‘the Warlords’ Dominates Hong Kong Film Awards

HONG KONG: Historical epic “The Warlords” dominated the Hong Kong Film Awards on Sunday scooping eight gongs including best film and best actor.

The film, set in wartime 19th century China and with an all-star cast – including Hong Kong heartthrob Andy Lau who missed out to martial arts star Jet Li for best actor – scooped best director for Peter Chan and best film at the glittering ceremony.

“If I had not made a lot of kung fu films, I could have won the best actor award 20 years ago,” the Chinese star Li said in his acceptance speech.

Lau, who was nominated for awards in two separate roles, scooped up the supporting role for his performance in “Protege,” which also won best film editing.

The movie is a crime thriller about an undercover policeman seduced by the lifestyle of his mafia boss, played by Lau.

“(I was) told that if I played this role, I would be respected by the entire film industry,” he said picking up the best supporting actor award.

However, Lau, who is also a singer, missed out on best original song, which went to the theme from “Love is Not All Around.”

The celebrity-mad Hong Kong press pack was out in full force at the red carpet event, as hundreds of screaming fans waved banners and cheered a string of glamorous leading ladies and men as they arrived outside the Hong Kong Cultural Centre.

Controversial Second World War Epic “Lust, Caution” from director Ang Lee won the best Asian Film Award.

The film has faced a tough time from mainland censors for its explicit sex scenes and its subject matter of a government that collaborated with the Japanese occupation. Lee was not in Hong Kong to accept the award.

The best actress award went to Siqin Gaowa for her lead role in the quirky “The Postmodern Life of My Aunt,” about a woman in her 60s who falls for an amateur Peking Opera performer, played by megastar Chow Yun-fat.

Prolific director Johnnie To enjoyed a better return than his blank score last year, with his crime flick “Mad Detective” winning best screenplay after drawing plaudits at last year’s Venice film festival.

To also produced “Eye in the Sky” which won best new director for Yau Nai-hoi and best performance by a newcomer for actress Kate Tsui.

The professional achievement award was given to much-loved comic actress Lydia Sum, better known as “Fei Fei” (literally meaning “Fat Fat”) who died from cancer earlier this year.

The lifetime achievement award was presented to Hong Kong movie boss Raymond Chow.

Chow’s Golden Harvest studios helped produce a string of talent from the former British colony, including action star Jackie Chan and martial arts legend Bruce Lee.

Hong Kong enjoys a rich film heritage and became an international movie powerhouse in the 1970s, but it has fallen on tough times in recent years with dwindling box office receipts.

However, its stars still enjoy huge popularity across Asia. – AFP/ac

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Veteran HK Actress Lydia Sum Dies

HONG KONG : Hong Kong comedian and actress Lydia Sum Din-Ha has died on Tuesday after a long battle against liver cancer.

The Shanghai-born star was 60. Tributes have been pouring in from all sectors of Hong Kong society.

The actress tickled the funny bone of Hong Kongers and Asians alike for four decades.

Affectionately known to fans as ‘Fei-fei’ or ‘Fatty Sum’, she made her film debut in 1960, joining Shaw Brothers as a child actress.

In the 1970s, she shot to fame with local station TVB’s variety show ‘Enjoy Yourself Tonight,’ which was widely-televised across Chinese communities the world over.

As an actress, she proved her versatility in both comic and dramatic roles across a host of genres. She is fondly remembered playing the matriarch in the all-star comedy ‘It’s a Mad, Mad World’ about a money-obsessed family. She retired from movies in 1997.

More recently, Sum starred in Singapore’s MediaCorp Channel 5 sitcom ‘Living with Lydia’.

Her performance won her the ‘Best Comedy Performance by an Actress’ award at the 2003 Asian Television Awards.

Last year, she also received a lifetime achievement award for her contribution to television by TVB.

But her health took a turn for the worst in recent years. In 2006, she was diagnosed with liver and gall bladder cancer. Since then, she has been in and out of the hospital for treatment.

In October last year, she had to be rushed back to hospital for emergency treatment after collapsing at home.

Many in Hong Kong paid tribute to her life and career, testament to her indelible contribution to the entertainment scene.

“For most adults in Hong Kong, she grew up with us during the city’s rise and prosperity,” said one Hong Kong resident.

Lydia is survived by a daughter, Joyce Cheng, from her marriage to Hong Kong actor-singer Adam Cheng.

Her family members were reportedly by her bedside when she died on Tuesday morning at Queen Mary Hospital. They have declined to comment at this stage.

Hong Kong leader Donald Tsang praised the actress’s her gritty fight against cancer.

“She represented a kind of spirit that was respected by many Hong Kong people and her passing makes me feel very sad. The sound of her laughter has been a part of growing up in Hong Kong and brought us a lot of joy,” said Hong Kong Chief Executive Tsang.

Her infectious laughter and exuberant personality will surely be missed by many. – CNA /ls

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