[2010.02.10] BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS RECEIVES RECORD BREAKING 19 NOMINATIONS

The 29th Annual Hong Kong Film Award unveiled its nominations yesterday. Several dozen Mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan stars starred BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS (SUP YUET WAI SING) received 19 nominations and became the focus. It also broke the past most nomination records. Simon Yam Tat Wa with NIGHT AND FOG (TIN SHUI WAI DIK YEH YU MO) and ECHOES OF THE RAINBOW (SHUI YUET SUN TAU) received two Best Actor

nominations and became the favorite in the category.

This year's Hong Kong Film Award will take place on April 18 at the Cultural center. Last year's Best Actor Nick Cheung Ka Fai, Best Actress Paw Hee Ching, Josie Ho Chiu Yi, Eric Tsang Chi Wai and others yesterday announced the nominations. This year ATV will broadcast the event, NOW and Radio and Television Hong Kong will broadcast live. Three media outlets sent executives to attend. When Tsang Chi Wai announced the nominations, he still stressed that TVB will silently support the Hong Kong Film Award. As for the nominations, the Peter Chan Ho Sun produced BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS as the favorite received 19 nominations, breaking

PROTEGE and RED CLIFF's 15 nomination records. BODYGUARDS had two nominations in Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress and Best New Performer categories. The John Woo (Ng Yu Sum) directed RED CLIFF II also received 13 nominations and had the strength to sweep the Hong Kong Film Awards. In addition, Yam Tat Wa received two Best Actor nominations with NIGHT AND FOG and ECHOES OF THE RAINBOW as his chance for his first HongKong Film Award Best Actor entered the stratosphere. In comparison to rivals that include Aaron Kwok Fu Sing, Lau Ching Wan and Wang Xueqi he is considered to have greater chances. As for Best Actress, the Taiwan Golden Horse Best Supporting Actress with AT THE END OF DAYBREAK (SUM MOR) Wai Yin Hung received a Best Actress nomination. Because earlier she won the Film Critic Society Best Actress, she could be considered the favorite following the footsteps of last year's winner Paw Hee Ching.

Chris Li Yuchun received Best New Performer and Best Supporting Actress nominations. Her BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS theme song POWDER (FUN MOOT) was also nominated for Best Original Film Song. Nick Cheung Ka Fai who was responsible for announcing the nominations hoped that Lau Ching Wan would win Best Actor, Sandra Ng Kwan Yu Best Actress, Nicholas Tse Ting Fung Best Supporting Actor. When asked whether he got any of the

nominations right, he expressed that he guessed Stanley Feng Shui Fan's nomination. He even said that last year when he learned about the Best Actor nomination he was immediately "trembling". Ka Fai joked, "This year I can finally relax and don't need to keep going to the bathroom all night." Ho Chiu Yi pointed out that she expected Tse Ting Fung to be nominated. As for Best Actress, she appreciated Vicki Zhao Wei. She guessed Lau Ching Wan for Best Actor. She even said, "He and I have worked together many times so we have a little connection. I feel that he should win more Best Actor awards. However many (Anthony) Wong Chau Sun had, he should have."

This year's Best Actor and Best Actress nominees are all substance actors. Conceivably Yam Tat Wa, Wai Yin Hung and others have a lot of opportunities. Yam Tat Wa with ECHOES OF THE RAINBOW and NIGHT AND FOG has two Best Actor nominations, which Brother Wa was very excited about. He said, "The movies are very different. I am very happy that the voters liked it. I have to thank director Hui On Wa and my wife for NIGHT because before the shoot they have to go to Tin Shui Wai early to understand the people. As for ECHOES the character is harder to play. It reminds me memories and nostalgia of the Mid Autumn Festival in my childhood and wearing black leather shoes." As for confidence, Brother Wa said that he of course was confident and hoped to be able to win with Kwan Yu.

