CHINA / Taiwan, HK, Macao

Stars shine at Chinese 'Oscars'
(AP)
Updated: 2006-04-09 11:55

"Election," a dark and violent tale about gangsters, was the big winner Saturday at the Hong Kong Film Awards, taking home the prizes for best movie, director and actor.

Johnnie To got the top honors for directing, while Tony Leung won best actor for his portrayal of a hotheaded mobster angry about how the leaders of his gang have been chosen.

The best actress award went to Zhou Xun of Chinese mainland. She played a movie star caught between her present and past loves in the Broadway-style musical "Perhaps Love."

zhou xun, film award, perhaps love, Chinese oscar, golden statue
Chinese mainland actress Zhou Xun holds the trophy after winning the Best Actress award for the movie "Perhaps Love" during the 25th Hong Kong Film Awards April 8, 2006. [Reuters]

Hong Kong's Teresa Mo was named best supporting actress for her performance in "2 Young," about a teenage couple dealing with an unexpected pregnancy.

Anthony Wong of Hong Kong was named best supporting actor for his role in "Initial D," a movie based on a Japanese comic about street car racing.

Wong won the same award last year at Taiwan's Golden Horse Awards -- the Chinese-language equivalent of the Oscars.

Pop idol Jay Chou from Taiwan was named best new performer for his leading role in "Initial D."

Chou, famous for his soulful ballads, said his success for his role as a street car racer in "Initial D" won't cause him to walk away from his singing career.

"I'll still focus on music. This is what I'm best at," Chou said as he accepted his award.

He also won the best newcomer prize for the same film last year at the Golden Horse Awards.

Mainland "Ke Ke Xi Li" won the top Asian movie honors. The film is about volunteers protecting the Tibetan antelope from ruthless poachers in remote western China. The movie, directed by Lu Chuan, won the best film award in 2004 at the Golden Horse Awards.

Other nominees Saturday for best Asian film were Japan's "Howl's Moving Castle," Taiwan's "Three Times," South Korea's "Sympathy for Lady Vengeance" and Japan's "Be With You."

The best new director award on Saturday went to Kenneth Bi for "Rice Rhapsody" about dueling chefs.

Peter Pau won the prize for best cinematography for "Perhaps Love," a Broadway-style musical.