'Bodyguards and Assassins' sweeps Hong Kong film awards

Veteran Hong Kong director Tsui Hark's murder mystery "Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame" was the biggest winner at the 30th Hong Kong Film Awards on Sunday.The Tang-dynasty drama featuring famous Chinese detective Di Renjie scooped six awards, including best director, best actress, best art direction, best sound design, best visual effects and best costume and make-up design.

Gritty drama "Precious" swept the top honors at the Spirit Awards, the movie industry's annual salute to the best of independent film.The Oscar-nominated film about an obese, illiterate, abused teenager in Harlem won four top honors, including best picture, best director, best actress and best supporting actor.Lee Daniels -- who is also nominated for best director at Sunday's 82nd Academy Awards -- was overcome by emotion after collecting his award.

On Tuesday, Twitter introduced a website that will track what people are tweeting about this year's Oscar nominees

Spanish director Daniel Monzon's "Celda 211" (Cell 211), a thriller set in a prison during a mutiny, dominated Spanish cinema's Goya awards in Madrid.The movie, a big favourite with 16 nominations, won eight Goyas including those for best film, best director for Monzon, best actor for Luis Tozar, best supporting actress for Marta Etura, best male newcomer for Argentina's Alberto Amman, and best adaptation.Another much-hyped film, Alejandro Amenabar's "Agora", swept seven mostly technical prizes after being in the running for best film and best director categories.

Hong Kong filmmaker John Woo will head the jury at next month's Shanghai International Film Festival, one of the largest in Asia, organisers said Wednesday.The nine-day festival, which runs from June 12 to June 20, will feature both local and international films. Details on those selected to compete for the Golden Goblet were not yet available.Woo, 54, was born in southern China and raised in Hong Kong, where he made his name as a director before moving to work in Hollywood and directing a number of action hits including "Mission: Impossible II" and "Face/Off."

A Hong Kong movie billed as the world's first 3D porn film has broken the city's first-day box office record previously set by Hollywood blockbuster Avatar."3-D Sex and Zen: Extreme Ecstasy" notched up HK$2.8 million ($360,000) on its first day last week, outpacing director James Cameron's science fiction epic which drew HK$2.6 million, the porn movie's publicist told AFP on Thursday.The film has grossed more than HK$15 million since its release, she added.

A Hong Kong movie billed as the world's first 3D porn film has broken the city's first-day box office record previously set by Hollywood blockbuster Avatar."3-D Sex and Zen: Extreme Ecstasy" took in HK$2.8 million ($360,000) on its first day last week, outpacing director James Cameron's science fiction epic which drew HK$2.6 million, the porn movie's publicist told AFP Thursday.The film has taken more than HK$15 million since its release, she added.

A Hong Kong movie billed as the world's first 3D porn film has broken the city's first-day box office record previously set by Hollywood blockbuster Avatar."3-D Sex and Zen: Extreme Ecstasy" took in HK$2.8 million ($360,000) on its first day last week, outpacing director James Cameron's science fiction epic which drew HK$2.6 million, the porn movie's publicist told AFP Thursday.The film has taken more than HK$15 million since its release, she added.