This year’s Hong Kong Film Awards (HKFA) arrives under an unprecedented cloud of controversy, making Sunday’s 44th edition at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre one of the most heavily scrutinised ceremonies in the event’s history.
This opaque and as-yet-unexplained move by the HKFA effectively removed realistic contenders – such as Anthony Wong Chau-sang and Fan Bingbing – from the race and cast a chilling pall over the proceedings.
Despite the noise offstage, there are still worthy cinematic achievements to be celebrated. Below, South China Morning Post film editor Edmund Lee gives his predictions for who will win in the major categories.
Best film: Ciao UFO
A still from Ciao UFO, about three former childhood friends who find their dreams slipping away as adults.
Patrick Leung Pak-kin’s nostalgic drama about three former childhood friends bonded by a shared UFO sighting in 1985 has emerged as the definitive front-runner.