[2024.03.17] THE HONG KONG FILM DIRECTORS' GUILD NAMES TONY LEUNG CHIU WAI BEST ACTOR

Favorite Tony Leung Chiu Wai wins Best Actor and hopes to win again at the Hong Kong Film Awards next month

Jennifer Yu breaks down over her Best Actress award

Angela Hui dresses up for her first Film Directors' Guild banquet

Rachel Leung

Rosa Velasco and Charlene Choi were kindergarten classmates
courtesy of on.cc

Tony Leung Chiu Wai attends the banquet with his wife Carina Lau

Sammo Hung and his wife Joyce Godenzi
courtesy of singtao.com

Tony Leung Chiu Wai and Jennifer Yu win the Hong Kong Film Directors' Guild Best Actor and Best Actress respectively

After receiving the award from Johnnie To, Tony Leung Chiu Wai thanks him for giving him a lot of inspiration

The late director Alex Law received the honorary award and Mabel Cheung accepted it on his behalf.  Guest presenter John Shum could not help but succumbed to tears when remembering his late friend

Louis Koo shows his support in person for the Directors' Guild

Sammo Hung stands still for pictures without a cane and appears to be in great spirit

Jackie Chan earlier appears in public with gray hair, leading to some calling him "old" online

Jeffrey Ngai has yet to be affected by negative reviews
courtesy of mingpao.com

The Hong Kong Film Directors' Guild Award Ceremony and annual banquet took place two nights ago. This year's banquet had 33 tables, attending guess included Tony Leung Chiu Wai and his wife Carina Lau Ka Ling, Louis Koo Tin Lok, Sammo Hung Kam Bo and Joyce Godenzi (Go Lai Hung), Eric Tsang Chi Wai, Johnnie To Kei Fung, Andrew Lau Wai Keung, Gordon Lam Ka Tung, Raymond Lam Fung, Charlene Choi Cheuk Yin, Carlos Chan Ka Lok, Jennifer Yu Heung Ying, Chung Suet Ying, Rachel Leung Yung Ting, Louise Wong Dan Nei, Niki Chow Lai Kei, Catherine Chau Ka Yi, Amy Yip Chi Mei, Angela Hui Ching Wan, Raymond Wong Ho Yin, and mainland actor Da Peng. Leung Chiu Wai was named the Directors' Guild Best Actor. He thanked To Ke Fung for inspiring him. He would head to Germany for a movie and miss the Hong Kong Film Awards. He also revealed that he and famous Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda already had plans to work together; Yu Heung Ying received the Best Actress award from Lau Ka Ling and admitted that it had special meaning. During the interview she even broke down in tears of joy.

Before the banquet the annual award presentation took place to comnend filmmakers' contributions of the past year. Best Film was A GUILTY CONSCIENCE (DUK SIT DAI JONG). Best Director went to Soi Cheang Pou Soi for MAD FATE (MING ONG). Tony Leung Chiu Wai with THE GOLDFINGER (GUM SAU JI) received Best Actor. Jennifer Yu Heung Ying (IN BROAD DAY (BAK YUN JI HA)) won Best Actress. Best New Actor was FLY ME TO THE MOON (DAN YUEN YUN CHEUNG GAU)'s Tse Wing Yan, TIME STILL TURNS THE PAGES (NIN SIU YUT GEI) director Nick Cheuk Yik Him received New Director. The Achievement award was presented to the late director Alex Law Kai Yui. The Executive Council special prize went to the film DUST TO DUST (DAI BAK GOR YIM YI YUN).

Mabel Cheung Yuen Ting accepted the Achievement Award on behalf of the late director Law Kai Yui. Cheung Yuen Ting on behalf of Law Kai Yui thanked everyone who have worked with him, including every boss, actor, worker and viewers, film critics and people online who have yelled at and encouraged him. Without everyone's motivation he would not have reached this step. She also gave special thanks to the Directors' Guild for presenting this award to Law Kai Yui. "For him it is very valuable, it is the recognition, remembrance and appreciation of him from his colleagues. I would put this award at the altar at home and say to Law Kai Yui, you finally officially reached the altar!"