In addition, Brother Wa along with Best New Performer Araif Lee Chi Ting will attend the Berlin Film Festival on the Lunar New Year's Day. He honestly said that the Valentine's Day and Lunar New Year's Day premiere in Berlin would be meaningful. When asked whether the movies

will divide up votes, he said, "Together I win, but during the award show I should be working on a movie in the Mainland. I am hoping to make time to attend." Fellow Best Actor nominee, MURDERER's Kwok Fu Sing is happy to be nominated again. He said, "Because when I made this film my emotions were almost turned upside down. As an actor the nomination is an

enormous encouragement and recognition. I thank the voters for giving me this chance." He said that winning or not was not an issue because other nominees are excellent actors. Sing Sing said, "I would be happy no matter who wins. Everyone deserve the applause."

As for Best Actress, earlier winning the Taiwan Golden Horse Best Supporting Actress and the Film Critic Society Best Actress Wai Yin Hung is nominated with AT THE END OF DAYBREAK. She is deeply excited. Siu Hung said, "I am mad happy when I heard the news. My sister congratulated me right away. I never thought about getting nominated, but I haven't seen other nominees' movies. I feel I have the biggest chance!" She felt that Zhao Wei's genre was different, Kwan Yu and Shu Qi were in comedy. Zhang Jingchu was the closest to her type, but she was still full of confidence. "However out of everyone my film age is the highest!" In comparison to her Golden Horse nomination last year, she honestly said that last time the competition included more elders. This time she is the elder. As for her chances, Siu Hung said, "I am 70% confident, but each time the voter's taste is different." She will prepare an elegant dress to attend the award ceremony in.

Another more experienced nominee Ng Kwan Yu pointed out that she was very excited about the Best Actress nomination. Kwan Yu said, "I feel we have to get the Best Film nomination. Maybe not too many people have seen this film. Many after the screening were in tears!" In addition, Shu Qi was rather excited when she learned about her Best Actress nomination. She immediately said wow three times. "I never thought about it. I didn't expect it in advance so I am very happy. I haven't been nominated for Best Actress in a long time. Thank you director (Andrew) Lau Wai Keung for making me look so pretty, I also have to thank Wa Jai for the heart to heart talk!"

Best Supporting Actor nominee Tse Ting Fung said, "I am very happy to be nominated. This is one of the movies that I am very satisfied with. The character is different from before. I am able to show another side of me to the audience." Best Supporting Actress nominee Yip Shuen expressed her excitement. "I was very happy to make ACCIDENT. I have to thank (Johnnie) To Kei Fung, Goo Jai (Louis Koo Tin Lok) and (Soi) Cheang Po Shui. In particular I have to thank Goo Jai for teaching me so much!" Another nominee Ho Wan Si honestly said that she had to thank Lau Wai Keung for giving her the LOOK character. She said, "I have never played this type of character before. I didn't expect to be nominated so I will face it normally." In addition, among BODYGUARDS AND ASSSASSINS' 19 nominations, it received two Best Supporting Actor, two Best Supporting Actress and two Best New Performer nominations. Executive producer and producer Chan Ho Sun was pleased and expressed his feeling with a line from the film. He said, "I am very happy, this can be considered as 'for the fortune of winning an award, we have to experience the pain of nomination. This pain is mutual destruction!'"

The Hong Kong Film Award Association chair Gordon Chan Ka Seung expressed at the press conference that the Hong Kong Film Development Fund allocated 5.889 million for the production. 100,000 will be the prize for the Best New Director award winner to commend the winner's excellent performance and encourage their continuing participation in film creation.

Reportedly, this year's first round voting response was ideal. After the accounting firm's count, the voting rate reached 61.6%, 0.9% more than last year.

