Kung Fu Hustle was the big winner Sunday at Taiwan's Golden Horse Awards, taking home five trophies, including best director and best film at the Oscar equivalent for Chinese cinema.
Stephen Chow's action-comedy, about gangsters who try to take over a neighborhood populated by kung fu masters, also won the best supporting actress award for Yuen Qiu's performance. It is the biggest grossing local film in Hong Kong history.
The awards represented a setback for local favorite Three Times, which won best actress for Shu Qi, best film from Taiwan Province.
Pop sensation Jay Chou, a singer-songwriter and one of the Chinese-language music industry's biggest names, won for best new performer for Initial D, signaling the appearance of a new presence on the Asian cinematic scene.
"I'm not very confident about acting, unlike my music," Chou said in his acceptance speech. "But after winning this award, getting this recognition, I'm quite happy."
Initial D also earned Anthony Wong best supporting actor honors, while Hong Kong's Aaron Kwok won best actor for Divergence.
While accepting the award, Kwok made reference to his reputation as a good-looking lightweight, better known for his singing and dancing than for his ability as a serious cinematic performer.
"Beginning with Divergence, I completely put down the Aaron Kwok people expect, to immerse in the character, to be a real actor," he said.
(CRI via AP November 14, 2005)
