Courtroom drama The Sparring Partner has received 16 nominations for the 41st Hong Kong Film Awards, which saw the last-minute withdrawal of Mabel Cheung’s documentary To My Nineteen-Year-Old Self.
The Sparring Partner, which marks the feature directorial debut of Ho Cheuk Tin, leads the pack with nominations in all but three categories. Based on the true story of a gruesome double murder case, its nods include best film, best director and five nominations for performers including lead actors Mak Pui Tung and Yeung Wai Lun. The film has become Hong Kong’s highest grossing Chinese-language film with a restrictive category III rating to date.
However, after the nominations were unveiled at a press conference in Hong Kong earlier today, Ying Wa Girls School issued a statement to withdraw the coming-of-age documentary To My Nineteen-Year-Old Self, which was nominated for best film, director and editing. But co-director William Kwok will continue to compete in the best director and best editing categories.
The documentary, which follows six students over more than 10 years, was pulled from cinemas on Monday (February 6) after issues of consent were raised by some of those in the film.
One of the featured students claimed she did not provide consent for public screenings as she believed it was an internal project at the elite local school. Two further subjects have since publicly questioned the ethics of the production, while cyclist and Olympic medalist Lee Wai Sze has called for a boycott of the film, which she claims featured a clip of her without consent.
The documentary premiered at Hong Kong International Film Festival last August; was named best film by the Hong Kong Film Critics Society in January; and took a strong $850,000 (HK$6.73m) from preview screenings ahead of its theatrical release on February 2, with robust box office takings expected on the back of good word of mouth.
Further nominees
The nominations also saw Ng Yuen Fai’s sci-fi blockbuster Warriors Of Future, Wai Ka Fai’s police thriller Detective Vs Sleuths and Sunny Chan’s hit comedy Table For Six each score 11 nods apiece while Lam Sum’s drama The Narrow Road secured 10.
Vying for best film are The Sparring Partner, Warriors Of Future, Detective Vs Sleuths and The Narrow Road. Warriors Of Future became Hong Kong’s biggest local and Asian box office hit of all time last October, only overtaken today by courtroom room A Guilty Conscience, which has grossed $10.4m (HK$82m) after 20 days on release.
Where The Wind Blows, directed by Philip Yung who is also producer of The Sparring Partner, received eight nominations mostly in the technical categories, but not for leading actors Tony Leung Chiu-Wai and Aaron Kwok.
Competing with Mak and Yeung from The Sparring Partner for best actor are Anthony Wong for The Sunnyside Of The Street, Sean Lau for Detective Vs Sleuths and Louis Cheung from The Narrow Road. The latter has a second nomination for best supporting actor for Table For Six.
A further double nominee is Edan Lui, recognised for both Hong Kong Family and Chilli Laugh Story in the best new performer category. Jer Lau, Lui’s fellow singer from boyband Mirror, is also in the same category for Mama’s Affair.
Up for best actress are Louisa So for The Sparring Partner, Teresa Mo for Mama’s Affair, Sammi Cheng for Lost Love, Angela Yuen for The Narrow Road and Sylvia Chang for A Light Never Goes Out.
Both Wong and Chang were previously named best actor and best actress respectively at Taiwan’s Golden Horse Awards in November.
At the press conference, held at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, HKFA chairman Derek Yee said: “Only 33 films qualified for the nominations as cinemas were closed in the first half of 2022, disrupting production and distribution. But there were quite a few remarkable films that have delivered good results”.
The awards will be presented at a ceremony on April 16 as it returns to its regular venue at the Hong Kong Cultural Centrefor the first time since 2019.