Johnnie To Kei Fung presented the Best Actor. He joked that he did not need to open the envelope to know that it would be for Wai Jai. "I have known Wai Jai for 40 years, at the time I already knew he was strong, but I never would have guessed that he would be so amazingly strong." Leung Chiu Wai after receiving the award thanked the Directors' Guild and was even happy that he was able to receive this award from To Kei Fung. "When I got into the business my first series was THE DUKE OF MOUNT DEER, he gave a lot of inspiration. On the first day of work he already asked my look was 'like this', he indeed has inspired me a lot." To Kei Fung said, "You are the one who inspired me more!" They appeared to be very friendly and held hands as they left the stage. Wai Jai said that he was very happy to have the recognition and the encouragement, getting the award from To Kei Fung made him extra happy. "I still remember how the first day went on THE DUKE OF MOUNT DEER. To Kei Fung said my look wasn't dirty enough, because as soon as I appeared I had to look like I was from the streets. He gave me a lot of inspirations, as an actor other than performance I also had to have many ideas on appearance." Wai Jai have not worked with To Kei Fung in many years, and wanted to have the opportunity to work together again. "It also depends on fate, I don't know if we are thinking the same thing. To spend some time to live together, we have to have the same life views and values to very easily get together to make a movie." Despite reuniting after many years, Wai Jai felt not much has changed between him and To Kei Fung. When they saw each other and chatted he still felt like they were good friends, but life views and values would have to be further discussed. To Kei Fung joked that he was the one who was inspired, Wai Jai said, "People have to inspire each other, there is no more or less." The Hong Kong Film Awards would take place next month. Was he confident about winning Best Actor? He said, "It doesn't matter! I always feel it's not an award, but work and passion. How much you have contributed can't be measured by an award." He said that he put in a lot of time on making movies, and felt it was well worth the time already. Winning an award would be even better. "Of course winning an award would be the best, when you contribute a lot, after you finish you would have a sense of satisfaction." He would have to head to Germany to prepare for his foreign film on the 22nd, so he would not be able to attend the Hong Kong Film Awards. In addition famous Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda would tailor a scrpit for him. Wai Jai revealed that lst year at the Tokyo International Film Festival they met and already planned a collaboration. He only was not sure about the character and when the production would begin.

Lau Ka Ling presented Best Actor on behalf of the ailing Ann Hui On Wa to Jennifer Yu Heung Ying. With the award in hand, Yu Heung Ying thanked her former co-star Lau Ka Ling for presenting the award to her. Before coming to the stage she heard the song LYRICIST SOUL, which reminded her of a lot of memories from her 9 years in the business, running into many good people and opportunities on her dream chasing journey. She gave special thanks to director Lawrence Kan Kwan Chun for believing in her, even when she got married and had a child he still trusted her and let her become a good actor. She also thanked her IN BROAD DAYLIGHT co-star John Chiang Dai Wai and declared, "I love you!" She stated, "I am very lucky, I have run into many directors for taking me to new places, I personally really trust directors. I hope to have the opportunity to work with directors here I haven't had the chance to work with, I am a new generation actor!" Yu Heung Ying was crying tears of joy when interviewed. She pointed out that she appeared calm on the stage, but actually she was so nervous that she was not able to react. "So when I got off stage and saw everyone I got very emotional, the journey so far to this step has been very wonderful, in particular getting the award from Sister Ka Ling's hand was especially meaningful. I worked with her on my second film, my role wasn't much but I was very grateful. I heard a lot of applause in the audience and felt the love for me from many people. I am very happy to be able to win with Leung Chiu Wai. I hope we would have the chance to work together." Was she confident about winning the Hong Kong Film Awards Best Actress? She said, "I haven't thought this far, right now I still haven't digested this yet. Tonight I would celebrate first. Last year when I came I was still pregnant and couldn't play." She said that she would not hold any special celebration, only a simple dinner with family.

Best New Actor Award winner Tse Wing Yan felt very honored to have won the award. She thanked the director for taking her out of Mongkok and each actor for rehearsing with her and increasing her confidence. However during the interview, when she handed the award to the manager it slipped out of her hands and the award had a little damage. Director Nick Cheuk Yik Him with TIME STILL TURNS THE PAGES (NIN SIU YUT GEI) received New Director. He thanked the Directors' Guild and all the actors and the production team, especially producer Derek Yee Tung Sing for lending a helping hand when he ran into trouble, comfort when he was lost, and telling him to get lost when he got lazy.

