Running On Karma, directed by Johnnie To and Wai Ka-fai, scooped three prizes including best film at the 23rd Hong Kong Film Awards on Sunday night, while To was awarded best director for cop drama PTU.

An action adventure film that ruminates on reincarnation and destiny, Running On Karma also picked up best screenplay and the best actor prize for Andy Lau's performance as a bodybuilder and former monk.

During a night in which the honours were fairly evenly spread, Cecilia Cheung took best actress for her portrayal of a bereaved woman in Derek Yee's Lost In Time; Tony Leung Ka-fai picked up best supporting actor for Men Suddenly In Black and Josie Ho was awarded best supporting actress for Naked Ambition.

Blockbuster action comedy The Twins Effect bagged six awards - the biggest haul of the night - all in the technical categories. Donnie Yen was awarded best action choreography for his work on the film which stars pop duo Twins as high-kicking vampire hunters. The film also picked up awards for editing, art direction, costume & make-up, sound design and visual effects.

Arthur Wong won best cinematography for his work on Carol Lai's The Floating Landscape which screened in competition at Venice last year. Andy On won best new performer for action romance Star Runner.

The best new director prize went to Pang Ho Cheung for Men Suddenly In Black while best Asian film went to Japan's The Twilight Samurai.

The ceremony was much more jovial than last year's which took place during the SARS outbreak and only a few days after the death of actor Leslie Cheung. On that occasion, the audience dressed in black and many were wearing face masks.

This year's awards kicked off with an emotional tribute to Cheung, and three other film industry figures who died last year - actress Anita Mui, lyric writer Richard Lam and stunt coordinator Blackie Ko - but continued in high spirits.

FULL LIST OF WINNERS
Best Film
Running On Karma
(Exec prods: Johnnie To & Wai Ka-fai)
Best Director
Johnnie To - PTU
Best Screenplay
Wai Ka-fai, Yau Nai-hoi, Au Kin-yee & Yip Tin-shing - Running On Karma
Best Actor
Andy Lau - Running On Karma
Best Actress
Cecilia Cheung - Lost In Time
Best Supporting Actor
Tony Leung Ka-fai - Men Suddenly In Black
Best Supporting Actress
Josie Ho - Naked Ambition
Best New Performer
Andy On - Star Runner
Best Cinematography
Arthur Wong - The Floating Landscape
Best Film Editing
Chan Ki-hop - The Twins Effect
Best Art Direction
Bill Lui - The Twins Effect
Best Costume & Make-up Design
Yee Chung-man - The Twins Effect
Best Action Choreography
Donnie Yen - The Twins Effect
Best Original Film Score
Peter Kam - Lost In Time
Best Original Film Song
Chang Kong - Infernal Affairs II
Composer: Wong Ka-keung
Lyrics: Wong Ka-keung & Yip Sai-wing
Sung by: Beyond
Best Sound Design
Kinson Tsang - The Twins Effect
Best Visual Effects
Eddy Wong, Yee Kwok Leung - The Twins Effect
Best Asian Film
The Twilight Samurai (Japan)
Best New Director
Pang Ho Cheung - Men Suddenly In Black