Cynematik • Cyndi Greening

Stephen Chow’s KUNG FU HUSTLE (which screened at Sundance this year) was named best film at the 24th Hong Kong Film Awards ceremony Sunday, but art-house director Wong Kar-wai’s romance 2046 swept the top acting honors. While many critics said Wong Kar-wai would finish 2046 in that same year, he surprised everyone by turning in a finely-crafted story that was satisfying to the critics and audiences alike.

Former Cannes winner Tony Leung and CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON star Zhang Ziyi won the lead acting awards for their roles in Wong’s IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE the story of the affair between a married woman and man played by Leung. Leung reprises his role in 2046 — the number of the room where Leung’s character and his former lover met. Zhang plays Leung’s new lover. (Leung and Zhang also won top acting honors at the Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards announced earlier.)

Director Ang Lee presented a professional spirit award to Jackie Chan during the course of the evening. Chan said he appreciated the prize because it honored his professionalism and conduct, not just his artistic achievements. The ceremony marked 100 years of Chinese film making. Organizers showed clips from different eras of Chinese film in between awards.

You can see the full winners list on the fansite I Love Hong Kong Film! I would have been happy if they had honored Zhang Yimou and Li Gong as well! Maybe next year!