'Protege,' 'The Warlords' top nominees for HK Film Awards

[ballzer]

'Protege,' 'The Warlords' top contenders at Hong Kong Film Awards
The Associated Press: February 2, 2008

HONG KONG: "Protege," the story of a drug dealer's downfall, and the historical epic "The Warlords" were among the leading contenders in the nominations list announced Saturday by the Hong Kong Film Awards, one of Chinese film's top honors.

Derek Yee's "Protege" was nominated in 15 out of 17 possible categories and Peter Chan's "The Warlords," about the friendship between three mercenaries in 19th century China, received 13 nominations.

Both movies are up for both best movie and best director honors.

Also up for best movie are Ann Hui's "Postmodern Life of My Aunt," Johnnie To and Wai Ka-fai's "Mad Detective" and Yau Nai-hoi's police thriller "Eye in the Sky."

Both Jet Li and Andy Lau were nominated for best actor in "The Warlords," competing against Aaron Kwok ("The Detective"), a two-time best actor winner at Taiwan's Golden Horse Awards.

China's Zhang Jingchu, who appeared in "Rush Hour 3," is competing for top acting honors for her performance in "Protege," against compatriot Siqin Gaowa, the star of "Postmodern Life of My Aunt," and Taiwan's Rene Liu, who was nominated for "Kidnap."

A glaring absence is Oscar-winning Taiwanese director Ang Lee's spy thriller "Lust, Caution," one of the most discussed Chinese-language movies last year.

It didn't qualify for any of the major categories at the Hong Kong event because not enough locals worked on the film, even though the movie stars Hong Kong's Tony Leung Chiu-wai.

"Lust, Caution" was nominated for best Asian movie instead, a category for non-Hong Kong movies.

The nominations reflect a Chinese movie industry whose talent is gravitating toward fewer and larger productions. Many of the most prominent nominees worked on each other's films.

Lau starred in both "The Warlords" and "Protege." Chan directed "The Warlords" but also served as one of the producers for "Protege." To co-directed "Mad Detective" but also co-produced "Eye in the Sky.

BEST PICTURE
The Warlords
Protege
The Postmodern Life of My Aunt
Eye in the Sky
Mad Detective

BEST DIRECTOR
Peter Chan - The Warlords
Derek Yee - Protege
Ann Hui - The Postmodern Life of My Aunt
Johnnie To, Wai Ka-Fai - Mad Detective
Yau Nai-Hoi - Eye in the Sky

BEST ACTOR
Aaron Kwok - The Detective
Jet Li - The Warlords
Andy Lau - The Warlords
Lau Ching-Wan - Mad Detective
Simon Yam - Eye in the Sky

BEST ACTRESS
Teresa Mo - Mr. Cinema
Zhang Jingchu - Protege
Siqin Gaowa - Postmodern Life of My Aunt
Rene Liu - Kidnap
Charlene Choi - Simply Actors
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