Crime thriller ‘Port of Call’ leads Hong Kong film nominees

HONG KONG – Thrills and adventure lead the nominations for the Hong Kong Film Awards.

Thirteen nominations went to “Port of Call,” a thriller about a detective looking into a heinous crime that tore apart two families and is loosely based on a real event. It’s up for best film, best actor for Hong Kong superstar Aaron Kwok and best director for Philip Yung, for whom “Port of Call” was his third feature.

The 3D action adventure film “The Taking of Tiger Mountain” has 11 nominations, including best film and best director for the veteran Tsui Hark.

The third “Ip Man” film was popular with fans as well as critics. Its eight nominations include best film, best director and best action choreography.

The other best film nominees are “Little Big Master” and perhaps the biggest surprise, “Ten Years.” The low-budget, independent film contains five stories postulating about Hong Kong’s future. The film portrays the city in 10 years’ time when the local language is no longer spoken and freedom of speech is lost, echoing apprehensions of many people in Hong Kong now. Though it was nominated for the top award, it was shut out in the other categories.

Actor Sean Lau Ching Wan and actress Ivana Wong announced the nominees Friday.

The best actor category has some of Hong Kong’s most beloved past winners, with Kwok, Andy Lau, Nick Cheung, Tony Leung and Jacky Cheung nominated. Nominees for best actress, coming from Taiwan, China and Hong Kong, are Tang Wei, Miriam Yeung, Sylvia Chang, Karena Lam and Jessi Li.

The awards will be handed out April 3.