[2023.04.14] HONG KONG FILM AWARDS WOULD PRESENT ITS LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS TO WU FUNG

Chin Kar Lok and Derek Yee spare no effort in promoting Hong Kong films

Larine Tang would be the live correspondent for the Hong Kong Film Awards
courtesy of on.cc

Wu Fung actually has been in the business for 70 years
courtesy of singtao.com

Derek Yee jokes with Chin Kar Lok that TVB is petty not to send a correspondent to cover the Hong Kong Film Awards, and asks him to call Eric Tsang to send one on the night of the event.

91 year old Wu Fung will be the Lifetime Achievement Award recipient

Chung Suet Ying and Larine Tang would be a part of the live correspondent team, visiting every corner of the Hong Kong Film Awards and cover the realest side backstage.
courtesy of mingpao.com

The 41st Hong Kong Film Awards would take place on Sunday (April 16th) at the Cultural Center in Tsim Sha Tsui. Yesterday (the 13th) a worship ceremony was held. President Derek Yee Tung Sing (Siu Bo) attended despite an injury; also attending were two vice presidents John Chong Ching and Manfred Wong (Man Jun), board of directors members Leung Lee Siu Ha, Chin Kar Lok, Candy Yu On On, Chow Kwok Chung, Mak Chun Hung, Wai Kai Leung and ViuTV's general manager Chung Kwong Tak. The event also announced that 19 awards would be presented that evening, with Wu Fung receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award. Siu Bo made his first response to Hong Kong Film Awards' inability to remove the film TO MY NINETEEN YEAR OLD SELF (CUP SUP GAU SHUI DIK NGOR)'s nominations. If the voters would give the award to it the even would present it as usual.

After three years of the pandemic, this year the Hong Kong Film Awards would return to the Cultural Center. Siu Bo said that the event would deliberately move the red carpet to outside the promenade's great stairway, as the beautiful Victoria Harbor scenery would be the backdrop; new generation singers Terence Lam Ka Him and Serrini would perform to open the show, attract the new generation of youth to pay even more attention to Hong Kong films, and trigger the general public's desire to go to the movies. The event at the same time announced the guest performers would be Kaho Hung, ANSONBEAN, Winka@COLLAR, Keung To, Sammi Cheng Sau Man and Ivana Wong Yuen Chi, and other Best Original Film Song performers would also perform the nominated theme songs.

Wu Fung would receive the Lifetime Achievement Award. Two veteran film critics Law Kar and Sek Kei would receive the Professional Spirit Award for their contributions to Hong Kong film in the past half a century and their professionalism that should be the model for future generations. Speaking of Ying Wa Girls' School already declared that the controversial film TO MY NINETEEN-YEAR-OLD SELF would withdraw from the Best Film category, the Hong Kong Film Awards admitted that it had no right to strip the nomination. Siu Bo explained, "the event has always been cautiously handling this matter, and consulted legal opinions. Finally the board of directors unanimously agreed that it had no right to strip the film of the nomination, not only because a film could only be completed with many people and the effort of those involved could not be erased; but also if the precedence was made, the future would be very dangerous and even be unfair to many people." Siu Bo continued that the awards would be presented as usual. The event would respect each voter's decision and direction, but the event would not air film footage.

The fresh out of the oven Oscar Best Actress Michelle Yeoh (Yeung Chi King) would appear at the event as a guest presenter. Siu Bo's left hand was bandaged. He said that earlier he accidentally smashed a glass in his hand against the side of the door, and the shrapnel cut a nerve. Luckily the left hand was injured one so it would not be too much impact.

In addition, Kar Lok was said to be in an awkward position. Because this year the awards would continue to air on ViuTV, TVB immediately changed its schedule and responded with Eric Tsang Chi Wai's THE SUPER TRIO special. A Hong Kong Film Awards Board of Directors member, Kar Lok was also one of the Super Trio. Thus he was in a fight against himself. Kar Lok said, "SUPER TRIO has already been taped. It's nothing really, to each its own. Each would be different in nature. I would support both sides so it wouldn't be awkward. The entertainment circle now is great, I can go wherever I want. It wouldn't be the first time anyway. Earlier Tsang Chi Wai and I have appeared on ATV too." When jokingly asked which one would have a better rating? He started somewhat awkwardly and said, "Huh?" Then he used his quick wits and used the catch phrase from THE SUPER TRIO, "It's a tie."

The awards would set up a social media platform. Larine Tang Yueping, Chung Suet Ying and Isabel Chan Hoi Ning would form a live team that would go to every corner of the venue starting at 4PM for a 7 hour live broadcast. In a relaxing method they would show the other side of the event to the audience, like backstage live situation. Because it would be an "easy job", Tang Yueping said that she would not be nervous. In addition her two partners have ample experience. However lately she had to actively prepare for class (watch movies), so that night she would be able to ask questions for the audience. She even joked that she would wear a "helmet" in order to show the realest side. If she missed anything she hoped that everyone would forgive her. Of course she would also filter questions and serve as a "shield".