Korean Monster movie wins big at 1st Asian Film Awards
 

HONG KONG  Mar. 20, 2007 (Credits to AFP)

South Korean smash hit monster movie "The Host" topped Hong Kong's inaugural Asian film awards Tuesday, winning four prizes out of five nominations, including the best film and best actor gongs.

The film about a mutant monster spawned by toxic waste released from a US military morgue also bagged the best visual effects and cinematographer prizes.

Song Kang-Ho beat fellow Korean idol Jung Ji-Hoon, better known as Rain, and heart-throbs Andy Lau and Chang Chen for the best actor award. "I'm really honored to receive this award and be around such great Asian filmmakers," Song said.

The Host - DVD

Chinese movie "Still Life", winner of a top prize at the Venice Film Festival last year, bagged the best director gong for Jia Zhangke.

Japan's Nakatani Miki beat Chinese stars Gong Li and Zhang Ziyi to be crowned best actress for her performance in "Memories of Matsuko." "I've never expected to receive this award so I'm very surprised and honored... I'll try my best to craft great movies from now on," she said before an audience of thousands in Hong Kong.

Indonesia's Rahayu Supanggah took the best composer prize for "Opera Jawa," beating Hong Kong's Peter Kam, winner of the 2006 Berlin Film Festival award for best film music.

The best editor prize went to Lee Chatametikool of Thailand's "Syndromes and a Century". Tim Yip won best production design for "The Banquet."

Mani Haghighi of Iran's "Men at Work" received best screenwriter award.

Renowned French director Luc Besson, of "The Fifth Element" and "Leon -- The Professional" fame, presented an award to legendary Hong Kong actress Josephine Siao Fong-fong for her outstanding contribution to Asian cinema.

Siao, wearing a long black dress and who just turned 60, received a standing ovation from the audience.

"This is a marvelous gift for my 60th birthday today. I don't deserve this. I haven't made films for 10 years. There have been so many filmmakers around," said Siao who went from teen idol in the late 1960s to win the best actress award at the 1995 Berlin Film Festival for her role in "Summer Snow."

Hong Kong singer and actor Lau received an award as the highest grossing actor in Asian cinema.

Movie theorist David Bordwell received an honor for "Excellence in Scholarship in Asian Cinema" for a film career spanning 30 years.

The Asian Film Awards was launched this year by the Hong Kong International Film Festival, which is in its 31st year.

Among the stars treading the red carpet were Bond girl Michelle Yeoh, South Korean director Park Chan-Wook of "Old Boy," a Grand Prix winner at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival.

Hong Kong actress Maggie Q, star of "Mission Impossible III", Japanese idol Hirosue Ryoko, local director Johnnie To and actor Tony Leung Chiu-wai also added to the glamour.

The awards and the film festival were held in conjunction with the third Entertainment Expo, which combines eight-events in film, digital entertainment and music.

The Expo, which runs from Tuesday through April 15, includes a film and TV market, a film festival, local film awards, a digital entertainment forum as well as a music fair and awards.
 

AFA Footage (Asian Film Awards)