The 41st Hong Kong Film Awards was held on the evening of April 16 at the Tsim Sha Tsui Cultural Centre in Hong Kong. The ceremony was led by Michelle Yeoh, the newly crowned Oscar Best Actress. Sammy Cheng Sau-man, who has been in the movie world for 31 years, won the best actress for the very first time.
Sean Lau Ching-wan got the best actor award for the third time. Michael Hui Koon-man won the best supporting actor award, with Ivana Wong Yuen-chi the Best Supporting Actress. On the rostrum was also Ho Cheuk-tin who won the Best New Director award, as well as Sahal Zaman with the Best New Performer award.
Controversial documentary “To My Nineteenth-Year-Old Self,” which was stuck earlier in a “stop-go-stop-go” saga, was awarded the Best Film. The director’s on stage ”film first, screen first, and see what next” remarks again caused another round of talks from all sides.
Yeoh to the Best New Performer: Never Give Up
The first award of the night, “Best New Performer,” was presented by the newly crowned Oscar Best Actress, Michelle Yeoh, to “The Sunny Side of the Street,” starling Sahal Zaman.Yeoh said she was grateful to the organizer for giving her the opportunity to come and say “Thank you” in person to the Hong Kong fans. She received over one minute of applause as soon as she appeared and was very moved, “I am happy to be given this opportunity to come back (to Hong Kong). Thank you for your love and support!”
She recalled that it was more than appropriate she presented this first award. In 1986, “Yes, Madam” was the first time she was nominated for the same “Best New Performer.” She went on to encourage everyone not to give up one’s dreams. “If we just work hard, persevere, and never give up, dreams do come true.”
The 10 -year-old Pakistani actor Sahal Zaman became the first South Asian actor to win the “Best New Performer” award. He expressed his gratitude to God for giving him the chance to act in a film. He also thanks his parents, the tutorship of Lau Kok-rui, his director, and senior co-actor Sean Lau Ching-wan.
Sammi Cheng: Happy to be Best Actress for First Time, Not an Also-Ran Again
Having been in the movie industry for 31 years, Sammi Cheng Sau-man first scored the Best Original Film Song with the theme song of “Lost Love” and then the Best Actress for the first time. The Best Actress award was presented by her long-term screen partner Andy Lau Tak-wah. Lau also said to Sammi on the stage, “I love you.”Over the years, Cheng experienced six near misses with the Best Actress award from the nine films she had played in. Until this year, with complete transformative performances in “Lost Love,” she managed to defeat other strong contenders such as Louisa So Yuk-wah of “The Sparring Partner,” Teresa Mo Shun-kwan of “Mama’s Affair,” Sylvia Chang Ai-chia of ” A Light Never Goes Out,“ and Angela Yuen Lai-lam of the ” The Narrow Road.“ In fact, prior to this, Cheng had already won Best Actress from both the ”Hong Kong Film Critics Society Award,“ and the ”Hong Kong Film Directors’ Guild Annual Awards,” making this third honor of hers looks more like a no-brainer.
Cheng was very moved, and with tears in her eyes, she said, “Actually, this Best Actress award seemed to be something out of reach to me, but sometimes it seemed just one step away.” She said that what she has been thinking about the most for many years past is how to improve and transform from a nobody to a winning performance. Many thanks to the director Ka Sing-fung and the entire team, thanks to all her family members, and her father in heaven. She also mentioned that her mother was watching it live in front of the TV.
Cheng was in quite a mood at the scene and would like to advise everyone with a dream, “I really want to talk to people with dreams in the world. It is extremely difficult to set out to pursue dreams. Sometimes it is difficult, but do remember this moment, remember a picture I am holding my prize. The dream is for those who never give up and persist, you must remember this scene.”
She said she felt excited again and added, “I’m really happy today. I finally don’t have to run on this track behind others this time. I did rush to the line today. Finally, I want to hum a few words with you because I am a singer.” She quoted one of Jacky Cheung’s songs, “Do you know, I have waited until all the flowers withered.”
Sean Lau Won for the 3rd Time: I Accept Both Applause and Jeers
Playing the role of Lee Chun in “Detective vs Sleuths,” Sean Lau Ching-wan beat Mak Pui-tung and Yeung Wai-lun both of “The Sparring Partner,“ Anthony Wong Chau-sang in ”The Sunny Side of the Street,“ and Louis Cheung Kai-chung of ” The Narrow Road” to become the newly crowned Best Actor today.This is Lau’s 17th time being nominated for the “Best Actor” in the Hong Kong Film Awards. It is also the third time, after “My Name is Fame” and “Overheard 3,” he was crowned the Best Actor again. The award, this time, was presented by Francis Ng Chun-yu. After taking the award from Ng, Lau said with a smile, “Don’t worry, I won’t sing!”
Lau said he is particularly grateful to his team and his wife, Amy Kwok Oi-ming, for being so patient with him, saying that he is already a “detective” outside the show. He added, “They put up all their patience beyond that of ordinary people to work with me. Indeed, they are like accepting one nuclear explosion day in and day out!”
He also quoted Sammi Cheng’s speech to encourage everyone to have a dream. As long as you are willing to work hard, and as long as you live long enough, “Your dream will one day, for some unknown reasons, becomes realized, albeit it might be somewhat regrettable. But it is not important, how can the world be satisfactory all the time.”
Lau then went on to thank more people. “I thank you all in front of the camera, I also thank all my friends who love Hong Kong movies and Hong Kong. Whether it is applause or jeers, I will accept them. It is always better than no noise at all. Thank you.”
80-Year-Old Hui Won Best Supporting Actor: Miracles Can Happen to Those Willing to Try
Michael Hui Koon-man won Best Supporting Actor for his role in “Where the Wind Blows (previously known as Theory of Ambitions).” This is also the first time he was shortlisted for the Best Supporting Actor award.After receiving the award from guests Fish Liew Chi-yu and Charmaine Fong Ho-man, Hui said he was very excited and said, “I am particularly excited tonight. Because I have never won anything apart from goofy and hilarious prizes, and it all feels like a complete newcomer tonight!”
He also pointed out that he was particularly happy to see eight nominations from “Where the Wind Blows” and revealed that when Director Philip Yung Tsz-kwong asked him to play the role of ICAC Commissioner Lee Tsz-chiu, he had no confidence at all. “This is not a funny character. My wife and I discussed it. In the end, she told me to have a go at it, saying that there is more than just doing the somersaults by Sun Wukong (the Monkey King).”
He also said that at that time, a take to speak nonstop in English for ten minutes was very challenging. “For a take to play ten-minute English drama, with no laughter around in ten minutes, I can’t get used to it.” When asked if the director laughed, the deputy director’s answer was, “No! But he cried.”
Hui finally encouraged everyone, “As long as you are willing to try new things, any miracle can happen, including the precious Film Awards.”
