Johnnie To and Wai Ka-fai's action comedy Running On Karma leads the race for this year's Hong Kong Film Awards with 13 nominations, although the second instalment in Andrew Lau and Alan Mak's Infernal Affairs trilogy is close behind with 12 nods.

Running On Karma, which stars Andy Lau as a bodybuilder monk, picked up nominations for best film, best director, best screenplay, best actor for Lau and best actress for Cecilia Cheung, among other nods.

Crime thriller Infernal Affairs II was also nominated for best film, best director, best screenplay, best actor (Francis Ng) and best actress (Carina Lau). The film also picked up two nods for supporting actors Chapman To and Liu Kai Chi and scored in several technical categories.

Meanwhile, To scooped a second best director nod for police drama PTU which came in third with 10 nominations also including best film, best screenplay and best actor for Simon Yam.

Derek Yee's melodrama Lost In Time has nine nominations including best film, best director, best screenplay, best actor for Lau Ching Wan and a second best actress nod for Cecilia Cheung.

Infernal Affairs III picked up seven nominations including best film, best screenplay and several technical nods. The Twins Effect II also scored seven nods including best supporting actress for Josie Ho and best action choreography.

Benny Chan's action drama Heroic Duo rounds out the best director category and was also nominated for best cinematography and best action choreography.

Jacky Cheung and Sandra Ng were nominated for best actor and actress for comedy Golden Chicken II which picked up four nods in total. Karena Lam was also nominated for best actress for her performance in The Floating Landscape which also received four nods.

The awards ceremony will be held in Hong Kong on April 4, just before the start of the 28th Hong Kong International Film Festival (April 6-21).