'Bodyguards and Assassins' sweeps Hong Kong film awards

Stars from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan are gathering for this year's Golden Horse Film Awards, the "Oscars" of Chinese-language cinema.Chinese actress Xu Fan, Taiwan's starlet Lin Chi-ling and heartthrob actor Ethan Juan are among the performers due to walk down the red carpet on Saturday, ahead of a gala ceremony in Taoyuan, northern Taiwan.Hong Kong director Teddy Chen of "Bodyguards and Assassins" is also expected to join the film's two leading men, Chinese veteran actor Wang Xueqi and Nicholas Tse of Hong Kong, at the ceremony, organisers said.

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.

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.

The cream of Asian cinema is set to gather in Taipei on Saturday for the Golden Horse Film Awards, considered the Chinese-language "Oscars".Famed Taiwan directors Ang Lee and Hou Hsiao-hsien will join Hong Kong peers Johnnie To and Stanley Kwan to present the best director award at tonight's gala ceremony.However, another top Hong Hong film-maker, John Woo, reportedly will shun the event after his blockbuster war epic "Red Cliff II" was snubbed by the Golden Horse nomination committee.

Hong Kong's independent film festival kicks off Friday with a line-up that reflects the ever-changing landscape of China's booming cinema industry, on track to become the world's second biggest box-office earner in five years.The seventh annual Hong Kong Asian Film Festival features more than 60 independently-made films from across Asia, but this year it will shine a spotlight on the work of Chinese directors, organisers said."Mainland Chinese films are the focus of this year's festival," festival director Gary Mak told AFP.

Hong Kong's independent film festival kicks off Friday with a line-up that reflects the ever-changing landscape of China's booming cinema industry, on track to become the world's second biggest box-office earner in five years.The seventh annual Hong Kong Asian Film Festival features more than 60 independently-made films from across Asia, but this year it will shine a spotlight on the work of Chinese directors, organisers said."Mainland Chinese films are the focus of this year's festival," festival director Gary Mak told AFP.

Hong Kong's independent film festival kicks off Friday with a line-up that reflects the ever-changing landscape of China's booming cinema industry, on track to become the world's second biggest box-office earner in five years.The seventh annual Hong Kong Asian Film Festival features more than 60 independently-made films from across Asia, but this year it will shine a spotlight on the work of Chinese directors, organisers said."Mainland Chinese films are the focus of this year's festival," festival director Gary Mak told AFP.

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."