Summer Snow sweeps board at film awards

Summer Snow stole the limelight at last night's 15th Hong Kong Film Awards by scooping the honours for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor and Best Screenplay.

The best actress, Josephine Siao Fong-fong, was so excited that she dropped the trophy presented by her veteran screen partner, Tse Yin. Siao's role in the movie already won her acclaim at the Berlin International Film Festival last year.

Directed by Ann Hui On-wah, Summer Snow tells how a middle-aged housewife, played by Siao, takes care of her father-in-law, afflicted with Alzheimer's disease. Roy Chiao won Best Actor for his performance.

Last night's awards, at the Hong Kong Academy For Performing Arts, were organised by the Hong Kong Film Awards Association. Last Sunday, Summer Snow scooped five awards in the first Golden Bauhinia Awards organised by the Hong Kong Film Critics' Association.

Veteran comedian Michael Hui Kun-man, chosen to present the Best Picture Award, quipped that the industry had not given sufficient recognition to the contribution of comedy films.

A comedy had not been nominated for the Best Director category for 15 years.