[2025.01.11] TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS: WALLED IN HAS 9 ASIAN FILM AWARDS NOMINATIONS

Lin Minchen avoids talking about Edan Lui and only talks about work

Philip Ng is already very surprised to be nominated for Best Supporting Actor

Jennifer Yu
courtesy of on.cc

Philip Ng is very happy to be nominated
courtesy of singtao.com

THE LAST DANCE's Michael Hui and PAPA's Sean Lau vie for Best Actor

Sylvia Chang competes for Best Actress

Kenny Wong, Lin Minchen, Siuyea Lo, Sammo Hung, Jennifer Yu and Philip Ng attend the 18th Asian Film Awards nomination announcement press conference. Sammo Hung will be the jury chairman

The 18th Asian Film Awards Ceremony will be held on March 16th at the Xiqu Centre in the West Kowloon Cultural District. This year's Asian Film Awards will feature 30 outstanding films from 25 countries or regions, in competition for 16 awards. The Asian Film Awards held a press conference yesterday to announce the nominations, among which the highlights include TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS: WALLED IN (GAU LUNG SING JAI JI WAI SING) receiving 9 nominations to become the most nominated Chinese film this year. Three Chinese-speaking actors, Michael Hui Koon Man, Sean Lau Ching Wan and Eddie Peng Yu-Yan would compete for the "Best Actor" against Japanese actor Kyozo Nagasuka and Korean star Choi Min-sik; on the other hand, in the "Best Actress" category, Syliva Chang was the only Chinese actor nominated.

The Jang Jae-hyun directed South Korean film EXHUMA, which uncovers the secrets of the ancient tomb against the backdrop of feng shui and traditional witchcraft, and features actor Choi Min-sik's return to the big screen, has received as many as 11 nominations at this year's Asian Film Awards to become the most nominated film this year.

The Hong Kong martial arts epic TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS: WALLED IN (GAUN LUNG SING JAI JI WAI SING) also received nine nominations, including Best Film, Best Supporting Actor, Best Editing, Best Cinematography, Best Original Music, Best Costume Design, Best Art Direction, Best Visual Effects and Best Sound. The movie is adapted from Yu Yi's original novel CITY OF DARKNESS, which depicts that in a dangerous walled city, everyone joins hands to fight against evil forces. It showed the passionate spirit and brotherhood of protecting the family and defending the city. The film performed well at the global box office, setting off a craze for Hong Kong action movies.

Japanese director Daihachi Yoshida's TEKI COMETH and the co- production by France, India, the Netherlands and Luxembourg ALL WE IMAGINE AS LIGHT both received six nominations.

Michael Hui Koon Man and Sean Lau Ching Wan were both nominated for "Best Actor" for THE LAST DANCE and PAPA respectively. Eddie Peng Yu-Yan also competed for best actor with the mainland film BLACK DOG; the "Best Actress" category also has actress Sylvia Chang nominated for DAUGHTER's DAUGHTER. On the contrary, Michelle Wai Sze Nga who won the Asia-Pacific Best Actress with THE LAST DANCE was not nominated for Best actress this time; ALL SHALL BE WELL (CHUNG GUM YI HAU)'s Li Linlin competed for Best Supporting Actress; in the industry for more than 20 years, Philip Ng Wan Lung was nominated for "Best Supporting Actor" for the role of "Wong Gau" in TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS: WALLED IN , and another Hong Kong actor, Tommy Chu Pak Hong, was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor for THE LAST DANCE. The Hong Kong actor nominated for Best New Actor is Dylan So Man To of PAPA.

The jury chairman of this year's Asian Film Awards is Hong Kong film Big Brother Big Sammo Hung Kam Bo, who yesterday announced the nominations together with Philip Ng Wan Lung, Kenny Wong Tak Bun, Jennifer Yu Heung Ying, Lin Minchen and "Youth Ambassador" Siuyea Lo Chun Yip. Hung Kam Bo was invited to be the chairman of the jury, he said that he was excited. Because there has been no filming recently, it has been very quiet and he also had great expectations for the Asian Film Awards. He believed that good films could not be lost, and hoped that everyone would be able to maintain the level and culture of film itself. Speaking of the criteria for serving as the chairman of the jury, Hung Kam Bo said that there was no right or wrong way to watch movies, everyone had a different view of art.

