Hong Kong crime epic Infernal Affairs won the major prizes at this year's Golden Horse Awards in Taiwan, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor and the People's Choice Award.

Local favourite, Tsai Ming-liang's Goodbye, Dragon Inn, took consolation in Best Taiwanese Film. It's cinematographer, Liao Pen-jung, named the Taiwan Film Professional of the Year.

The Awards, celebrating its 40th edition, were held in the southern city of Tainan on 13 December. The city sponsored the Awards and its sister event, the Golden Horse Film Festival, to the tune of $440,000. While the Golden Horse is considered the most prestigious awards ceremony for Chinese-language cinema, just 29 films were submitted for consideration this year, the lowest number in over a decade.

The ceremony included a tribute to charismatic actor, director and stuntman Blackie Ko Shou-liang who died in Shanghai on December 9 from a suspected asthma attack. Born in Liaoning, China, in 1953, he emigrated to Taiwan with his family as a young child. He was best known for his work in Hong Kong cinema, including action choreography for Jackie Chan.

Infernal Affairs III opened simultaneously in Hong Kong, Taiwan and China this weekend. Supported by a major promotional campaign and publicity from the Awards, the sequel took an impressive US$267,000 over three days in Taipei. The series' first two episodes opened to just $37,000 and $85,000 respectively in the capital. Award nominees Goodbye, Dragon Inn and The Missing also opened nationwide this weekend on a limited number of screens.

Awards in Full

Best Picture: Infernal Affairs
Best Director: Andrew Lau, Alan Mak (Infernal Affairs)
Best Actor: Tony Leung Chiu-wai (Infernal Affairs)
Best Actress: Sandra Ng (Golden Chicken)
Best Supporting Actor: Anthony Wong (Infernal Affairs)
Best Supporting Actress: Lin Mei-hsiu (Black Dog Is Coming)
Best New Actor: Wang Baoqiang (Blind Shaft) & Megan Zheng (Homerun)
Best Original Screenplay: Yau Nai-hoi & Au Kin-yee (Infernal Affairs)
Best Adapted Screenplay: Li Yang (Blind Shaft)
Best Cinematography: Liao Pen-jung (The Missing)
Best Visual Effects: Eddy Wong (The Twins Effect)
Best Art Direction: Yee Chung-man, Pater Wong (Golden Chicken)
Best Make-up & Costume Design: Yee Chung-man, Dora Ng (Golden Chicken)
Best Action Choreography: Donnie Yen (The Twins Effect)
Best Original Score: Marco Wan (Colour Of The Truth)
Best Original Song: Lam Yat-fung (Turn Left, Turn Right)
Best Editing: Chen Sheng-chang (Goodbye, Dragon Inn)
Best Sound Effects: Kinson Tsang (Infernal Affairs)
Best Documentary: Viva Tonal: The Dance Age (dir. Chien Wei-szu, Kuo Chen-ti)
Best Short Film: Badu's Homework (dir. Cheng Wen-tang)
Lifetime Achievement Award: Yuan Tsung-mei
Best Taiwanese Film: Goodbye, Dragon Inn (dir. Tsai Ming-liang)
Taiwanese Film Professional of the Year: Liao Pen-jung
People's Choice Award - Film of the Year: Infernal Affairs (dir. Andrew Lau, Alan Mak)