Hong Kong artists tipped to sweep Chinese "Oscars"
2006-11-25

Nations China People Tian Zhuangzhuang Siqin Gaowa Carina Lau Tsai Ming-liang Johnnie To Peter Chan Zhou Xun Takeshi Kaneshiro John Woo Aaron Kwok Event 2006 Golden Horse Awards Movie Perhaps Love

Hong Kong artists were tipped to sweep the Golden Horse Film Awards, the Chinese-language "Oscars", at a glittering ceremony attended by top stars.

Hong Kong director Peter Chan leads the nominations with 12 nods for his movie "Perhaps Love" including for best film, best director and best actress for China's Zhou Xun.

The musical about a country girl striving to become a star and her relationships with two men faces competition from "Exiled", from another Hong Kong director Johnnie To.

To is seeking his third title for best director with this signature gangster drama about a renegade hit man hunted by two former associates but protected by another pair of killers.

Among the stars expected to tread the red carpet at the 43rd awards are best actor nominees Aaron Kwok and Francis Ng from Hong Kong, and best actress hopefuls Carina Lau, also of Hong Kong, and Zhou.

Actor and singer Kwok was expected to win his second consecutive award for best actor with his impressive portrayal of a single father indulged in gambling in "After This Our Exile."

"Face/Off" director John Woo and heart-throb actor Takeshi Kaneshiro, who also starred in "Perhaps Love", are also due to attend.

The run-up to the glamorous ceremony has been overshadowed by the sudden withdrawal of nominations from internationally acclaimed director Tsai Ming-liang and noted Chinese contemporary Tian Zhuangzhuang.

An angry Tsai, who has won awards at the prestigious Cannes, Berlin and Venice film festivals, vowed to "forever boycott" the Golden Horse awards after judges criticised his latest work, "I Don't Want To Sleep Alone", during the nomination process. He had received two nods for the film.

Tian's "The Go Master", nominated for four gongs including best actor, was also abruptly withdrawn with no official explanation given.

In a further controversy, Taiwan director Leste Chen, also nominated for four, has been accused of copyright infringement by a screenplay writer and a composer for his hit "Eternal Summer".

Directors Chan and To face competition from Taiwan's Su Chao-ping for his ghost movie "Silk" and Chinese newcomer Ning Hao for his comedy "Crazy Stone" about the discovery of a priceless stone by factory workers.

China's Zhou, who recently won best actress at the Hong Kong Film Awards, is a favorite for the same award here for her versatile performance in "Perhaps Love."

Her rivals are Siqin Gaowa in "The Postmodern Life of My Aunt", Lee Sinje in "Re-cycle" and "Curiosity Kills The Cat's" Carina Lau.

Vying for the best feature film are "Perhaps Love," "Exiled," "Crazy Stone," "Silk" and "After This Our Exile."

The Golden Horse Awards are styled on the US Academy Awards, but are decided by a jury along the lines of the independent-minded Cannes film festival.