Hung Kam Bo's film TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS received 9 nominations, of course he wanted the film to win more awards. Yet he was also old friends with other directors, so he would applaud if they win awards. If something he dislike would be chosen he might say, "Something like that won the award!" Speaking of his movie being nominated, would he avoid suspicion as the chairman of the jury? Hung Kam Bo said, "Since I had a part in it of course I would have some ideas, but I don't have to avoid suspicion; because I can win Best Actor just because I want to!" He would have to start watching the nominated films in the future. He said that fortunately he has seen some of the movies before, so he would only need to watch 5 to 6 more films. Physically he should be able to handle it. "This is my favorite job, and also my profession, watching movies is my hobby. Now I am in retreat but not retired, I can find new inspiration to make new films from watching more movies. I still want to win the Best Director and Actor awards." In addition, when asked about Louis Koo Tin Lok's application for Best Supporting Actor at the Hong Kong Film Awards and leaving the Best Actor application to Raymond Lam Fung, Hung Kam Bo said that this was the film company's idea and had nothing to do with him. However he was optimistic that Ng Wan Lung would have a chance to win the supporting actor. "He has never won, an action actor is at a little bit of a disadvantage. He should be able to break his bad luck this year!"

In addition, Hung Kam Bo just celebrated his 73rd birthday on the 7th of this month. He said with a smile that being happy every day is equivalent to a birthday, but this year when they went out to eat, his eldest grandson did not let his grandmother pay the bill and fought to pay.

Philip Ng Wan Lung and Siuyea Lo Chun Yip announced the nominations of the 18th Asian Film Awards, he was pleasantly surprised when he heard his own name in the "Best Supporting Actor" category. "I have been in the industry for more than 20 years, the nomination this time is very rare, thank you to TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS: WALLED IN (GAU LUNG SING JAI JI WAI SING) for giving me such a good role." When asked about his confidence in winning the award, Ng Wan Lung said that this was not something he predicted , being nominated was already a big surprise. For now he would enjoy this stage. Did he feel like he has made action actors proud? He said, "I don't dare to be a representative, but TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS has this achievement. I hope that I can bring a new trend of action movies. Because in the 80s and 90s of the last century Hong Kong action movies were the strongest, I hope to return to the level of those years." Kenny Wong Tak Bun also has a role in the TWILIGHT, which also had the honor to receive 9 nominations. He wished Ng Wan Lung would be able to win the award. Speaking of the sequel to TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS, Ng Wan Lung heard that the director already has a plan. Wong Tak Bun said that he has not been notified and it would be very difficult to inquire about.

The Emperor Motion Picture THE LAST DANCE (POR. DEI YUK)'s latest cumulative box office figures in Hong Kong and Macau exceeded HK$ 156 million, as the momentum continues to soar into 2025! The heat of the film was unstoppable, as THE LAST DANCE received 3 nominations at the "18th Asian Film Awards". Best Supporting Actor nominee Tommy Chu Pak Hong expressed his surprise after receiving the news, thinking that it was a great honor for him. He thanked the on and off camera staff of THE LAST DANCE.

Best Actress Jennifer Yu Heung Ying appeared at the press conference of the "18th Asian Film Awards" yesterday and announced the best actor and actress nominations. Yu Heung Ying pointed out on the online platform at the end of last year that a "little angel" appeared, but "the little angel came and then left again". Yesterday she generously admitted that she had a miscarriage at the beginning of last year. "Looking back on this year (2024) this had to be a major event for me and my family, but everything is fate. It will always remain in my heart, never to be forgotten." Whether it will affect the future fertility, she revealed that she is still very healthy and left everything to fate. Would she stop working if she would be pregnant in the future? "It would also depend on fate. I was working when I was pregnant with two children, so I had to be healthy, maintain the best physical and spiritual condition. I would relax if I am too nervous." she said.

Recently, Lin Minchen was rumored to have a secret meeting with Edan Lui Cheuk On in Paris at the end of last year. Lin Minchen immediately changed the subject to talk about the Asian Film Awards. "I don't want to respond to personal matters." When asked about Edan's career declined due to dating her, she said, "Recently I have been busy flying non-stop between Malaysia, Taiwan and Hong Kong. Today I will fly back to my hometown Penang to promote a Lunar New Year songs, and I will stay at my home in Johor Bahru for the New Year." Would Edan celebrate the New Year with her? She asked everyone to stop asking again, and for everyone to support good movies more.