THE GRANDMASTER and Singapore’s Oscar Hopeful ILO ILO Win Big At Golden Horse Awards

Wong Kar Wai’s The Grandmaster and Singapore’s entry into the Foreign Language Feature category of the upcoming Academy Awards, Ilo Ilo, were the big winners over the weekend at the 50th Golden Horse Awards, the Chinese-language equivalent of the Oscars, in Taipei.

Ilo Ilo, the story of the relationship between a Philipina maid and the family she serves in Singapore during the 1997 recession in Asia, won top honors by capturing the Best Film category. Director Anthony Chen won the award for Best New Director while Yeo Yann Yann won Best Supporting actress. Previously, the film won Camera d’Or award at Cannes.

Meanwhile, Wai’s biopic about the life story of the Wing Chun grandmaster Ip Man swept five categories Best Actress for Zhang Ziyi, Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction, Best Makeup/Costumes, and Best Visual Effects. The film has already seen release in the United States in a much maligned, edited version.

Director Tsai Ming Liang won Best Director for his film Stray Dogs, a story of a father and his two sons struggling with poverty in modern day Taiwan. The film’s star Lee Kang Sheng won Best Lead Actor.

Jackie Chan won Best Action Choreography for his film CZ12, released in the US as Chinese Zodiac.

Here is the complete list of winners –

Best Feature Film – Ilo Ilo
Best Short Film – Butter Lamp
Best Documentary – Beyond Beauty, Taiwan From Above
Best Director – Tsai Ming Liang, Stray Dogs
Best New Director – Anthony Chen, Ilo Ilo
Best Leading Actor – Lee Kang Sheng, Stray Dogs
Best Leading Actress – Zhang Ziyi, The Grandmaster
Best Supporting Actor – Xuejian Li, Back to 1942
Best Supporting Actress – Yeo Yann Yann, Ilo Ilo
Best New Performer – Shu-yau Kuo, Step Back to Glory
Best Original Screenplay – Anthony Chen, Ilo Ilo
Best Adapted Screenplay – LI Qiang, So Young
Best Cinematography – Philippe Le Sourd, The Grandmaster
Best Visual Effects – Pierre Buffin, The Grandmaster
Best Art Direction – William Chang Suk Ping, Alfred Yau Wai Ming, The Grandmaster
Best Makeup and Costume Design – William Chang Suk Ping, The Grandmaster
Best Action Choreography – Jackie Chan, He Jun, JC Stunt Team, CZ12
Best Original Film Score – LIM Giong, A Touch Of Sin
Best Original Film Song – I Love You, Rock Me to The Moon
Best Film Editing – Matthieu Laclau, Lin Xudong, A Touch Of Sin
Best Sound Effects – Tu Duu-Chih, Kuo Li Chi, Soul
Outstanding Taiwanese Filmmaker of the Year – Yeh Ju-Feng
Audience Choice Award – The Grandmaster
FIPRESCI Prize – Rigor Mortis
Lifetime Achievement Award – Chen Chen