China Challenges Taiwanese Film Awards
2005-11-13

Category China Golden Roost Award People Jin Yaqin Lu Chuan Xie Tieli Xie Jin Zhang Ziyi Chen Kaige Zhang Yimou Zhou Xuan Ruan Lingyu Maggie Cheung Gong Li Chow Yun-fat Bruce Lee Jackie Chan Movie Hoh Xil: Mountain Patrol New Police Story

BEIJING - Hollywood star Jackie Chan won the Golden Rooster best actor award in the first year that mainland China's prestigious film awards have tried to upstage rival Taiwan's by opening up to ethnic Chinese actors in Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.

The Golden Rooster ceremony came a day before Taiwan's Golden Horse Awards, considered the Chinese-speaking world's Oscars because it includes all Chinese-language movies.

The war film ``On Mt. Taihang'' and Hollywood-financed ``Kekexili Mountain Patrol,'' a movie about saving the Tibetan antelope from ruthless poachers, shared the best film award at the ceremony in Sanya on China's southern island of Hainan, the official Xinhua News Agency reported late Saturday.

``Kekexili Mountain Patrol'' won best film at the last year's Golden Horse Awards.

The low-budget ``You and Me'' won best director for Ma Liwen and best actress for Jin Yaqin.

Chan, a Hong Kong native, said thank you three times after he was honored for his portrayal of a disillusioned police officer in ``New Police Story.''

``Two years ago, I wanted to attempt a breakthrough performance by taking on a different role. I didn't expect to win such an important award with the film,'' he said.

``Jackie Chan has won Chinese film international honor by representing the righteousness and dignity of the Chinese with his constant efforts,'' the Golden Rooster jury said.

With its Golden Rooster win, ``Kekexili Mountain Patrol,'' directed by the up-and-coming Lu Chuan, the movie has swept the top Chinese-language film awards. ``Kekexili Mountain Patrol'' also won best film at the Golden Horse Awards last year.

``On Mt. Taihang'' also won for best score and best sound recording.

Directors Xie Tieli and Xie Jin were honored with lifetime achievement awards.

Meanwhile, to mark the centennial of Chinese film, a panel of judges including top directors Chen Kaige and Zhang Yimou picked a list of 100 outstanding Chinese actors that encompasses old and new, Xinhua also reported.

The stars include Chan, ``Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon'' star Zhang Ziyi, the youngest on the list at age 26, Bruce Lee, Chow Yun-Fat, Maggie Cheung, Jet Li and Gong Li.

Also on the list are late performing artists Ruan Lingyu, Butterfly Wu, Ruan's rival and friend who starred in the first Chinese talking picture, and Chou Hsuan, the Shanghai singer-actress of the 1930s to 1940s. AP