Chan Ka Seung was not worried that ATV will cut up the show like TVB did last year because ATV's biggest promise was broadcasting the complete version and tried not to make any cut. Aside from the Hong Kong Film Development Fund allocation, ATV and now's royalty was almost twice of what TVB gave. He revealed that this year the government requested an

open bid because it was fairer. The broadcast right would last two years. Will four major record labels' singers be guest performers? He said, "we haven't decided yet. In the end if they are TVB contract artists who sing for a movie they cannot perform. In the past the show has been aired on stations other than TVB. They have been great, separating the film professional identities very clearly. They don't mind letting their artists appear on camera and respect the event very much." Chi Wai added, "Definitely four major record labels, we want the others too." Will Chi Wai appear on ATV? He said, "As a film professional I should be able to, but I have to respect the Master (TVB). Let me go back and ask first." As for the rating impact with an ATV broadcast, Chan Ka Seung and Tsang Chi Wai both hoped that the two stations together would make it for it.

THE 29TH ANNUAL HONG KONG FILM AWARD NOMINATIONS

BEST FILM

1. BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS

2. RED CLIFF II

3. KJ

4. SHINJUKU INCIDENT

5. OVERHEARD

BEST DIRECTOR

1. Teddy Chan Tak Sum (BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS)

2. Ann Hui On Wa (NIGHT AND FOG)

3. John Woo (Ng Yu Sum) (RED CLIFF II)

4. Derek Yee Tung Sing (SHINJUKU INCIDENT)

5. Alan Mak Siu Fai, Felix Chong Man Keung (OVERHEARD)

BEST SCREENPLAY

1. Guo Junli, Qin Tiannan, Joyce Chan Ka Yi, Chan Tong Man

(BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS)

