'The Grandmaster' Leads HK Film Nominations

Wong Kar-wai’s martial-arts biography "The Grandmaster" grabbed a leading 14 nominations at the 33rd Hong Kong Film Awards, including best film and best director.
 
Stars Tony Leung Chiu-wai and Zhang Ziyi earned nominations for best actor and best actress, respectively, in the drama about Ip Man, the real-life figure who taught the form of kung fu known as wing chun and counted Bruce Lee among his students. Ip Man was born in Foshan, China, in 1893 and died in Hong Kong in 1972.
 
The film's other nominations include three for William Chang in film editing, art direction, and costume and make-up design; and best cinematography for Philippe Le Sourd. Messrs. Chang and Le Sourd received Academy Award nominations last month for "The Grandmaster": Mr. Chang for costume design, and Mr. Le Sourd for cinematography. The Oscars will be presented on March 2.
 
In an odd twist, two of Hong Kong’s most acclaimed actors are competing in the best-actor category this year for playing the same character — Ip Man — in different films. Mr. Leung takes on the role from the late 1930s to the mid-1950s in "The Grandmaster," which is set against the backdrop of China’s turbulent war-time history. Anthony Wong plays the legendary master in "Ip Man: The Final Fight" during his later years, after he arrived in Hong Kong in 1950 from his home in southern Guangdong province.
 
Ip Man has been a ripe character for Hong Kong filmmakers, with five movies in recent years based on the life of the famed martial artist, beginning with action star Donnie Yen in "Ip Man" (2008).
 
Director Dante Lam’s "Unbeatable" had the second-highest number of nominations with 11, including best film and best director. The sentimental story about a pair of down-and-out boxers trying to redeem themselves was the top-grossing local production last year. Nick Cheung earned a best-actor nomination playing an over-the-hill fighter hiding out from gangsters, while co-star Eddie Peng received a nod for best supporting actor. Both men spent months of intense training to get their bodies into shape for their roles.
 
Rounding out the best-film nominations are the blockbuster "Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons," an action-comedy based on the classic Chinese novel from director Stephen Chow; director Benny Chan’s drug-dealer thriller "The White Storm"; and the small-budget "The Way We Dance," about struggling hip-hop performers hoping to hit the big time, from best new director nominee Adam Wong.
 
The stylish horror flick "Rigor Mortis" received the third-highest number of nominations with nine, including best new director for singer-actor Juno Mak.
 
The Hong Kong Film Awards announced its nominations on Wednesday, and the awards ceremony will be held on April 13.
 
The full list of nominees: 
 
Best Film 
 
"The Grandmaster"
"Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons"
"The Way We Dance"
"The White Storm"
"Unbeatable" 
 
Best Director 
 
Wong Kar-wai, "The Grandmaster"
Johnnie To, "Drug War"
Benny Chan, "The White Storm"
Derek Kwok, "As the Light Goes Out"
Dante Lam, "Unbeatable" 
 
Best Screenplay 
 
Zou Jingzhi, Xu Haofeng, Wong Kar-wai, "The Grandmaster"
Zhou Zhiyong, Zhang Ji, Aubrey Lam, "American Dreams in China"
Xue Xiaolu, "Finding Mr. Right"
Wai Ka-fai, Yau Nai-hoi, Ryker Chan, Yu Xi, "Blind Detective"
Jack Ng, Fung Chi-fung, Dante Lam, "Unbeatable" 
 
Best Actor 
 
Tony Leung Chiu-wai, "The Grandmaster"
Louis Koo, "The White Storm"
Lau Ching-wan, "The White Storm"
Anthony Wong, "Ip Man: The Final Fight"
Nick Cheung, "Unbeatable" 
 
Best Actress 
 
Zhang Ziyi, "The Grandmaster"
Tang Wei, "Finding Mr. Right"
Cherry Ngan, "The Way We Dance"
Sammi Cheng, "Blind Detective"
Nina Paw Hee-ching, "Rigor Mortis" 
 
Best Supporting Actor 
 
Zhang Jin, "The Grandmaster"
Tong Dawei, "American Dreams in China"
Huang Bo, "Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons"
Eddie Peng, "Unbeatable"
Antony "Friend" Chan, "Rigor Mortis" 
 
