After three years of being affected by the epidemic, the 41st Hong Kong Film Awards in 2023 has finally returned to full normal, whether it is the time, venue, or the shining stars of the attendees, it makes people feel the full vitality of the return of film.
Before the award ceremony, Er Dongsheng, chairman of the Hong Kong Film Awards Association, said in a speech at the press conference that as the epidemic has subsided and Hong Kong society has gradually returned to normal, this year it can regain the brilliance of the Cash Image Awards through a series of grand activities. It is worth mentioning that in order to let everyone feel the "reunion" with the film again, the position of the red carpet session of this year's Academy Awards has been adjusted to allow more audiences to watch and participate closely.
The 41st Academy Awards is destined to go down in history, with various famous scenes staged one after another. From the final result, this year's awards are full of "surprises", the biggest success comes from Zheng Xiuwen, who finally won the coveted Academy Trophy after being nominated for Best Actress for the seventh time, and she and Lifetime Achievement Award winner Hu Feng twice sang "I Wait Until the Flowers Thank You" on the spot; And the documentary "To Nineteen-Year-Old Me", which has been controversial since the nomination stage, and was even accused of "withdrawing" from the selection, won best picture in a big hit. The 16 nominations in the nomination stage, the film "Corridor of Justice", which led the "crushing" period, did not receive as expected in the end, and only won the best new director and best editing; "Detective Wars" directed by Wei Jiahui won three awards for Best Screenplay, Best Director and Best Actor, and received a lot of results.
Zheng Xiuwen and Hu Feng "waited for the flowers and thanked them"
The first award of this year's awards ceremony is the Best Newcomer Actor Award presented by the new Oscar actress Michelle Yeoh to the 10-year-old Pakistani actor Lin Nuo.
Michelle Yeoh received applause as soon as she appeared. Before the award, Michelle Yeoh mentioned that she had nominated for the same award in 1986 for "Royal Senior Sister", so it was "very appropriate" to present the award, and she encouraged all filmmakers to "if we struggle, work hard, persevere and never give up, believe in our dreams, dreams can be realized!" ”
Linno
Michelle Yeoh and young actor Lin Nuo set the overall tone for the Hong Kong Film Awards at the beginning of the ceremony, passing on the torch.
Since the announcement of the nomination list, the biggest suspense of the 41st Academy Awards is undoubtedly whether Zheng Xiuwen can dream of Best Actress. Before "Flowing Flowers and Falling Water", Zheng Xiuwen has won nine Best Actress nominations with "Lonely Man and Widow", "Zhong Wuyan", "Slim Men and Women", "Live-in Honey Friends", "Long Hate Song", "High-altitude Love II", "Blind Detective", "Taste of Peppercorns" and "Murder in San Jose", won nine Best Actress nominations, "accompanied" for 22 years, and always passed by the throne of the queen, which made many fans distressed.
Andy Lau presented the award to Zheng Xiuwen. Visual China map
Before the Best Actress was awarded, when "Flowing Water and Flowers" won the best original music for the film, Zheng Xiuwen, who received the award on stage, was so excited that her eyes were in tears. And Andy Lau, as the award presenter, gave his old partner Zheng Xiuwen a special "confession": "Zheng Xiuwen, there is nothing to tell you, I want to tell you, I love you." Finally, when Zheng Xiuwen received the coveted Best Actress trophy award from her most "matching" screen CP Huazi, the two hugged each other tightly.
"Flowing Water and Falling Flowers" poster
"Flowing Water and Falling Flowers" is a film about emotion and time, and Zheng Xiuwen's deep and shallow relationship with the Academy Awards for more than 20 years is as impressive as in poetry. The most embarrassing thing is that 21 years ago, in the 21st Hong Kong Film Awards, Cheng Xiuwen and Zhang Aijia were nominated for Best Actress at the same time, although Cheng Xiuwen was nominated for three films at the same time, but still regrettably lost.
