Film critics and general cinema-goers believe Project Gutenberg’s central plot twist was a rip-off of the 1995 classic starring Kevin Spacey. But writer-director Felix Chong dismissed the accusations, saying several films had influenced him.

Japanese actor Koji Yakusho talks about new Chinese production Wings Over Everest, his most memorable role, in Shall We Dance?, and how, at 63 and after several life achievement awards, he is starting to feel his age.

The Hong Kong film tells the touching story of a disabled middle-aged man and his young Filipino maid as they learn to embrace their lives again.

ICAC investigator William Luk, played by Koo, goes undercover as a prisoner to snare his latest target, and has to deal with an old adversary; while laughably unrealistic, the film is never boring, and there are worse ways to spend 96 minutes.

The Twins star plays a gynaecology nurse with an inexplicable fear of physical intimacy who uncovers the pleasures of the flesh with a free-spirited chef in Jessey Tsang’s refreshingly gentle, though occasionally awkward, drama.

Everybody Knows director Asghar Farhadi says that while shooting the film in Spain meant he was ‘free to put into practice whatever you think of’, his instinct is still to touch on topics similar to those in Iranian culture.

Four years after earning a best actress nod at the Hong Kong Film Awards, Choi is nominated for her role in sexually charged drama The Lady Improper, in which she plays a woman struggling with a fear of physical intimacy.

Set under the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, Chan’s surreal film about Mei, a mentally disabled mother who sells her body and engages in grotesque sex acts, is crude and exploitative, whatever its political message.

Chen praises Hollywood for trying more than other national film industries to be inclusive, but says the result is sometimes too superficial, while her home country’s film industry is a ‘great market now’.

The Sisters Brothers director Jacques Audiard talks about his nickname, the challenge of shooting in English, women’s representation at film festivals and why he doesn’t want his films entered in competition any more.

Story of two orphans reconciling as one prepares for his professional ring debut mixes gritty detail and out-of-the-ring laughs. Daniel Chan’s film never feels restricted by the tropes of the sports film genre.

Hirokazu Koreeda’s film about a family of petty criminals in Tokyo takes top honour after missing out on Oscar; Lee Chang-dong wins best director for psychodrama Burning, and Hong Kong films earn three awards.

Completely different from anything Hong Kong cinema traditionally has to offer, G Affairs is a tale of depravity that does not pull its punches.

Win in top category takes Green Book’s total to three; Roma also takes home three Oscars, including best director; Olivia Colman wins best actress for The Favourite, and Rami Malek best actor for Bohemian Rhapsody.

A trip across Malaysia intended as a way to bring members of a family back together doesn’t start well, but events conspire to change that; Joyce Cheng and Lo Hoi-pang get rare star billing in a sweet-natured film.

Aaron Kwok and Chow Yun-fat star in Felix Chong’s convoluted crime thriller, which is up for 17 awards; the majority of nominations have gone to films by first-time directors

Alan Mak’s convoluted drama is a rarity, relying on intricate plotting rather than action scenes to grip audiences; ultimately, though, its patient scripting, atmospheric build-up and efforts to appear contemporary come to nothing.

Forget the writer-director’s brand of wacky Cantonese humour, this Chinese production is his best in years – the story of Dreamy, a struggling would-be actress whose fortunes take an unexpected turn.

Let down by its script, this film’s admirable message is buried amid a welter of seemingly randomly concocted scenes, but redeemed partly by the participation of veterans Sammo Hung, Teddy Robin, Bruce Leung, Richard Ng and Tien Niu.

Actor’s directorial debut, a musical comedy adaptation of a stage play about the different stages of romantic relationships, features an ensemble cast of more than 50; Ivana Wong and Teresa Mo are the stars of the show alongside Wong and Eric Tsang

When June Lam’s character uses a bottle of her boss’ breast milk to make coffee, it sets off a scramble to supply a replacement; the film’s mix of Cantonese wordplay and viral jokes from social media will entertain Hongkongers.

Property agent Francis Ng and his family can put up with their noisy flat and nasty neighbours because their flat affords them a glimpse of the calming sea; when new tenant Louis Koo puts up a billboard that blocks the view, that changes.

Chinese poet turned filmmaker Bi Gan defends the fractured narrative of his new film Long Day’s Journey into Night, starring Sylvia Chang and Tang Wei, and discusses his use of extremely long takes to explore time and memory.

South Korean film Burning and Japan’s Shoplifters lead the field with eight and six award nominations, respectively. Hong Kong films are again absent from the best picture race, but Felix Chong’s Project Gutenberg is up for five awards.

Story of an imperial animal tamer, his exotic charge and their adventures on the road quickly becomes inconsequential; this witless, repetitive film is emblematic of Andrew Lau’s decline as a filmmaker.

The film, based on real events, shows how much fans of the Hong Kong singer loved her, and how much she loved them back; its clumsy plot turns and melodramatic acting are partly offset by the sincerity of its backers.

From the lows of sensationalism to a twisty crime drama and a transgender melodrama, our judgment on the films launched this year. See if you agree with our film editor’s selection.

Zhang has his biggest part so far as he reprises his role in Ip Man 3. The story is predictable, and merely a vehicle for Zhang to spar with a range of opponents, but he shows he has the acting chops and fight skills to succeed.

Rising-star martial artist Zhang says he was nervous about fighting mixed martial artist Bautista in Master Z: The Ip Man Legacy. The American actor packs a massive punch, he says.

From Avengers: Infinity War to Widows, fantasy to reality, heartbreak to humour, see our critics’ pick of the best films of the year. Do you agree with their choices?