Andrew Lau and Alan Mak's Infernal Affairs leads the race for this year's Golden Horse Awards - Taiwan's equivalent of the Oscars - with 12 nominations, while another Hong Kong cop thriller, Johnnie To and Wai Ka-Fai's PTU, is hot on its heels with 11 nods.

Both films picked up nominations for best picture, best director, best actor and best cinematography. Infernal Affairs scored two best actor nods for Tony Leung Chiu-Wai and Andy Lau while Simon Yam was nominated for PTU.

Turn Left, Turn Right, also directed by To and Wai, received seven nods, including best supporting actress, best art direction and best visual effects. Public Toilet, from two-time Golden Horse best director Fruit Chan, was nominated in four technical categories while Men Suddenly In Black also received four nods, including best director for Pang Ho-Cheung.

Tsai Ming-Liang's Goodbye Dragon Inn scored the most nominations of the Taiwanese films with five nods including best picture and best director. Lee Kang-Sheng's directorial debut The Missing picked up four nominations including best picture. Blind Shaft, directed by China's Li Yang, was also nominated for best picture.

Several Hong Kong films that were expected to do well at the awards - such as Carol Lai's The Floating Landscape and Benny Chan's Heroic Duo - were not entered for consideration. The films were set up as Hong Kong-China co-productions and there were fears that mainland authorities would object if they participated in the Taiwanese awards ceremony.

The 40th edition of the awards will be held in the southern city of Tainan on December 13.

NOMINATIONS FOR THE 40th GOLDEN HORSE AWARDS (MAIN CATEGORIES)

Best Picture
Infernal Affairs (Media Asia)
The Missing (Homegreen Films)
Goodbye Dragon Inn (Homegreen Films)
PTU (Mei Ah Entertainment)
Blind Shaft (Tang Splendour)

Best Director
Andrew Lau and Alan Mak - Infernal Affairs
Pang Ho-Cheung - Men Suddenly In Black
Tsai Ming-Liang - Goodbye Dragon Inn
Johnnie To and Wai Ka-Fai - PTU

Best Actor
Tony Leung Chiu-Wai - Infernal Affairs
Andy Lau - Infernal Affairs
Daniel Wu - Night Corridor
Simon Yam - PTU

Best Actress
Sandra Ng - Golden Chicken
Ariel Lin - Love Me If You Can
Lu Yi-Ching - The Missing
Chen Shiang-Chyi - Goodbye Dragon Inn

Best Supporting Actor
Anthony Wong - Infernal Affairs
To Man-Chat - Men Suddenly In Black
Lam Suet - PTU
Chen Mu-Yi - Black Dog Is Coming

Best Supporting Actress
Kara Hui - Night Corridor
Candy Lo - Truth Or Dare: 6th Floor Rear Flat
Lin Mei-Siu - Black Dog Is Coming
Terri Kwan - Turn Left, Turn Right

Best New Performer
Ariel Lin - Love Me If You Can
Chang Chea - The Missing
Megan Zheng - Homerun
Wang Baoqiang - Blind Shaft

Best Original Screenplay
Alan Mak and Felix Chong - Infernal Affairs
Pang Ho-Cheung - Men Suddenly In Black
Yau Nai-Hoi and Au Kin-Yee - PTU
Lee Ruey-Shyun, Shyu Gong-Ching and Christie Huang - Black Dog Is Coming

Best Cinematography
Andrew Lau and Lai Yiu-Fai - Infernal Affairs
Liu Ban-Rong - The Missing
Cheng Siu-Keung - PTU
Ho Nang-Hung - Burning Dreams

Best Visual Effects
Christopher Doyle - Infernal Affairs
Stephen Ma - PTU
Eddy Wong - The Twins Effect
Stephen Ma - Turn Left, Turn Right