"Running on Karma" wins major Hong Kong film awards
2004-04-05

Category Hong Kong Film Awards People Tung Chee-hwa Cecilia Cheung Andy Lau

HONG KONG - "Running on Karma" emerged a big winner on Sunday at the Hong Kong Film Awards, among the most prestigious on the global Chinese-language cinema circuit.

The movie bagged the prize for best film and its lead Andy Lau the title of best actor for his role as a Buddhist monk-turned-stripper with a gift for divining people's fates.

"I love you! I love the film industry!" Lau, a Hong Kong entertainer with a huge following in Asia, told the audience as he received his trophy. The film also took the best screenplay award, after earning nominations in 13 of 19 categories.

The title of best actress went to Cecilia Cheung for her role in "Lost in Time," in which she plays a young woman meeting a new love after the death of her boyfriend.

Action comedy "Twins Effect," a tale of vampire-hunters with martial arts star Jackie Chan in a cameo role as an ambulance man, took six prizes -- for film editing, sound design, visual effects, action choreography, costume and make-up design and art direction.

Veteran director Johnnie To won the title of best director for cop flick "PTU."

Hong Kong is one of the world's major film exporters and producers, its cinema commanding a vast audience in Asia.

Hong Kong leader Tung Chee-hwa presented the trophy for best Asian film to Japan's "The Twilight Samurai," which was nominated as best foreign-language film at the Oscars. The "best Asian film" category excludes Hong Kong-made movies.

"The Twilight Samurai" is about a 19th century Japanese samurai torn between the responsibilities of supporting a family on meagre pay and his duty as a warrior.

The title of best supporting actor went to Tony Leung Ka-fai for his cameo role in "Men Suddenly in Black," a dark comedy about four men trying to cheat on their wives.

Josie Ho, a daughter of Macau casino mogul Stanley Ho, grabbed the best supporting actress prize for her performance as a sex worker in "Naked Ambition."

Ceremony organisers conferred special honours on late Hong Kong entertainers Leslie Cheung and Anita Mui, who died last year. Reuters