Best Supporting Actress 
 
Du Juan, "American Dreams in China"
Carina Lau, "Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon"
Law Lan, "The White Storm"
Crystal Lee, "Unbeatable"
Wai Ying-hung, "Rigor Mortis" 
 
Best New Performer 
 
Du Juan, "American Dreams in China"
Fish Liew, "Doomsday Party"
Lin Gengxin, "Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon"
Babyjohn Choi, "The Way We Dance"
Angel Chiang, "A Secret Between Us" 
 
Best Cinematography 
 
Philippe Le Sourd, "The Grandmaster"
Anthony Pun, "The White Storm"
Jason Kwan, "As the Light Goes Out"
Kenny Tse, "Unbeatable"
Ng Kai-ming, "Rigor Mortis" 
 
Best Film Editing 
 
William Chang, Benjamin Courtines, Poon Hung-yiu, "The Grandmaster"
Kwong Chi-leung, Ron Chan, "Firestorm"
Yau Chi-wai, "The White Storm"
Wong Hoi, "As the Light Goes Out"
Azrael Chung, "Unbeatable" 
 
Best Art Direction 
 
William Chang, Alfred Yau Wai-ming, "The Grandmaster"
Eric Lam, "Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons"
Ken Mak, "Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon"
Eric Lam, "As the Light Goes Out"
Irving Cheung, "Rigor Mortis" 
 
Best Costume & Make-Up Design 
 
William Chang, "The Grandmaster"
Dora Ng, "American Dreams in China"
Lee Pik-kwan, Bruce Yu, "Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons"
Lee Pik-kwan, Bruce Yu, "Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon"
Miggy Cheng, Phoebe Wong, Kittichon Kunratchol, "Rigor Mortis" 
 
Best Action Choreography 
 
Yuen Wo-ping, "The Grandmaster"
Yuen Bun, "Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon"
Chin Ka-lok, "Firestorm"
Donnie Yen, "Special ID"
Ling Chi-wah, "Unbeatable" 
 
Best Original Film Score 
 
Shigeru Umebayashi, Nathaniel Mechaly, "The Grandmaster"
Kenji Kawai, "Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon"
Day Tai, Afuc Chan, "The Way We Dance"
Teddy Robin, Tomy Wai, "As the Light Goes Out"
Henry Lai, "Unbeatable" 
 
Best Original Film Song 
 
"新秩序": "Young and Dangerous: Reloaded" (Composer, lyric, sung by: Paul Wong)
"狂舞吧": "The Way We Dance" (Composer: Day Tai; Lyric: Saville Chan; Sung by: DoughBoy, Shimica Wong)
"Love is Blind": "Blind Detective (Composer: Hal Foxton Beckett, Mark Baril; Lyric: Lin Xi; Sung by: Andy Lau, Sammi Cheng)
"心照一生": "The White Storm" (Composer: RubberBand; Lyric: RubberBand, Tim Lui; Sung by: RubberBand)
"Ai Zui Da": "As the Light Goes Out" (Composer: Nicholas Tse; Lyric: Nicholas Tse, Qiao Xing, Kit@24 Herbs, Phat@24 Herbs; Sung by: Nicholas Tse, 24 Herbs) 
 
Best Sound Design 
 
Robert Mackenzie, Traithep Wongpaiboon, "The Grandmaster"
Kinson Tsang, "Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon"
Phyllis Cheng, "As the Light Goes Out"
Phyllis Cheng, "Unbeatable"
Benny Chu, Steve Miller, "Rigor Mortis" 
 
Best Visual Effects 
 
Pierre Buffin, "The Grandmaster"
Wook Kim, "Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon"
Yee Kwok-leung, Lai Man-chun, Ho Kwan-yeung, Garrett K. Lam, "Firestorm"
Henri Wong, Hugo Kwan, Walter Wong, "As the Light Goes Out"
Enoch Chan, "Rigor Mortis" 
 
Best New Director 
 
Adam Wong, "The Way We Dance"
Alan Yuen, "Firestorm"
Juno Mak, "Rigor Mortis" 
 
Best Film From Mainland and Taiwan 
 
"Rock Me to the Moon" (Taiwan)
"Lost in Thailand" (Mainland)
"The Last Supper" (Mainland)
"Touch of the Light" (Taiwan)
"So Young" (Mainland)