Korea the Big Winner at 4th Asian Film Awards

MARCH 26, 2010 - South Korean director Bong Joon-ho led his countrymen in six wins at the fourth Asian Film Awards in Hong Kong with the Best Film trophy for his thriller Mother.

The film, which tells a story of a mother's struggles to save her son from a murder accusation, also garnered Kim Hye-ja the award for Best Actress, and Bong and Park Eun-kyo the award for Best Screenwriter.

Malaysian Ng Meng Hui (pictured) won the 2010 AFA Best Newcomer award for her role in At the End of Daybreak, a South Korean co-production with Malaysia and Hong Kong that also garnered Wai Ying-hung the Best Supporting Actress prize.

Lu Chuan of China was named Best Director for his Nanjing massacre drama City of Life and Death, and the Best Actor award went to China's Wang Xueqi for Bodyguards and Assassins.

No prizes went to Japan this year, a letdown after Japanese films took home five AFA prizes in 2009.

Here is a list of the winners:


Best Film: Mother (South Korea) above

Best Director: Lu Chuan, City of Life and Death (China)

Best Actor: Wang Xueqi, Bodyguards and Assassins (Hong Kong/China)

Best Actress: Kim Hye-ja, Mother (South Korea)

Best Newcomer: Ng Meng Hui, At the End of Daybreak (Malaysia/Hong Kong/South Korea)

Best Supporting Actor: Nicholas Tse, Bodyguards and Assassins (Hong Kong/China)

Best Supporting Actor: Wai Ying-hung, At the End of Daybreak (Malaysia/Hong Kong/South Korea)

Best Screenwriter: Parl Eun-kyo, Bong Joon-ho, Mother (South Korea)

Best Cinematographer: Cao Yu, City of Life and Death (China)

Best Production Designer: Alain-Pascal Housiaux, Patrick Dechesne/Lee Tian-Jue, "Face" (Taiwan)

Best Composer: Lo Ta-Yu, Vengeance (Hong Kong)

Best Editor: Lee Chatametikool, Karaoke (Malaysia)

Best Visual Effects: Yi Zeon-hyoung, Thirst (South Korea)

Best Costume Designer: Christian Lacroix, Anne Dunsford, Wang Chia-Hui, Face (Taiwan)

Special Awards:

Outstanding Contribution to Asian Cinema -- Zhang Yimou

Asian Film Award for Lifetime Achievement -- Amitabh Bachchan

Asian Film Award for 2009's Top-Grossing Film Director -- John Woo