Lee back in the picture

It's been nine years since he received his first and only film award, so actor Sam Lee Chan-sum was happy to be on the list of best actor nominations in the Golden Horse Awards, for his detective role in Soi Cheang Pou-soi's thriller Dog Bite Dog.

Other nominees are Aaron Kwok Fu-shing (After this, Our Exile), Chang Chen (Wu Qingyuan) and Frances Ng Chun-yu (Wo Hu). The presentation ceremony will be held on November 25 in Taipei.

'I was in Taipei watching Jay-Z's concert when I got the news,' said Lee, 31. 'I was so thrilled I dropped my mobile phone. I'd waited so long to make such a good movie. I didn't think I would get a nomination for the movie.'

Lee (far right) made his debut in Fruit Chan Kuo's indie film Made in Hong Kong (1997), playing a gangster. His part won him best newcomer at the Hong Kong Film Awards and a best actor nomination at the Golden Horse Awards.

The actor said he was happy when the movie was entered into competitive film festivals such as the Tokyo International Film Festival last month. 'Movies are a team effort,' he said. 'I'm really moved about getting the nomination. To me, I've already won. The Taiwanese press said Chow Yun-fat and Takeshi Kaneshiro didn't make the nomination list.'

Lee plans to direct an independent feature, but if he can't get investors, he'll make a 10-minute experimental film instead.