IP MAN Took the Highest Achievement in Hong Kong film awards

As Hong Kong celebrates 100 years of filmmaking, Wilson Yip’s biopic "Ip Man," starring Donnie Yen as Bruce Lee’s kung fu master, was chosen best picture of the year at the 2009 Hong Kong Film Awards. A biopic of kung fu master "Ip Man" won best picture at the 28th Hong Kong Film Awards yesterday, but a documentary-like film about a working-class neighborhood dominated the other top prizes. The low-budget "The Way We Are" which set in the working-class town of Tin Shui Wai near the border with China, took home prizes for best director Ann Hui, best actress Paw Hee Ching, and best supporting actress for Chan Lai-wun. The best actor winner was Nick Cheung, who plays a kidnapper in the action thriller The Beast Stalker, while Liu Kai Chi received the best supporting actor award for his work in the same film. Meanwhile, John Woo’s expensive historical epic "Red Cliff," set in the final days of the Han Dynasty in the early 3rd century, won a total of five awards, including best visual effects and art direction.

The action-filled "Ip Man" describes how the kung fu master resisted Japanese rule in his southern Chinese hometown during the World War II era. Ip's most famous disciple was Lee, who studied with him for five years starting at age 13.Producer Raymond Wong said he felt bad that Yen and director Wilson Yip lost in their categories but was pleased with the best film award because it "honors everyone involved in the movie."

Below is the full winners list of 28th Hong Kong Film Awards:

Best film: Ip Man (dir: Wilson Yip)

Best director: Ann Hui – The Way We Are

Best screenplay: Lou Shiu-wa – The Way We Are

Best actor: Nick Cheung – The Beast Stalker

Best actress: Paw Hee-ching – The Way We Are

Best supporting actor: Liu Kai-chi – The Beast Stalker

Best supporting actress: Chan Lai-wun – The Way We Are

Best new performer: Xu Jiao – CJ7

Best cinematography: Arthur Wong – Painted Skin

Best film editing: Yau Chi-wai – Connected

Best art direction: Tim Yip – Red Cliff

Best costume & make-up design: Tim Yip – Red Cliff

Best action choreography: Sammo Hung & Tony Leung Siu-hung – Ip Man

Best sound design: Wu Jiang & Roger Savage – Red Cliff

Best visual effects: Craig Hayes – Red Cliff

Best original score: Taro Iwashiro – Red Cliff

Best original film song: Jane Zhang – Painted Skin

Best new director: Derek Kwok – The Moss

Best Asian film – Assembly