Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon secured a place in Hong Kong film history, earning more nominations than any other film in the 20 year history of the Hong Kong Film Awards.

The Ang Lee film was received a record-breaking 16 nominations in 15 categories, including best film, best director, best screenplay (Wang Hui Ling, James Schamus and Tai Kuo Jung), best actor (Chow Yun Fat) and two best actress nominations (Michelle Yeoh and Zhang Zi Yi). The film only missed a nod for best new performer.

Other nominations included best supporting actor (Chang Chen), supporting actress (Cheng Pei Pei), cinematography (Peter Pau), action choreography (Yuen Wo Ping), film editing (Tim Squyres), art direction (Tim Yip), costume and make-up design (Tim Yip), sound design (Eugene Gearty), original film score (Tan Dun) and original song (Tan Dun).

Wong Kar-wai's In The Mood For Love followed close behind with 12 nominations in one of the first Film Awards in recent years not entirely dominated by the action genre. Nominations for In The Mood For Love included best picture, director, screenplay (Wong Kar-wai), actor (Tony Leung Chiu-wai), actress (Maggie Cheung), supporting actress (Rebecca Pan), new performer (Siu Ping Lam), cinematography (Christopher Doyle and Mark Lee Ping Bing), film editing (William Chang Suk Ping), art direction (William Chang Suk Ping), costume and make-up design (William Chang Suk Ping), original film score (Michael Galasso).

Also nominated for best film are Fruit Chan's Durian Durian, Dante Lam's Jiang Hu-The Triad Zone and Johnnie To's Needing You.

Winners will be announced at the Awards Gala on April 29.