[2011.04.18] CARINA LAU FINALLY WINS

The 30th Hong Kong Film Award took place two nights ago. Nicholas Tse Ting Fung and Carina Lau Ka Ling with STOOL PIGEON (SIN YUN) and DETECTIVE DEE AND THE MYSTERY OF THE PHANTOM FLAME (DIK YUN KIT ji TUNG TIN DAI GOK) won Best Actor and Best Actress as the favorites. Tsui Hark also won Best Director with DETECTIVE, which won six awards to become the big winner. The small budget film GALLANTS (DA LUI TOI) won four awards, including Best Picture and Best Supporting Actor and Actress.

The sixth time was a charm for Ka Ling who last night finally won Best Actress. As she was preparing to give her speech, she laughed out loud a few times then said, "Every time I was nominated I was very happy, but every time I watched someone else won. I am used to disappointment. Today I won I really am not used to it. When I came in I was very peaceful, I thought winning and losing didn't mean that much to me anymore. Yet when I won I was very excited, very happy, actually I can be this happy, haha!" Ka Ling also said that she was nominated six times but did not have a chance to win five times. This time she first thanked Mr. and Mrs. Tsui Hark for their sharp eyes. "They see what even I can't see, during the shoot they taught me a lot and made this character of Wu Zetian feels all new. At the same time I have to thank (Andy) Lau Tak Wa, Li Bingbing and Deng Chao, they were very serious and had a very tough shoot. Thus I want to share this award with you." She also thanked her mother who was present last night and would give the award to her. Finally she thanked her husband Tony Leung Chiu Wai, because of the years he gave her complete freedom to do what she liked. She also said that he sent many text messages to her yesterday because he was worried about her emotions. She said to Wai Jai, "I know I can't catch up to you, but I will slowly chase you." Ka Ling had flowers backstage, actually wai Jai asked someone to deliver them to his wife.

When Ting Fung won Best Actor, he paused for a few seconds then embraced his wife Cecilia Cheung Pak Chi and Nick Cheung Ka Fai. During his speech, Pak Chi broke down in tears. Ting Fung said that Pak Chi asked him four to five times if he won what he would say, and what he wanted to say was when he won the Hong Kong Film Best New Performer Award when he was 18. He imitated his father and said, "Do you know when you were little how many hundreds of movies and hours of television series did I make?" At the time Ting Fung slammed the table with the New Performer prize and asked his father whether he won the Hong Kong Film Award before. However those words upset him for many years. Last night he knew his father was watching television at home and he publicly apologized to his father. "Hopefully you would forgive the arrogant and impolite child then. You had to raise me such a troublesome child and still greeted others with a smile, you are the real Best Actor. Old Man ,sorry!" Then he bowed to the camera.

In addition, with the Hong Kong Film Award in its 30th year, the program opened with a firework show outside the venue as Shirley Kwan Suk Yi and Kay Tse On Kay performed the late Anita Mui Yim Fong hit YEARS FLOW LIKE WATER. Then the Hong Kong Film Award vice chair Eric Tsang Chi Wai spoke. He mentioned that in 2003 due to SARS the event once considered halting the event for a year, but finally decided to keep going. Even if only a few people showed up the show must go on. Chi Wai saw the full house, smiled and said, "That night was like tonight, support Hong Kong film, support Hong Kong medical personnel, I feel very proud!"

Susan Shaw Yam Yam and Teddy Robin Kwan with GALLANTS (DA LUI TOI) won Supporting Acting awards. Shaw Yam Yam broke down on stage and said that although she was brave she was so nervous that her legs were shaking. She even said that she was already very appreciative for the nomination. She never thought about winning because the competition was so strong.

Later she said that she felt very fortunate to be a part of the Hong Kong Film Award 30th anniversary, she also gave herself the highest score.

Teddy Robin held the award high on the stage and joked that his mind was a little blank, but he truly was very, very happy. He has been nominated a few times before but did not win, thus he would cherish this award. He also thanked his wife for taking care of their children so he had nothing to worry about. Later he said that many friends thought he had a good chance to win, adding to his pressure. He also thanked his benefactor Tsui Hark because when he wanted to resign behind the scene Tsui Hark asked him to play Inspector Robin in ALL THE WRONG CLUES (GWAI MA JI DOR SING). One of the GALLANTS director Derek Kwok Chi Kin also liked the character and asked him to be in this film. He said, "I used to think I was a decent producer and director, now I have to say without any humility, I am someone who can act."

