Hong Kong Film Critic Society names no Best Actress

The 2012 Hong Kong Film Critic Society award yesterday announced its winners. Chapman To Man Jat with DIVA defeated Tony Leung Ka Fai to win Best Actor, but in a rare occasion no one won Best Actress. The reason was in 2012 Hong Kong film provided limited space to develop for actresses. The judges after ferociously debates made this difficult decision. The award ceremony will take place in early March. 

Aside from To Man Jat winning Best Actor, other awards included Best Picture MOTORWAY (CHEH SAU), Best Director went to MOTORWAY's Soi Cheang Pou-Soi and THE VIRAL FACTOR (YIK JIN)'s Dante Lam Chiu Yin, Best Screenplay was to ROMANCING IN THIN AIR's Wai Ka Fai, Yau Nai Hoi, Chan Wai Bun and Au Man Kit. 

The event said that Best Actor was this year's most hotly debated category. To Man Jat was nominated with DIVA and LOVE LIFTING (GO GUI OI) against COLD WAR (HONG JIN)'s Leung Ka Fai; To Man Jat won with DIVA because as the "villain" manager he performed with body and intonation rhythm and gave the devil character more human layers to make viewers both love and hate him. To Man Jat happily said, "DIVA is my first villain role, and as the producer I thank investor (Albert) Yeung Sau Sing for his trust and support. The cast and crew are my source of pride, I also thank the cinematographer for shooting me without my actual ugliness." Joey Yung Cho Yi said that To Man Jat in her heart was not only the Best Actor but also the Best Producer, through his performance he drove other actors' emotions and performance. 

The Best Actress went to no one, which the event explained because members felt 2012 Hong Kong films gave actresses limited space to perform, after fierce debates and voting they decided on this result. Soi Cheang Pou-Soi and Lam Chiu Yin both won Best Director, during the voting process MOTORWAY and THE VIRAL FACTOR competed ferociously and twice had the same vote counts. Finally both won. Cheang Pou-Soi thanked Johnnie To Kei Fung for giving him the opportunity and also his late partner Szeto Kam Yuen. Lam Chiu Yin said that he was nervous. "The award brought recognition to me and the team."