The Hong Kong Film Critics Society (HKFCS) today announced the winners of its 32nd annual awards, with the sci-fi drama “Goodbye UFO” securing the coveted Best Film accolade. In a competitive field, Louis Koo and Fish Liew earned top acting honours for the first time, signaling a strong year for nuanced cinematic performances in Hong Kong cinema.
The awards, revealed on January 19th, recognized excellence across directing and screenwriting, underscoring the creative vitality of the industry. Lee Chi-chun and Maggie Chau won Best Director for the noir thriller “The Private Detective,” which also saw Koo triumph as Best Actor. The award for Best Screenplay went to the writers of “UFO Cold Case Files.”
Koo and Liew Earn Career Firsts
Veteran actor Louis Koo was lauded by the critics for his deeply layered and emotionally nuanced performance in “The Private Detective.” His portrayal resonated strongly with the majority of the judging panel, allowing him to edge out competitors, including Tony Leung Ka-fai (“Chasing the Wind”), Carlos Chan (“Love Like This”), Chu Tsz-man (“UFO Cold Case Files”), and Edward Au (“Unforgivable Sin”).
The Best Actress category witnessed an exceptionally intense debate among jurors, with several nominees remaining neck-and-neck through multiple rounds of voting. The tight race involved continuous deliberation and subsequent elimination of lower vote-getters. Ultimately, Fish Liew claimed the Best Actress prize for her critically praised role as a cerebral palsy sufferer in the film “Love Like This.”
Liew secured the victory by a narrow margin, overcoming formidable competition. Her fellow shortlisted nominees included Chrissie Chau (“The Private Detective”), Fan Bingbing (“Mother Earth”), Zhang Ziyi (“The Case of the Sauce Shop”), and Fala Chen (“Redemption Dream”).
Stellar Lineup Recognized
Beyond the main categories, the HKFCS named six additional films as Recommended Films, recognizing their overall cinematic quality and achievement. These films stood out from the field and were celebrated alongside the Best Film winner, “Goodbye UFO.”
2024 Recommended Films include:
- “UFO Cold Case Files”
- “The Private Detective”
- “The Girl”
- “Mao’s Family”
- “Outside World”
- “Chasing the Wind”
The HKFCS awards are distinctively focused on artistic merit and critical discussion, often spotlighting films that resonate deeply with critics, setting them apart from purely commercial successes.
Commercial Successes Continue
The awards announcement arrives as some major Hong Kong productions continue to find significant commercial success at the box office.
Notably, the highly anticipated film adaptation of “A Step into the Past,” starring Koo, Raymond Lam, Jessica Hsuan, Kenix Kwok, and Joyce Tang, has demonstrated sustained box office power since its debut. As of January 18th, the film’s cumulative box office earnings in Hong Kong and Macao reached a striking HK$76,457,732.
The robust performance both in critical acclaim, as seen from the HKFCS winners, and in commercial revenue underscores the resilience and dynamic landscape of Hong Kong’s film industry as it navigates evolving audience tastes and production challenges. The films celebrated at the 32nd awards showcase a range of genres, from thrilling detective stories to personal dramas and speculative fiction, providing a hopeful outlook for the creative future of the region’s cinema.
