The 39th Hong Kong Film Awards (2020)

If like me you love a good HK movie, then you may be aware that the film award season is upon us. America’s Golden Globes and their Oscars have been and gone, marked only by the facts that Ricky Gervais wins all the awards just for his mass celebrity roast, and Parasite took home the best film, despite being FOREIGN (how that happened in Trump’s America is anyone’s guess, but then, as it’s about class wars and the haves and have-nots, maybe it’s not that much of a mystery right now).

Now it’s Asia’s turn.

Taiwan’s Golden Horse Awards happen ever November, which for me kicks off the award season. It gives a good indication of the HK front runners - and if there are any. There are the Golden Rooster Awards every year in China, but honestly it’s treated like it’s an inside secret known only to the mainland - and to be honest it’s a bit like the Oscars except without the best foreign anythings.Then there’s the Asian Film Awards, which is a much smaller affair whose main purpose is to kick off the Hong Kong International Film Festival every year. South Korea has the Blue Dragon Awards (at last, something not made of gold!). India has literally at least 20 different film awards every year, which is not surprising when you consider that they are still the world’s biggest film producer in terms of numbers. In 2016 they made 1,903 films - the US managed 798 while the UK made 200, just to put this in perspective. Also, just to set the records straight - the US is the third most popular film industry in terms of numbers of cinema tickets sold, after China, and then India. However, interestingly enough, Hollywood is the most profitable film industry in terms of revenue. Hmm. Not saying their tickets are too expensive, but their tickets are too expensive.

Anyway, bearing in mind that I’m biased toward Hong Kong movies, I wait for the HK film awards every year. It’s a chance to get a definitive list of new films that I can peruse, and if they win an award, maybe I’ll watch them before others on the list - or not. If I don’t like the sound of the blurb I’ll probably give it a miss. Tragic love stories almost always get binned from the outset.

Where are we this year? Well, let’s go with the films that garnered the most nominations first, shall we?

The 39th Hong Kong Film Awards (2020)

Nominations

Better Days (少年的你) - 12 nominations

Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best New Performer, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Art Direction, Best Costume & Makeup Design, Best Original Film Score, Best Original Film Song

Fagara (花椒之味) - 11 nominations

Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction, Best Costume & Makeup Design, Best Original Film Score, Best Original Film Song, Best Sound Design

i’m livin’ it (麥路人) - 10 nominations

Best Film, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor x2, Best Supporting Actress, Best Art Direction, Best Costume & Makeup Design, Best Original Film Score, Best Original Film Song, Best New Director

Suk Suk (叔‧叔) - 9 nominations

Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best New Performer, Best Film Editing, Best Costume & Makeup Design

Ip Man 4 The Finale (葉問4完結篇) - 9 nominations

Best Director, Best New Performer, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Art Direction, Best Costume & Makeup Design, Best Action Choreography, Best Original Film Score, Best Sound Design

My Prince Edward (金都) - 8 nominations

Best Screenplay, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Film Editing, Best Original Film Score, Best Original Film Song, Best New Director

Beyond the Dream (幻愛) - 6 nominations

Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actress, Best New Performer, Best Cinematography, Best Sound Design

A Witness Out of the Blue (犯罪現場) - 6 nominations

Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Art Direction, Best Action Choreography

The White Storm 2 Drug Lords (掃毒2天地對決) - 4 nominations

Best Action Choreography, Best Original Film Song, Best Sound Design, Best Visual Effects

The New King of Comedy (新喜劇之王) - 3 nominations

Best Film, Best Supporting Actor, Best New Performer

Line Walker 2 (使徒行者2諜影行動) - 3 nominations

Best Action Choreography, Best Visual Effects, Best New Director

For the full story, head over to the official page. The ceremony is due to play out on 19th April, but here's the thing; due to political unrest and now this pernicious coronavirus, the actual date is in doubt.

It may be held live as usual, but Vegas money says it will either be delayed until May or be held behind the hygienic safety of a pre-recorded presentation ceremony without a live audience.

Here’s hoping this whole coronavirus thing is over soon - I believe HK needs a little frivalous distraction right now, and this would go down well.

For now though, I’m happy that Ip Man 4: The Finale has two fist fulls of nominations, and Aaron Kwok is once again in with a shout.

Fingers crossed all round, then.