Tony Leung wins best actor, Japan’s Drive My Car takes home 3 big prizes at star-studded Asian Film Awards in Hong Kong

Leung honoured for role in crime thriller Where the Wind Blows, while Drive My Car from Ryusuke Hamaguchi wins best film, best editing and best original music

Tang Wei takes home best actress award for role in Decision to Leave, while Hong Kong productions Warriors of Future, The Sparring Partner and Anita also feted

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Tony Leung and his wife Carina Lau Kar-ling at the Asian Film Awards in Hong Kong on Sunday. Photo: Dickson Lee

Published: 8:43pm, 12 Mar 2023Updated: 1:49pm, 16 Mar 2023

Hong Kong screen legend Tony Leung Chiu-wai won best actor for his role in crime thriller Where the Wind Blows and took home a special contribution prize at a star-studded Asian Film Awards held in the city on Sunday night.

Drive My Car from Japan’s Ryusuke Hamaguchi, a heavy favourite going into the ceremony, won best film, best editing and best original music.

In accepting the prize for best actor, Leung said: “I never thought it would be me. I did not prepare any speech. So, I would just like to say thank you.”

He was also presented with the special Asian film contribution award and conveyed his gratitude to everyone in the industry who had worked with him over his 40-year acting career.

Director Ryusuke Hamaguchi and cast members of Drive My Car pose on the red carpet. Photo: Reuters

The awards returned to the city after a three-year absence, and were held at the Hong Kong Palace Museum in West Kowloon. Hundreds of fans gathered behind barricades for a glimpse of the arriving celebrities, including Japanese actor Hiroshi Abe, Taiwanese star Greg Hsu Kuang-han and Korean idol Ji Chang-wook.