With the role of foster mother in "Flowing Water and Flowers", Cheng Xiuwen has won the two major sentinel awards of the Hong Kong Film Awards, the Film Critics Society Award and the Directors Guild Awards. She worked hard for the film, performed without pay, and sang the theme song. Zheng Xiuwen once shared that he liked this film is not sensational, but it oozes touching.
Zheng Xiuwen wept with excitement Visual China picture
On the podium, Cheng Xiuwen's excitement was beyond words. "It's an honor to compete with four such great actresses this year. For me, this award is out of reach, and only one step away. How did my acting improve and transform? Some people think that I am a comedian and turn into a drama, but there are actually many difficulties. For so many years, I have not thought about how to win awards, but how to improve and transform in acting. From a comedian to a formal drama, there are many difficulties along the way and many are not recognized, thank you for meeting this script, thank you for the director of "Flowing Water", thank you for believing that I can play this role. At the same time, Zheng Xiuwen also thanked his family emotionally, "Thank you father in heaven, my father is very fond of art, he once said, every performance I perform seems to fulfill his lifelong dream, I hope that today's award can spell out a more beautiful puzzle in your art puzzle." For this dream realization moment, Zheng Xiuwen does not shy away from her past running experience, she said: "The road to pursuing dreams is difficult, but I hope you continue, remember this picture, dreams are reserved for people who never give up." I'm really happy, I finally don't have to run on this track this time, I was the one who crossed the line today! ”
In the end, like Hu Feng, who had won the lifetime achievement award before, she choked up and sang to the trophy: "Do you know, do you know, I wait for the flowers and thank you." "At this year's Academy Awards, this song sounded twice, setting off the winners' dreams of their own dreams.
Xue Jiayan and Hu Feng (right) Visual China picture
Hu Feng, a 91-year-old Hong Kong Film Awards Lifetime Achievement Award winner, was in good spirits, and half an hour ago, he took the trophy, humorously made a gesture of wiping his "saliva", and sang "I Wait Until the Flowers Thank You" with Chinese affectionately, dancing and swaying, and the audience laughed.
Since his debut in 1953, Hu Feng has been acting for 70 years, has participated in more than 100 movies, is an evergreen in the Hong Kong art scene, and has participated in hundreds of film and television works such as "Man Heart", "Zombie Family" and "Wonderful Hand Benevolence". "At the age of twenty-one, I started to enter the film industry, and now I have been doing it for 70 years. It's a long time, but looking back it looks like it was months ago. Hu Feng recalled his experience of interviewing actors when he was young and his choice when he was at the crossroads of his career in middle age, and he told everyone with a cheerful expression, "At that time, all the heroines in Cantonese films and everyone filmed with me, which is something I am proud of." Don't forget to joke that he has sixteen godsons and goddaughters in the circle, and encourage the elites of the film industry here, hoping that everyone "use your efforts to continue to rush out of Asia, to the world, and shine in the future!" ”
Liu Qingyun Visual China Photo
"Detective Wars" poster
In contrast, Liu Qingyun won the best actor with "Detective Wars", which is too bland. This is already the third "actor" trophy for the Hong Kong powerful actor, who has previously won twice with "I Want to Be Famous" and "Eavesdropping 3".
Wang Jingzhi's Visual China picture
Wang Jingzhi scored twice on the road to Best Supporting Actress after "Golden Rooster SSS", and the third brother's girlfriend who cooks delicious and is kind in "Still Think You're the Best" is impressive. In her acceptance speech, Wang said, "Sometimes I wonder if I am a singer or an actor or a creative writer? It turns out that I have many dreams, and I have to welcome me to play myself on different platforms in order to have the opportunity to get close to my dreams come true. Thank you to everyone for accepting me as an actress. ”
Xu Guanwen Visual China Photo
And Xu Guanwen won the best supporting actor with "When the Wind Rises Again" is also well deserved. Looking back at the old days in the film, Hong Kong heroes are crowded, and it is difficult not to be impressive in the speech of the commissioner of the Independent Commission Against Corruption Li Zichao. His image in "When the Wind Rises" symbolizes those who genuinely love Hong Kong, giving a statement in the chaos of each era, and has the powerful energy to characterize the chaotic times. It is worth mentioning that Hui Guanwen won the best actor at the first Hong Kong Film Awards in 1982 with "Modern Bodyguard", and won the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Academy Awards last year, thus achieving the "Grand Slam" of the Hong Kong Film Awards.
