‘Gone With the Bullets’ nabs three wins
MACAU: China’s Gone With the Bullets led the 9th Asian Film Awards here with three awards, while China’s Blind Massage was named best fi lm and The Golden Era’s Ann Hui best director.
Named best actor was Liao Fan for his portrayal of a policeman turned alcoholic security guard in Black Coal, Thin Ice. Last year, Liao had also won the best actor award at the Berlin International Film Festival.
South Korea’s Bae Doo-na took home the best actress gong for her role as a police academy instructor who met a bullied 14-year- old girl in A Girl At My Door. Bae forsook her salary for the small budget fi lm.
Gone with the Bullets’ wins were all in the technical categories, including best production designer, best costume designer, and best visual effects.
Best director winner Ann Hui was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Asian Film Awards two years ago, and she said the accolade galvanised her into making The Golden Era.
“I thought I have something in my pocket, and I can be more adventurous and do something that is difficult for us,” Hui said in her acceptance speech at the Venetian Theatre in Macau.
Hui, whose movie also had the most nominations with five, said she was “very happy” and jokingly said she wanted to “donate” half of the trophy to the movie’s crew for their key role in making it a success.
The Best Movie gong went to Blind Massage from controversial director Lou Ye, a story based on the little-known industry in China that featured blind amateur actors.
Best actor Liao said he was delighted to have won.
“I used my instincts to act. I will keep trying new roles,” he told reporters at the backstage after receiving the award.
South Korea’s Bae beat out Chinese favourites Gong Li, Zhao Wei and Tang Wei for the award, telling journalists: “I didn’t expect this... I am very happy,”
I thought I have something in my pocket, and I can be more adventurous and do something that is difficult for us.
and adding she hoped to act in movies “beyond boundaries”.
Im Kwon-taek, the 78year- old veteran director of Painted Fire, was given a Lifetime Achievement Award for his transformational role in Korean cinema, while the Best Newcomer award went to Zhang Huiwen, who played the daughter of a man sent to a labour camp during the Cultural Revolution in Coming Home. This year’s awards were handed to a diverse list of countries, including Indonesia’s The Raid 2: Berandal, which saw Gareth Evans winning the Best Editor award, and India, where Mikey McCleary won Best Composer for Margarita, With A Straw.— Agencies Best Movie: Blind Massage/ China Best Director: Ann Hui ( The Golden Era)/ Hong Kong Best Actor: Liao Fan ( Black Coal, Thin Ice)/ China Best Actress: Bae Doona ( A Girl At My Door)/ South Korea Best Newcomer: Zhang Huiwen ( Coming Home)/ China Best Supporting Actor: Wang Zhiwen ( The Golden Era)/ Hong Kong Best Supporting Actress: Ikewaki Chizuru ( The Light Shines Only There)/ Japan
Anne Hui, winner of Best Director award