Big Brother Big Sammo Hung Kam Bo attended the Directors' Guild with a cane and his wife Joyce Godenzi (Go Lai Hung). He looked much thinner. He joked that his wife was abusing him, keeping him from eating too much -- especially carbohydrates. Hung Kam Bo said that now he still suffered from constant leg pain without any physical therapy. He did not know whether he should do the exercises or not. "I am very upset inside, I have been training in martial arts since age 9 to 50 something, now in my 70s I still have to train. Now I am only doing upper and lower lip exercises to eat." He said that he would watch movies on his free time. He saw IN BROAD DAYLIGHT and A GUILTY CONSCIENCE, and knew that Hong Kong had many more new directors. However due to the poor timing and luck they could not continue on. The Hong Kong film market climate has been very poor, for example IN BROAD DAYLIGHT received good word of mouth and box office. However making another one still had difficulty with finding investors. Even action films no longer explored new action stars. Recently someone online caught him giving money to a beggar but worried that he was swindled. Hung Kam Bo said, "He was handicapped, even if it was fake, giving him money isn't anything. I know some beggars are richer than me, I don't care. The most important is how the person is inside, getting swindled is no problem. I would let my conscience be killed."

Speaking of Jackie Chan after attending an event being called old online for having a head of gray hair, Hung Kam Bo spoke up on his behalf, "Who doesn't get old, as long as he is old and healthy he is fine! Why do they make it sound so bad, people who say that won't get old because they won't have the chance to get old. People in the society now speaks irresponsibly, some people would say or do anything for their own benefit."

Hui Ching Wan was a little nervous about attending her first Directors' Guild banquet. She got the chance to participate thanks to the Emperor Motion Picture WE ARE FAMILY (CHOOK JO GA YUN). Would she offer her service to directors on hand? She of course would like to meet the elders, even if they would not offer her movie roles, they could still ask her to write songs or sing theme songs. She said that she would like to challenge the mistress role the most. She has never been a third wheel, but 10 years ago a third party entering her relationship. At the time she was very heartbroken, but still struggled to save the relationship. "Now I definitely wouldn't, after the trauma from then. However it was a relationship experience, fortunately in recent years I haven't run into anything like this again."

Choi Cheuk Yin ran into her kindergarten classmate Rosa Velasco (Wai Law Sa). They caught up for a little bit and took the chance to pose for photos. The Best Supporting Actress nominee Rosa was much thinner. She said that she lost weight for the award show. "I have to prepare for what I would wear at the Hong Kong Film awards, so in a month I lost 10 pounds and finally saw my waist. Even my husband has been motivated to lose weight after seeing me. Earlier I was busy with my daughter and didn't put a lot of time on work. Now she has started school, and recently I switched to a new company, so I hope to have even more and different development."

Jeffrey Ngai Chun Sun's 2017 promotional film was uncovered earlier and some said that both appearance and how he dressed were different from his current handsome look. Some online felt that what he wore and his hair were the problems. Later he on social media posted his fat photo and skin reaction photo in contrast. He wrote that since childhood his genes tended to make him obese. He had to watch what he ate and exercise to be able to stay in shape.

Jeffrey said that he did not mind the comments, but saw that everyone got more excited the more they talked so he told the truth. He remained positive all along.

THE HONG KONG FILM DIRECTORS' GUILD AWRDS
BEST FILM : A GUILTY CONSCIENCE
BEST DIRECTOR : Soi Cheang (MAD FATE)
BEST ACTOR: Tony Leung Chiu Wai (THE GOLDFINGER)
BEST ACTRESS: Jennifer Yu (IN BROAD DAYLIGHT)
BEST NEW ACTOR: Tse Wing Yan (FLY ME TO THE MOON)
NEW DIRECTOR: Nick Cheung (TIME STILL TURNS THE PAGES)
ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Alex Law
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL SPECIAL PRIZE: DUST TO DUST