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TAIPEI: Two Hong Kong films that cast an uncomfortable spotlight on China won accolades at Taiwan’s Golden Horse Awards on Saturday (November 21), when the island hosted its largest film festival after successfully containing the coronavirus.
While many film festivals have been largely forced online or canceled by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Golden Horse Awards, called Oscars in Chinese, were held in Taiwan, where only 611 infections and seven were recorded. deaths.
Oscar-winning American director Ang Lee and Chinese-American actress Bai Ling, dressed in a red dress with a long train that read Love Peace, were among the legion of performers who walked the red carpet before the ceremony at Sun Yat- sen memorial hall.
Chinese-American actress Bai Ling was among the stars of the 57th Golden Horse Awards in Taipei AFP / SAM YEH
Chinese film talents used to dominate Golden Horse nominations, but the festival has been the victim of deteriorating relations between Beijing and Taipei.
China boycotted the event last year after a Taiwanese director called for the island’s independence during a speech accepting the award the previous year.
This year it featured only two nominations from mainland China: a documentary and an animated short film. They both couldn’t win any awards.
The Lost Course victories in the southern Chinese village of Wukan, which became a symbol of resistance against corruption in 2011, as well as Night is Young on the experiences of a taxi driver during pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong last year, they will probably irritate Beijing.
“Being recognized by the Golden Horse really means a lot to a new director … I also want to thank the villagers for accepting me, so I had the privilege of filming and documenting them at close range,” Hong Kong-based Jill Li told the audience as she received his award for the best documentary.
Hong Kong director Kwok Zune did not personally pick up his Best Short Film statuette, but in an acceptance speech read by a representative, declared: “May freedom belong to the people. The night is young, we continue to fight. Save 12 “, referring to 12 Hong Kong democracy activists detained in China.
Hong Kong was rocked by months of massive and sometimes violent protests last year against the increasingly tight control of Beijing, which has since imposed a sweeping national security law on the city.
Taiwanese director Chen Yu-hsun’s romantic comedy “My Missing Valentine,” which led the race with 11 nominations, was the night’s biggest winner with five gongs, including best picture and best director.
Chen Shu-fang, 81, from Taiwan, who has been in the industry for 63 years, claimed both Best Leading Actress (Little Big Women) and Best Supporting Actress (Dear Tenant).
The best actor category was the most diverse, with Taiwan’s Mo Tzu-yi defeating rivals such as Singapore’s Mark Lee (Number 1) and Hong Kong’s Lam Ka-tung (Hand Rolled Cigarette) for playing a suspicious gay man. of murdering the mother of his deceased lover.
Winners list in key categories:
Best Feature Film: My Missing Valentine
Best Director: Chen Yu-hsun, My Missing Valentine
Best Leading Actor: Mo Tzu-yi, Dear Tenant
Best Leading Actress: Chen Shu-fang, Little Big Women
Best Documentary: Lost Course
