Ip Man takes on Ip Man for best actor at Hong Kong Film Awards
Leung and Wong nominated for their portrayals of the kung fu master…in two different films
Ip Man versus Ip Man? It sounds like the most unlikely of battles, but that's exactly the scenario that will play out at the Hong Kong Film Awards after two actors who played the kung fu master in different films were both nominated for best actor.
Tony Leung Chiu-wai was nominated for Wong Kar-wai's hit , while Anthony Wong Chau-sang gained a nod for his performance in .
received 14 nominations, the most of any movie. It was also nominated for best film and director, as was Dante Lam Chiu-yin's boxing-themed , which won 11 nominations.
"Finally I get a nomination. If I didn't, I would have stopped acting in movies," said the man who received a best actor award for 1998's .
"Of course I am not confident of winning the award. I haven't even been nominated for a while. My competitors are strong."
His rival Leung has won the award five times.
Zhang Ziyi was recognised for her work in with a best actress nomination, as was Tang Wei for her role in the romantic comedy .
Sammi Cheng Sau-man, for , and Nina Paw Hee-ching, for the unsettling horror film , were also nominated. Twenty-year-old newcomer Cherry Ngan Cheuk-ling, who played a dancer in , was a surprise choice as the final nominee.
Miriam Yeung Chin-wah, last year's best actress, said it was hard to pick her favourite best actor contender.
"Anthony is so good. He doesn't need awards for self recognition," she said.
The Hong Kong Film Awards take place on April 13.
List of Hong Kong Film Awards nominations
Best Film
- The Grandmaster
- Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons
- The Way We Dance
- The White Storm
- Unbeatable
Best Director
- Wong Kar-wai (The Grandmaster)
- Johnnie To Kei-fung (Drug War)
- Benny Chan Muk-sing (The White Storm)
- Derek Kwok Tsz-kin (As the Light Goes Out)
- Dante Lam Chiu-yin (Unbeatable)
Best Actor
- Tony Leung Chiu-wai (The Grandmaster)
- Louis Koo Tin-lok (The White Storm)
- Sean Lau Ching-wan (The White Storm)
- Anthony Wong Chau-sang (Ip Man - the Final Fight)
- Nick Cheung Ka-fai (Unbeatable)
Best Actress
- Zhang Ziyi (The Grandmaster)
- Tang Wei (Finding Mr. Right)
- Cherry Ngan Cheuk-ling (The Way We Dance)
- Sammi Cheng Sau-man (Blind Detective)
- Nina Paw Hee-ching (Rigor Mortis)
Best Screenplay
- Zou Jingzhi, Xu Haofeng, Wong Kar-wai (The Grandmaster)
- Zhou Zhiyong, Zhang Ji, Aubrey Lam (American Dreams In China)
- Xue Xiaolu (Finding Mr. Right)
- Wai Ka-fai, Yau Nai-hoi, Ryker Chan, Yu Xi (Blind Detective)
- Jack Ng, Fung Chi-fung, Dante Lam Chiu-yin (Unbeatable)
