[2023.04.12] EDAN LUI IS AFRAID THAT DUAL NOMINATION MAY SPLIT HIS VOTES

    Edan Lui receives dual Best New Performer nominations for CHILLI LAUGH STORY and HONG KONG FAMILY, which he already consider a victory.

Jer Lau is not confident about winning, instead picking THE SUNNY SIDE OF THE STREET's Sahal Zeman

Best New Director nominees Ho Cheuk Tin, Sunny Chan and Lam Sum are also nominated for Best Director, but none has the confidence to win the prize

DETECTIVE VS. SLEUTHS' director Wai Ka Fai is seen as the Best Director favorite

Lau Kok-Rui with THE SUNNY SIDE OF THE STREET won Best New Director and Best Original Screenplay at the Golden Horse Award earlier.
    courtesy of mingpao.com

The 41st Hong Kong Film Awards would take place on Sunday (the 16th) at the Cultural Center in Tsim Sha Tsui. 3 Best New Director nominees, THE SPARRING PARTNER (JING YI WUI LONG)'s Ho Cheuk Tin, TABLE FOR SIX (FAN HEI GUNG SUM)'s Sunny Chan Wing Sun and THE NARROW ROAD (JAK LO MEI CHUN)'s Lam Sum were also nominated for Best Director. None of them had confidence to win Best Director. Chan Wing Sun felt that comedy was harder to win with and would treat the race normally; Ho Cheuk Tin picked DETECTIVE VS. SLEUTH (SUN TAM DAI JIN)'s Wai Ka Fai to win Best Director. MIRROR member Edan Lui Cheuk On although has been considered the Best New Performer favorite, he worried that the two film nominations would split the votes.

Edan Lui Cheuk On with CHILLI LAUGH STORY (HAP GA LAT) and HONG KONG FAMILY (GOR SI GOR JIT) received two Best New Performer nominees, with group mat MAMA'S AFFAIR (AH MA YAU GOR DAI YI GOR)'s Jer Lau Ying Ting he would face THE SUNNY SIDE OF THE STREET (BAK YUN CHING CHUN)'s Sahal Zaman (Lam Lok) and A LIGHT NEVER GOES OUT (DUN FOR LAN SHAN)'s Henick Chou Hon Ning. Seen as the favorite, new film star Edan said that he never thought that he would be nominated for two films. The nomination was already like a victory. He admitted that he worried his votes would be split and become a disadvantage. Thus he never thought about winning. Feeling that his action was still immature, Edan said that being nominated for two movies absolutely was not due to his ability lone. He also had help from the two movies' elder actors and team. "In terms of performance, I was newer in CHILLI LAUGH STORY. I didn't have enough experience and was a little scared. HONG KONG FAMILY's performance was better by comparison. I never treated Jer as the enemy, instead I would pick him. Many people feel Jer performed very well. If he wins I would be very happy for him!"

Being picked by group mate Edan, Jer did not have much confidence in himself. He felt that his acting still had a lot of room for improvement. He hoped in the future to have even more opportunities to try different movies and receive even more honing. "I have seen all of the New Performer nominees' work, they are all very amazing. I guess Lam Lok (Sahal Zaman) would win, he performed pretty well. As for my own performance I was very in character, which was very different from my original personality."

Seen as the dark horse, Henick Chou Hon Ning treated the race normally. If he would win, the audience were able to sense the chemical reaction between him and elder Sylvia Chang during the production process. "For my first film, I felt that my acting was real and sincere enough. However I also admire Edan a lot because the two film characters are very different. I feel he is very talented."

This year's Best Director nominees would be evenly matched. Ho Cheuk Tin's directing debut THE SPARRING PARTNER led with 16 nominations. He was also nominated for Best New Director. Ho Cheuk Tin said, "I have thought about the Best New Director nomination, but never thought about the Best Director nomination. Because from past records, very few directors would be nominated for Best Director with their first film. Maybe because this year new generation directors flooded in, aside from me, TABLE FOR SIX's Chan Wing Sun and THE NARROW ROAD's Lam Sum both received two nominations." He wanted to win Best Film the most, because it would be able to recognize the team's contribution and effort. "If I win any award, I would have to thank them. However I feel DETECTIVE VS. SLEUTHS' Wai Ka Fai has much better odds, because it is very highly different creation. In addition it is a co-production film, it has to pass even more tests than we do."

As for Best New Director, Ho Cheuk Tin evaluated THE SPARRING PARTNER for being able to at least play with some gimmick. In comparison his elder Lam Sum's THE NARROW ROAD had a lighter subject and less actors, capturing the audience's hearts would not be easier at all. Thus he picked his elder. TABLE FOR SIX, THE SUNNY SIDE OF THE STREET and WARRIORS OF FUTURE's production each had its own technique. "Chan Wing Sun is very strong, with 6 actors and one set he shot the entire movie. In order to hold on to the atmosphere for two hours, some skills are required. WARRIORS OF FUTURE's Ng Yuen Fai's special effects are also very hard, the whole green screen requires a lot of effort. THE SUNNY SIDE OF THE STREET has South Asian actors, culturally and dialogue deliveries would have to be communicated; the child actor and this very strong actor Brother Chau Sun would also have to be handled. Thus it shouldn't be overlooked."

Chan Wing Sun felt that the award would be bonus. "However comedy has always been harder to win awards with. Although Chow Sing Chi with the comedy KUNG FU HUSTLE swept Best Film, Best Director and Best Actor, he had to make comedy for years before he was able to. TABLE FOR SIX was only my second film, so I don't dare to think too much. If I win it would be due to timing, location and people. The other movies are all very outstanding, each with its own different style. It is a battle of taste." THE SUNNY SIDE OF THE STREET's Lau Kok-Rui had no confidence to win, as being nominated was already very rare. The other films all had very strong box office and word of mouth.

(The 41st Hong Kong Film Awards Pre Race Predictions)