[2013.03.05] CHAPMAN TO THINKS ELANNE KONG DESERVES TO WIN BEST ACTRESS

Law Lan presents the Best Director award to Dante Lam
courtesy of on.cc

courtesy of singtao.com

Chapman To feels Elanne Kong deserves to win Best Actress

Dante Lam and Soi Cheang split the Best Director award
courtesy of mingpao.com

The 19th Hong Kong Film Critic Society award earlier announced its award winners and the presentation was held yesterday. MOTORWAY (CHEH SAU) won Best Picture, MOTORWAY's Soi Cheang Pou Soi and THE VIRAL FACTOR (YIK JIN)'s Dante Lam Chiu Yin split Best Director, ROMANCING IN THIN AIR (GO HOI BUT JI LUEN II)'s Wai Ka Fai, Yau Nai Hoi, Chan Wai Bun and Au Man Kit won Best Screenplay, DIVA's Chapman To Man Jat won Best Actor and for the first time no one won Best Actress.

To Man Jat said that at first when he produced the film he wanted to support Joey Yung Cho Yi and Mag Lam Yun Tung, he never intended to win an award for himself. He also hoped to continue the serendipity. He said, "I used to want to an award very much and make literary drama like other people. I finally realized that everything should come from the heart. This time I worked behind the scene and I won an award, from now on I would service the film industry in peace." He felt that awards were fated, he would be at ease with the Hong Kong Film Award Best Actor nomination.

To Man Jat praised Lam Yun Tung's acting potential, Joey's home was filled with awards so a film award would not be too meaningful to her. Viewers only had to know that she knew how to act. He thought Elanne Kong Yeuk Lam deserved to win Best Actress with LOVE LIFTING (GO GUI OI). "Kong Yeuk Lam's performance was very touching, but her Hong Kong Film Award nomination is already a recognition; some said that she was a surprise, I say she is the favorite!" He felt that the lack of Best Actress winner was alarming, the industry should make more woman films.

Speaking of director Pang Ho Cheung winning an award despite criticism against VULGARIA (DAI JOOK HEI KET), To Man Jat said, "It proves that new directors have to be mischievous to succeed, they don't need to mind what old people think." As for his former company ATV banned him, To Man Jat joked, "How much rate does ATV get, how much influence does it have on me? Zero rating means zero influence on me." Kong Yeuk Lam thanked To Man Jat's support and hoped to have even more chances to make movies.

President Chan Chi Wa stressed that the lack of a Best Actress winner did not represent any criticism against actresses. During the discussion ROMANCING IN THIN AIR's Sammi Cheng Sau Man and LOVE LIFTING's Kong Yeuk Lam had positive reviews, only the 20 or so jury members had difference of opinion. In the future they would review their system.