2. Wai Ka Fai, Au Kin Yee (WRITTEN BY)

3. Szeto Kam Yuen, Nicholl Tang Lik Kei, Milkyway Creative Team (ACCIDENT)

4. Alex Law Kai Yui (ECHOES OF THE RAINBOW)

5. Alan Mak Siu Fai, Felix Chong Man Keung (OVERHEARD)

BEST ACTOR

1. Wang Xueqi (BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS)

2. Simon Yam Tat Wa (NIGHT AND FOG)

3. Aaron Kwok Fu Sing (MURDERER)

4. Simon Yam Tat Wa (ECHOES OF THE RAINBOW)

5. Lau Ching Wan (OVERHEARD)

BEST ACTRESS

1. Zhang Jingchu (NIGHT AND FOG)

2. Wai Yin Hung (AT THE END OF DAYBREAK)

3. Vicki Zhao Wei (MULAN)

4. Shu Qi (LOOK FOR A STAR)

5. Sandra Ng Kwan Yu (ECHOES OF THE RAINBOW)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

1. Tony Leung Ka Fai (BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS)

2. Nicholas Tse Ting Fung (BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS)

3. Chang Chen (RED CLIFF II)

4. Stanley Feng Tsui Fan (ACCIDENT)

5. Alex Fong Chung Shun (OVERHEARD)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

1. Chris Li Yuchun (BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS)

2. Fan Bingbing (BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS)

3. Vicki Zhao Wei (BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS)

4. Denise Ho Wan Si (LOOK FOR A STAR)

5. Michelle Ye (Yip Shuen) (ACCIDENT)

BEST NEW PERFORMER

1. Wang Po Chieh (BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS)

2. Chris Li Yuchun (BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS)

3. Oceans Zhu Xuan (PRINCE OF TEARS)

4. Aarif Lee Chi Ting (ECHOES OF THE RAINBOW)

5. Chung Shiu To (ECHOES OF THE RAINBOW)

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

1. Arthur Wong Ngok Tai (BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS)

2. Anthony Pun Yiu Ming (EMPIRE OF SILVER)

3. Lu Yue, Zhang Li (RED CLIFF II)

4. Chin Ting Chang (PRINCE OF TEARS)

5. Nobuyasu Kita (SHINJUKU INCIDENT)

BEST FILM EDITING

1. Derek Hui Won Yu, Wong Hoi (BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS)

2. David Wu, Angie Lam On Yi, Yang Hongyu (RED CLIFF II)

3. Cheung King Wai (KJ)

4. David Richardson (ACCIDENT)

5. Kong Chi Leung, Chan Chi Wai (OVERHEARD)

BEST ART DIRECTION

1. Ken Mak Kwok Keung (BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS)

2. Yee Chung Man [Production Design], Chang Chi Ping, Christina Yao Shuhua [Art Directors] (EMPIRE OF SILVER)

3. Tim Yip Kam Tim (RED CLIFF II)

4. Yee Chung Man, Lau Man Hung (THE STORM WARRIORS)

5. Yonfan, Andrew Wong Man Hin (PRINCE OF TEARS)

BEST COSTUME AND MAKE UP DESIGN

1. Dora Ng Li Lo (BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS)

2. Yee Chung Man, Jessie Dai Mei Ling, Popeye Tam Mei Kwan, Man Yung Ling (EMPIRE OF SILVER)

3. Tim Yip Kam Tim (RED CLIFF II)

4. Yee Chung Man, Dora Ng Li Lo (THE STORM WARRIORS)

5. Yonfan, Eason Fung Man Chun (PRINCE OF TEARS)

BEST ACTION CHOREOGRAPHY

1. Stephen Tung Wai, Lee Tat Chiu (BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSSINS)

2. Corey Yuen Kwai (RED CLIFF II)

3. Ma Yuk Sing (THE STOMR WARRIORS)

4. Chin Ka Lok (SHINJUKU INCIDENT)

5. Ku Huen Chiu (14 BLADES)

BEST ORIGINAL FILM SCORE

1. Chan Kwong Wing, Peter Kam Pui Tat (BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS)

2. Taro Iwashiro (RED CLIFF II)

3. Yu Yat Yiu (PRINCE OF TEARS)

4. Lo Tayu (VENGEANCE)

5. Keiichi Tomita (DANCE, SUBARU!)

BEST ORIGINAL FILM SONG

1. POWDER (BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSIN)

2. RIVER OF NOR RETURN (RED CLIFF II)

3. MULAN LOVE (MULAN)

4. MCDULL, KUNGFU DING DING DONG

5. ECHOES OF THE RAINBOW (ECHOES OF THE RAINBOW)

BEST SOUND DESIGN

1. Kinson Tsang, George Lee Yiu Keung (BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS)

2. Steve Burgess, Wu Jiang (RED CLIFF II)

3. Cheung King Wai, Hidemi Gojo (KJ)

4. Ken Wong Hin Sun, Phyllis Cheng Wing Yuen, Lam Siu Yu (THE STORM WARRIORS)

5. Ken Wong Hing Sun, Phyllis Cheng Wing Yuen (14 BLADES)

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

1. Ng Yuen Fai, Chas Chau Chi Shing, Joe Tam Chi Wai, Yung Kwok Yin (BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS)

2. Teddy Mak Tak Man, Ken Law Wai Ho, Mary Ng Sze Sze (WRITTEN BY)

3. Craig Hayes (RED CLIFF II)

4. Ng Yuen Fai, chas Chau Chi Shing, Tam Kai Kwan (THE STORM WARRIORS)

5. Cecil Cheng Man Ching, Don Ma Wing On (KUNGFU CYBORG: METALLIC ATTRACTION)

BEST NEW DIRECTOR

1. Philip Yung Chi Kwong (GLAMOROUS YOUTH)

2. Cheung King Wai (KJ)

3. Roy Chow Hin Yeung (MURDERER)

BEST ASIAN FILM

1. CITY OF LIFE AND DEATH (CHINA)

2. THE FOUNDING OF A REPUBLIC (CHINA)

3. THE MESSAGE (CHINA)

4. PONYO ON THE CLIFF BY THE SEA (JAPAN)

5. DEPARTURES (JAPAN)