Acclaimed director Tsui Hark's epic "The Taking of Tiger Mountain" is a firm favorite at this year's Golden Rooster Awards with nine nominations, the China Film Association said on August 19.

The film, which centers on a Chinese spy during the 1940s revolution, has been included on the short list for best director, best screenplay and best actor.

"The Taking of Tiger Mountain" crew appear in 2015 Beijing International Film Festival, April 23, 2015, in Beijing. [Photo by Chen Yehua/Xinhua]

The 3D epic stars Tony Leung Ka Fai and was released in China in December 2014. It has reaped box office earnings of about 900 million yuan ($140 million).

The Golden Rooster Awards have been held every two years since 1981. This year the event will be held in Jilin City in northeast China in September.

According to the association, a record number of 270 films were considered for the awards this year.