Taiwanese star over the moon with HK win

Taiwanese actor Wu Kang-ren has won out over Hong Kong superstar Tony Leung Chiu-wai in the best actor race at this year's Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards.

Having taken home the best actor award at last year's Golden Horse Awards, Wu, 41, played a drug-addicted father in the movie, Fly Me to the Moon.

Leung, who got a Golden Lion lifetime achievement award in September, was nominated for The Goldfinger.

Other nominees included Time Still Turns the Pages's 11-year-old actor Sean Wong Tsz-lok, Dust to Dust's Dong Cheng-peng, aka "Da Peng," as well as Lam Ka-tung and Lokman Yeung Lok-man from Mad Fate.

The panel of judges said Wu's "language mastery and gaunt figure cultivated a vivid image of the character."

"Wu's performance intricately weaves together these various aspects, making him the soul that runs through the entire film," said the judges.

Wu said: "It has always been my dream to perform in Hong Kong films. I am grateful to director Chuk Tsz-yin and the team for creating Fly Me to the Moon, which allowed me to fulfil my dream of appearing as a character in a Hong Kong film once again."

Wu said that while his performance might not be perfect, he was looking forward to filming more frequently in Hong Kong and improving his skills.

The best screenplay award also went to Fly Me to the Moon, the first feature film by director Sasha Chuk Tsz-yin. She also plays the role of Wu's daughter, who moved from Hunan to Hong Kong.

"The creator refines her own experiences, while also possessing a keen sense of observation," said the judges.

Chuk expressed gratitude to people who had helped her with the film, including Wu, director Stanley Kwan Kam-pang, famous art director William Chang Suk-ping and the film's co-director Jun Li Chun-shek.

The crime and mystery thriller, Mad Fate, directed by Soi Cheang Pou-soi, won the best picture award.

Hong Kong actress Jennifer Yu Heung-ying won the best actress. Her performance was said by the judging panel to have "possessed a rare combination of strength and gentleness that is uncommon among actors of the same generation."