41st Hong Kong Film Awards nominations
Best Film
The Sparring Partner
Warriors Of Future
Detective Vs. Sleuths
The Narrow Road
* To My Nineteen-Year-Old Self [nomination withdrawn]
Best Director
Ho Cheuk Tin, The Sparring Partner
Wai Ka Fai, Detective Vs. Sleuths
Lam Sum, The Narrow Road
Sunny Chan, Table For Six
William Kwok, To My Nineteen-Year-Old Self
* Mabel Cheung, To My Nineteen-Year-Old Self [nomination withdrawn]
Best Screenplay
Frankie Tam Kwong Yuen, Oliver Yip, Thomas Leung, The Sparring Partner
Lau Kok Rui, The Sunny Side Of The Street
Wai Ka Fai, Ryker Chan, Mak Tin Shu, Detective Vs. Sleuths
Fean Chung Chu Fung, The Narrow Road
Sunny Chan, Table For Six
Best Actor
Mak Pui Tung, The Sparring Partner
Yeung Wai Lun, The Sparring Partner
Anthony Wong, The Sunny Side Of The Street
Sean Lau, Detective Vs. Sleuths
Louis Cheung Kai Chung, The Narrow Road
Best Actress
Louisa So, The Sparring Partner
Teresa Mo, Mama’s Affair
Sammi Cheng, Lost Love
Angela Yuen, The Narrow Road
Sylvia Chang, A Light Never Goes Out
Best Supporting Actor
Jan Lamb, The Sparring Partner
Law Wing Cheong, Mama’s Affair
Michael Hui, Where The Wind Blows
Louis Cheung Kai Chung, Table For Six
Peter Chan Charm Man, Table For Six
Best Supporting Actress
Harriet Yeung, The Sparring Partner
Patra Au, The Narrow Road
Ivana Wong, Table For Six
Lin Min Chen, Table For Six
Jennifer Yu, Far Far Away
Best New Performer
Sahal Zaman, The Sunny Side Of The Street
Jer Lau, Mama’s Affair
Edan Lui, Hong Kong Family
Henick Chou, A Light Never Goes Out
Edan Lui, Chilli Laugh Story
Best Cinematography
Leung Yau Cheong, The Sparring Partner
Ng Kai Ming, Warriors Of Future
Chin Ting Chang, Meng Qing, Tsui Siu Kong, Where The Wind Blows
Cheng Siu Keung, Detective Vs. Sleuths
Meteor Cheung Yu Hon, The Narrow Road
Best Film Editing
J.Him Lee, Zhang Zhao, Jojo Shek, The Sparring Partner
Wong Hoi, Kenny Luk, Warriors Of Future
David Richardson, Allen Leung, Detective Vs. Sleuths
Cheung Ka Fai, Cheng Wai Lun, Table For Six
William Kwok, Nose Chan, To My Nineteen-Year-Old Self
Best Art Direction
Ida Mak, The Sparring Partner
Alex Mok, Lam Wai Kin, Warriors Of Future
Bill Lui, Andrew Wong, Where The Wind Blows
Jean Tsoi, Detective Vs. Sleuths
Irving Cheung, Leung Tsz Yin, Table For Six
Best Costume & Makeup Design
Cheung Siu Hong, Warriors Of Future
Man Lim Chung, Kwok In Wai Vann, Lost Love
Dora Ng, Where The Wind Blows
Stanley Cheung, Pat Tang, Detective Vs. Sleuths
Bonnie Ho, The Narrow Road
Best Action Choreography
Sammo Hung, Jimmy Hung, Yuen Wo Ping, Septet: The Story Of Hong Kong
Jack Wong Wai Leung, Warriors Of Future
Lin Feng, Stephen Tung Wai, The Battle At Lake Changjin II
Wong Chi Man, Where The Wind Blows
Wong Wai Leung, Detective Vs. Sleuths
Best Original Film Score
Sara Fung Chi Han, The Sparring Partner
Chan Kwong Wing, Warriors Of Future
Ding Ke, Sara Fung Chi Han, Where The Wind Blows
Wong Hin Yan, The Narrow Road
Alan Wong Ngai Lun, Janet Yung Wai Yung, Table For Six
Best Original Film Song
Twisted Fate, The Sparring Partner
明日之明日, Warriors Of Future
風雨不改, Mama’s Affair
Live A Life, Lost Love
狠愛狠愛你, Table For Six
Best Sound Design
Tu Duu Chih, Chiang Yi Chen, The Sparring Partner
Nopawat Likitwong, Stan Yau, Sarunyu Nurnsai, Dhanarat Dhitirojana, Warriors Of Future
Steve Burgess, Wang Danrong, Yin Jie, The Battle At Lake Changjin II
Tu Duu Chih, Wu Shu Yao, Where The Wind Blows
Thomas Cheng, Vincent Tam, Chill Yang, Detective Vs. Sleuths
Best Visual Effects
Shigeharu Tomotoshi, The Sparring Partner
Chas Chau Chi Shing, Leung Wai Kit, Kwok Tai, Law May, Warriors Of Future
Tsui Hark, Dennis Yeung, Wang Lei, The Battle At Lake Changjin II
Shigeharu Tomotoshi, Where The Wind Blows
Don Ma, Chan Wah, Specta Wong, Jacky Chung, Detective Vs. Sleuths
Best New Director
Ho Cheuk Tin, The Sparring Partner
Lau Kok Rui, The Sunny Side Of The Street
Ng Yuen Fai, Warriors Of Future
Lam Sum, The Narrow Road
Sunny Chan, Table For Six
Best Asian Chinese Language Film
In Search Of Lost Time
Goddamned Asura
Moon Man
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