"The Corridor of Justice" failed unexpectedly, and "To Nineteen-Year-Old Me" won the award
In terms of works, the most anticipated work at this year's Academy Awards is "The Corridor of Justice". Since the announcement of the nominations, the film "The Corridor of Justice" produced by Weng Ziguang and directed by newcomer director Ho Juetian, is the "most beautiful boy" at this year's Hong Kong Film Awards, and the crushing lead of 16 nominations has fully demonstrated the charm of this film. Before the award, many people were full of expectations, how many cities can this film go down?
At the beginning of the award ceremony, the best new director went to director He Juetian, and the new young director also showed the tension and jerkyness of a "newcomer". In the acceptance speech, he nervously read out a long list of thanks, and focused on thanking the producer Weng Ziguang for "breaking the cauldron" for him: "I must thank Weng Ziguang, he is very brave as a producer and investor of this film." Hong Kong movies will not die, we will work hard. ”
"The Corridor of Justice" poster
The birth of "The Corridor of Justice" is quite the style of "Stepping on Blood to Find Mei". In the early stage of "The Corridor of Justice", Weng Ziguang "made connections" for the movie, exhausted his connections, and gambled on his quality of life. Facts have proved that Weng Ziguang has contributed a masterpiece to Hong Kong films no less than his own "Stepping on Blood to Find Mei". And Weng Ziguang's new film "When the Wind Rises Again" also won three awards: Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design and Best Supporting Actor.
But later, with important creative awards such as Best Screenplay and Best Director falling on "Detective Wars", "The Corridor of Justice" finally missed the Best Picture Award.
"Tomorrow's War" poster
"Tomorrow's War" won the best visual effects, best action design, best sound effects and other technical awards, and all the award presenters will mention Koo Tianle's dedication and high hopes for this film when mentioning this movie. Judging from the harvest of the award, Gu Chai's good intentions to use this film to improve the production level of the Hong Kong film industry have undoubtedly been fulfilled on the stage of the Academy Awards.
The biggest surprise of this year's Academy Awards should be that Zhang Wanting's documentary "To Nineteen-Year-Old Me" won the most important award in the constant controversy.
"To Nineteen-Year-Old Me"
Directed by Zhang Wanting and narrated by Huang Hui, "To the Nineteen-Year-Old Me" is one of the rare documentary films in the history of the Academy Awards to be shortlisted for Best Picture by documenting the reconstruction of the "Anglo-Chinese Girls' School" and telling the story of these girls going through the changes of the times and personal stories in the process of growing up.
This is a documentary film that took ten years to shoot, accumulated 300,000 hours of footage, and edited 136 minutes over three years. The film has been recognized by many film festivals and exhibitions before, but since February this year, the film has caused a public criticism after its public release.
The female students recorded in the film were interviewed publicly: not only accused the school and the producer of ignoring their unwillingness to release the public, but also used some secretly filmed materials and content in the film. As a result, the ethics of documentaries were widely discussed around the world, and under the pressure of public opinion, director Zhang Wanting had to publicly announce that "To Nineteen-Year-Old Me" would be suspended from February 6 four days after the film's release.
On February 9, 2023, the documentary was shortlisted for Best Film, Best Director and Best Editing at the 41st Hong Kong Film Awards. The Anglo-Chinese Girls' School immediately issued a statement saying that after careful consideration, it decided to withdraw from the selection of "Best Film". A month later, the Hong Kong Film Awards Association said that the participation mechanism of the Academy Awards did not adopt a film registration system, nor did it have an exit mechanism, and officially rejected the withdrawal request of "To Nineteen-Year-Old Me".
