have been yours long ago.' I said that everything had an process, just like that, I got the 'process' I deserve." Later as Brother Sau picked up the award, he pretended to wipe the drool from his mouth and sang Jacky Cheung Hok Yau's hit. "Do you know, do you know, I waited until the flowers are wilted."  Then he again showed off his dancing skills and danced the cha cha with Ka Yin.

Woo Fung back stage said that he would celebrate with family and friends. Friends even said that they would set off a strand of big firecrackers to celebrate. He was very happy to receive the award because friends have always treated him very well. God son Nick Cheung Ka Fai was working on a movie abroad and already told him he would find him after his return. Sandy Lam Yik Lin from a faraway place already congratulated him. He even pointed out that this award did not represent an end. He would continue to charge ahead, whether in concert or acting. He even hoped to win the Best Supporting Actor award.

Law Kar and Sek Kei received the Professional Achievement Award. Sek Kei was absent due to illness and Ng See Yuen accepted it on his behalf. Ng See Yuen said, "Sek Kei asked me to thank the Hong Kong Film Awards for making the precedence of presenting an award to film writers. He feels very pleased and wants to thank Hong Kong filmmakers of the past half century for making countless good films, which gave him the opportunity to enjoy them and then documented them with words." Law Kar said, "I feel very honored to be able to stand on the stage and accept the Professional Achievement Award. I have retired for almost 20 years. If I am able, I still would do things that are related and beneficial to the film culture, pass on to the younger generation, so they would be able to continue to advance and improve the Hong Kong film culture."

Although they returned disappointed, MIRROR stole most of the spotlight as a large group of MIRROR fans came to show support on a large scale. Over 500 in blue Edan fans conducted a sea and land operation in an organized manner, with a yacht and support signs they exchanged cheers with the fans at the Promenade. Never thought about  winning before the race, Edan expressed appreciation to the fans for their support. As for the Hong Kong Film Awards program misprint of his English name in replace of Lau Ching Wan's, Edan joked, "I want to keep it, maybe it would be impossible to appear on that page (Best Actor page) in a whole lifetime!"

In addition, when Louise Wong Dan Nei and Terrance Lau Chun Him presented the Best Screenplay award to DETECTIVE VS. SLEUTHS (SUN TAM DAI JIN)'s Wai Ka Fi, Ryker Chan Wai Bun and Mak Tin Shu, Wong Dan Nei did not know how to read the word "Shu" and asked Lau Chun Him on the spot. Wai Ka Fai in this speech said that the actors under the "flying paper" condition still performed well. Chan Wai Bun directly called that Lau Ching Wan a monster, because he truly read a big pile of dialogue with just one glimpse and gave an exciting performance on top of that. He was truly amazing.

The Hong Kong Film Awards took place last night, the program went on sale earlier but was found with typographical error. On the cover fold in poster, the Best Actor nominee Sean Lau Ching Wan was mistakenly written as "Edan Lui". On the Best New Performer page Jer Lau Ying Ting's English name went from Jer Lau to Jer Laui.

The event on social media issued an apology. "In regards to the 41st Hong Kong Film Awards program's fold in poster due to program production and planning company 18/22 mistakenly writing Best Actor nominee Mr. Sean Lau Ching Wan as Edan Lui, and Best New Performer nominee Mr. Jer Lau Ying Ting's English name, this association expresses its deepest regret. We hereby offer our apology to all three, and has already urged the company to make suitable arrangements to exchange the fold in for readers."

THE 41ST HONG KONG FILM AWARDS NOMINATIONS
http://hkfaa.com/winnerlist.html

BEST FILM
• TO MY NINETEEN-YEAR-OLD SELF (WITHDRAWN)

BEST DIRECTOR
• Wai Ka Fai (DETECTIVE VS. SLEUTHS)

BEST SCREENPLAY
• Wai Ka Fai, Ryker Chan, Mak Tin Shu (DETECTIVE VS. SLEUTHS)

BEST ACTOR
• Sean Lau (DETECTIVE VS. SLEUTHS)

BEST ACTRESS
• Sammi Cheng (LOST LOVE)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
• Michael Hui (WHERE THE WIND BLOWS)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
• Ivana Wong (TABLE FOR SIX)

BEST NEW PERFORMER
• Sahal Zaman (THE SUNNY SIDE OF THE STREET)

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
• Cheng Siu Keung (DETECTIVE VS. SLEUTHS)

BEST FILM EDITING
• J.Him Lee, Zhang Zhao, Jojo Shek (THE SPARRING PARTNER)

BEST ART DIRECTION
• Bill Lui, Andrew Wong (WHERE THE WIND BLOWS)

BEST COSTUME AND MAKE UP DESIGN
• Dora Ng (WHERE THE WIND BLOWS)

BEST ACTION CHOREOGRAPHY
• Jack Wong Wai Leung (WARRIORS OF FUTURE)

BEST ORIGINAL FILM SCORE
• Wong Hin Yan (THE NARROW ROAD)

BEST ORIGINAL FILM SONG
• LIVE A LIFE (LOST LOVE)
  Composer:Hans Wing
  Lyricist:Lin Ruo Ning
  Vocal Artist:Sammi Cheng

BEST SOUND DESIGN
• Nopawat Likitwong, Stan Yau, Sarunyu Nurnsai, Dhanarat Dhitirojana (WARRIORS OF FUTURE)

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
• Chas Chau Chi Shing, Leung Wai Kit, Kwok Tai, Law May (WARRIORS OF FUTURE)

BEST NEW DIRECTOR
• Ho Cheuk Tin (THE SPARRING PARTNER)

BEST ASIAN CHINESE LANGUAGE FILM
• IN SEARCH OF LOST TIME

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
• Bowie Woo Fung

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
• Law Kar, Shek Kei