Musician Hanjin Tan (Chen Woon Yan) stepped onto the Hong Kong Film Award stage for the first time and immediately with BRUCE LEE MY BROTHER defeated double nominee Dennis To Yu-Hang for Best New Performer. To Yu-Hang looked disappointed and forced a smile. Chen Woon Yan was very excited about the award and very honored to participate in this event. He said, "I have always worked on music, I never expected to join the big film family and to be able to witness the Hong Kong film industry spirit."

Fat Gor as the guest presenter was the highlight of the evening. he said that he often faced film in a humble manner because film truly had too much to learn from. He said, "If I have the chance I would be an artist again in the next life, I think, no industry would provide you with such much knowledge, like an encyclopedia." He could not even stop himself by speaking as he said, "I can't on another station, only on this station I can. The Hong Kong Film Award is in its 30th year, I have to speak one minute per year to get my fill." Although Fat Gor was a Best Actor nominee, he still publicly supported Tse Ting Fung and left Pak Chi teary eyed. Fat Gor said, "I am afraid of losing to Ting Fung. His comment earlier were too touching (Ting Fung talked about why he opened a post production company in Hong Kong), he has parents above and wife and children below. The next 30 years of Hong Kong depends on you, Ting Fung! Two nights ago I ran into your Ma, Lai Goo (Deborah Li). I told her to come and support you, but she just made faces at me. I think she is pretty wrong, Ting Fung I support you."

Tsui Hark was very happy to win Best Director again after 19 years. "This is my second Hong Kong Film Award for Best Director, I don't even remember when the first time was. I am very happy. I like all four directors' movies. I won this dramatically, I hope they would share it with me."

THE 30TH HONG KONG FILM AWARDS

BEST PICTURE

GALLANTS

BEST DIRECTOR

Tsui Hark (DETECTVIE DEE AND THE MYSTERY OF THE PHANTOM FLAME)

BEST SCREENPLAY

Pang Ho Cheung, Heiward Mak Hei Yan (LOVE IN A PUFF)

BEST ACTOR

Nicholas Tse Ting Fung (STOOL PIGEON)

BEST ACTRESS

Carina Lau Ka Ling (DETECTIVE DEE AND THE MYSTERY OF THE PHANTOM FLAME)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Teddy Robin Kwan (GALLANTS)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Susan Shaw Yam Yam (GALLANTS)

BEST NEW PERFORMER

Hanjin Tan (Chen Woon Yan) (BRUCE LEE MY BROTHER)

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Peter Pau Tak Hei (CONFUCIUS)

BEST FILM EDITING

Cheung Ka Fai (IP MAN 2)

BEST ART DIRECTION

James Choo Sung Bong (DETECTIVE DEE AND THE MYSTERY OF THE PHANTOM FLAME)

BEST COSTUME AND MAKE UP DESIGN

Bruce Yu Ka On (DETECTIVE DEE AND THE MYSTERY OF THE PHANTOM FLAME)

BEST ACTION CHOREOGRAPHY

Sammo Hung Kam Bo (IP MAN 2)

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

Teddy Robin Kwan, Tommy Wai Kai Leung (GALLANTS)

BEST FILM SONG

HERE TO STAY (MERRY GO ROUND)

BEST SOUND DESIGN

Wong Danrong, Zhao Nan (DETECTIVE DEE AND THE MYSTERY OF THE PHANTOM FLAME)

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

Lee Yong-gi, Nam Sang-woo (DETECTIVE DEE AND THE MYSTERY OF THE PHANTOM FLAME)

BEST NEW DIRECTOR

Felix Chong Man Keung (ONCE A GANGSTER)

BEST ASIAN FILM

CONFESSIONS (Japan)

BEST DRESSED

Daniel Wu (Ng Yin Cho), Janice Man Wing Shan

PROFESSIONAL SPIRIT AWARD

Willie Chan Chi Keung

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Terry Lai