Judging from the results of this year's awards, the Academy Awards judges are even more resolute in their support for this film. On the day of the award, director Zhang Wanting did not attend the scene to accept the award, and co-director Guo Weilun still thanked the Hong Kong Anglo-Chinese Girls' School when accepting the award, "giving us the trust to shoot this documentary spanning ten years... I would like to say that Hong Kong documentary filmmakers, please continue to work hard to make documentaries, do not be afraid, because the times need documentaries. Remember not to turn off the computer, keep shooting, do not be afraid. It is only counted if it is filmed, it is counted if it is cut, and it is counted if it is released once. ”
Zhang Wanting, who could not come to the scene, entrusted Guo Weilun to bring her letter of thanks: "In the past period, from the black hole where Luo Qirui died to the release of "Nineteen Years Old", it instantly made me hide in a small garden where beautiful plants can be planted. Because of a storm, I fell headlong into the dark forest, which made me realize the impermanence of life. But Ryuichi Sakamoto's words on his deathbed inspired me a lot: 'Art is emerging, life is dewy'. Thank you to those who still gave me support and encouragement during this time, and thank you to my peers for affirming this film. The dawn gradually appeared in the darkness, which made me know that although life is at a low point, it still means that there is only an upward possibility ahead. The principal gave us this task, we have no regrets in this life, thank all the students who participated in the shooting, thank you for facing yourself and the courage to face the audience. Thanks to the team that has shared happiness and hardships with us in the past ten years, how many decades in life can give everyone a dream to realize and face the mountains and valleys together. The most precious thing is that this ten years of training has made us an invincible friend, thank you! ”
"The End of the Sea is a Grassland" directed by Er Dongsheng won the Best Asian Chinese Film Award
"The End of the Sea is a Grassland" is the main creator Visual China picture
Due to the closure of Hong Kong cinemas for more than 3 months due to the epidemic in the first quarter of 2022, many Hong Kong films could not be scheduled for release last year, so a total of 33 films were shortlisted for this year's Academy Awards, although the number is small, but many works are well received. Chairman of the Academy Awards, Er Dongsheng, said that the Awards will continue to unite the industry to create high-level films, once again bursting out the characteristics and brilliance of Hong Kong films.
【Winners】
Best Picture
"To Nineteen-Year-Old Me"
Best Director
Wei Jiahui "Detective Wars"
Best Screenplay
Wei Jiahui, Chen Weibin, Mak Tianshu "Detective Wars"
Best Actor
Liu Qingyun "Detective Wars"
Best Actress
Zheng Xiuwen "Flowing Water and Falling Flowers"
Best Supporting Actor
Xu Guanwen "When the Wind Rises Again"
Best Supporting Actress
Wang Jingzhi "Still Think You Are the Best"
Best New Actor
Lin Nuo "Daylight Youth"
Best Photography
Zheng Zhaoqiang "Detective Wars"
Best splicing
Li Qianming, Zhang Zhao, Shi Yixing, "The Corridor of Justice"
Best Art Direction
Lei Chuxiong and Huang Minxuan "When the Wind Rises Again"
Best Costume Styling Design
Wu Lilu, Guo Shumin, "When the Wind Rises Again"
Optimal motion design
Huang Weiliang's "Tomorrow's War"
Best Original Film Music
Huang Yanren "Narrow Road Dust"
Best Original Film Song
"I Live Like This for a Day" (theme song of "Flowing Water and Flowers", sung by Zheng Xiuwen)
Best acoustics
Nopawat Likitwong, You Guoliang, Sarunyu Nurnsai, Dhanarat Dhitirojana, Tomorrow's War
Best visuals
Zou Zhisheng, Leung Weijie, Guo Tai, Luo Huimei "Tomorrow's War"
Best New Director
He Juetian's "The Corridor of Justice"
Best Asian Chinese Film
"The end of the sea is the steppe"
Lifetime Achievement Award
Hu Feng
Professionalism Award
Film critics Rocca and Shi Qi