'Secret Sunshine' wins Best Film at Asian Film Awards
The South Korean film wins three prizes including best film with other awards going to its director and lead actress, writes Joyce Dundas
In a star-studded gala ceremony held by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and hosted by Frederick Ma, the secretary for commerce and economic development, the second Asian Film Awards were presented at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The ceremony marks the start of the fourth Entertainment Expo Hong Kong which runs until April 13 2008.
With over 2,000 international guests, including Joan Chen and Hollywood studio chief Harvey Weinstein, the AFA’s red-carpet gala and award ceremony paid tribute to 33 nominated Asian films in 12 categories. Two world renowned filmmakers were also given special accolades.
South Korea’s character driven tragi-comedy, Secret Sunshine, was awarded best film, best director for Lee Chang-dong and best actress to Jeon Do-yeon.
The best actor award went to Tony Leung Chiu-wai for his role in the sexy spy drama Lust, Caution. Best supporting actor was awarded to Sun Honglei for his role in the story recounting the early life of Genghis Khan, Mongol, and best supporting actress went to Joan Chen for The Sun Also Rises a film using interconnected stories across several different time-zones.
Screenwriter went to Au Kin-yee and Wai Ka-fai for prolific Hong Kong director Johnnie To's serial killer film Mad Detective and best cinematographer to Liao Pen-jung for erotic stalker thriller Help me Eros. Other winners include best visual effects to Ng Yuen-fai for the Jet Li starrer The Warlords, best production designer to Cao Jiu-ping and Zhang Jian-qun for The Sun Also Rises, best editor to David Richardson for Eye in the Sky and best composer to Vishal Dadlani and Shekhar Ravjiani for Indian blockbuster, Om Shanti Om.
Special tributes went to visionary Japanese filmmaker Yuya Ishii who received the Edward Yang new talent award and veteran Japanese Yamada Yuji was given the lifetime achievement award.
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