Prolific Hong Kong film star Louis Koo Tin-lok earned a rare best-actor nomination for his role as an anguished father out for violent revenge in Paradox at the 12th Asian Film Awards, the organisers announced on Thursday. But the popular actor’s admittedly deserved nod may not be enough to make up for the disappointment of his home audiences as Hong Kong cinema again comes up short for the awards’ top prize: Hong Kong films have failed to snatch a single best picture nod at the Asian Film Awards – which were first held in this city – for the fourth year in a row. I Am Not Madame Bovary wins best picture at the 2017 Asian Film Awards; The Handmaiden takes home four prizes The five nominees for best picture are Chinese writer-director Vivian Qu’s modern-day crime noir Angels Wear White ; Indian comedy Newton ; Korean art-house gem The Day After , one of three films Hong Sang-soo directed in 2017; Japanese filmmaker Hirokazu Koreeda’s legal thriller The Third Murder ; and Youth , Feng Xiaogang’s sprawling drama about a Chinese military arts troupe who lived through the Cultural Revolution and the Sino-Vietnamese war. Angels Wear White , The Third Murder and Youth have five nominations apiece; as does Sylvia Chang’s multigenerational relationship drama Love Education . But the surprise front-runner of the awards turns out to be Chen Kaige’s lavish supernatural murder mystery Legend of the Demon Cat , which received nods in six categories, including best director. The nomination list surprises as much for its appreciation for popular actors (including Louis Koo) as it does for its curious snubs. Eddie Peng is recognised for his supporting role in Our Time Will Come , but his co-stars, Zhou Xun and Deanie Ip, are both notable omissions. Song Kang-ho failed to receive a best actor nod for A Taxi Driver after he essentially swept the domestic prizes in South Korea, while the Golden Horse best picture The Bold, the Corrupt, and the Beautiful is shunned in every category. Ranking every Hong Kong film released in 2017, from worst to best The winners of the 2018 Asian Film Awards – which has also introduced the best new director and best action film categories – will be announced at a ceremony on March 17 at the Venetian Macao. The veteran action director Ching Siu-tung will serve as jury president of this year’s programme, which incorporates a special focus on martial arts filmmaking in Asia. The full list of nominations are as follows: (click on film titles and names to read SCMP.com reviews and interviews) Best film Angels Wear White (China, France) Newton (India) The Day After (South Korea) The Third Murder (Japan) Youth (China) Best director Chen Kaige (Legend of the Demon Cat) Sylvia Chang (Love Education) Ann Hui (Our Time Will Come) Hong Sang-soo (The Day After) Yuya Ishii (The Tokyo Night Sky Is Always the Densest Shade of Blue) Feng Xiaogang (Youth) Best new director Vivian Qu (Angels Wear White) Anucha Boonyawatana (Malila: The Farewell Flower) Huang Hsin-yao (The Great Buddha +) Dong Yue (The Looming Storm) Derek Hui (This Is Not What I Expected) Yoshiyuki Kishi (Wilderness) Best actor Kim Yun-seok (1987: When the Day Comes) Sukollawat Kanarot ( Malila: The Farewell Flower) Rajkummar Rao (Newton) Louis Koo (Paradox) Duan Yihong (The Looming Storm) Best actress Yu Aoi ( Birds Without Names) Sylvia Chang (Love Education) Marsha Timothy (Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts) Kim Min-hee (The Day After) Zhou Dongyu (This Is Not What I Expected) Best supporting actor Yoo Hae-jin (A Taxi Driver) Geng Le (Angels Wear White) Tian Zhuangzhuang (Love Education) Eddie Peng (Our Time Will Come) Yang Ik-joon (Wilderness) Best supporting actress Choi Hee-seo (Anarchist from Colony) Hana Sugisaki (Blade of the Immortal) Kitty Zhang (Legend of the Demon Cat) Estelle Wu (Love Education) Suzu Hirose (The Third Murder) Best newcomer Zhou Meijun ( Angels Wear White) Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying (Bad Genius) Lim Yoon-a (Confidential Assignment) Ling Man-lung (Tomorrow Is Another Day) Akari Kinoshita (Wilderness) Zhong Chuxi (Youth) Best action film Along With the Gods: The Two Worlds Blade of the Immortal Brotherhood of Blades II: The Infernal Battlefield Paradox The Thousand Faces of Dunjia Best screenplay Anarchist from Colony Bad Genius Love Education Newton Youth Best editing mon mon mon Monsters Our Time Will Come The King The Third Murder Youth Best cinematography Legend of the Demon Cat Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts The Fortress The Great Buddha + The Third Murder Best original music A Taxi Driver Angels Wear White Our Time Will Come The Great Buddha + Wilderness Best costume design Anarchist from Colony Baahubali 2: The Conclusion Blade of the Immortal Legend of the Demon Cat The Thousand Faces of Dunjia Best production design Along With the Gods: The Two Worlds Legend of the Demon Cat Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts The Third Murder This Is Not What I Expected Best visual effects Along With the Gods: The Two Worlds Baahubali 2: The Conclusion Gintama Legend of the Demon Cat mon mon mon Monsters The Thousand Faces of Dunjia Best sound Brotherhood of Blades II: The Infernal Battlefield Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts mon mon mon Monsters The Fortress The Great Buddha + Want more articles like this? Follow SCMP Film on Facebook