Taiwan Family Drama Coo-Coo 043 Wins Best Picture at Golden Horse Awards; Soi Cheang’s “Limbo” makes way in technical categories

Taiwanese filmmaker Chan Ching-lin Cow-cow 043 was awarded Best Narrative Film at the Golden Horse Awards in Taiwan on Saturday night while the crime drama was held in Hong Kong. limbodirected by Soi Cheang, won the most awards with four awards.

Cow-cow 043 also won the Best New Artist award for Hu Jhih-ciang. The film, which also stars Yu An-shun and Yang Li-yin, follows a Taiwanese family that makes a living from carrier pigeons but is hit hard by economic pressures and the disappearance of a son. It premiered as the opening film of the Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival (TGFFF), where it won the FIPRESCI Award on the same night as the Golden Horse ceremony.

While Cow-cow 043 win top honors at the awards, limbo took home most of the awards for Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Visual Effects and Best Art Direction (see details below). It also won the TGHFF Audience Award.

The film, which will screen at the Berlin Film Festival in 2021, entered the awards despite pressure on the Hong Kong filmmakers to comply with mainland China’s boycott of the Golden Horse awards ceremony.

The 2018 Golden Horse Awards, considered the most prestigious award ceremony for Chinese-language films, fell Beijing’s way when Best Documentary Program winner Fu Yue referred to Taiwan’s independence in her acceptance speech (Beijing considers Taiwan as a breakaway province from China). Since then, China has heavily promoted its own Golden Rooster Awards, held around the same time.

Since the China boycott, smaller Hong Kong-based independent films with no plans for a mainland Chinese release have continued to compete for awards alongside films from Taiwan and other Chinese-speaking Asian countries, often benefiting from recognition and awards.

Hong Kong drama this year Sunny side of the street won Best Actor in a Leading Role for Anthony Wong’s performance, along with Best New Director and Best Original Screenplay for Malaysian-born filmmaker Lau Kok-rui. Another Hong Kong drama A light never goes outwon the award for best actress for the portrayal of Taiwanese artist Sylvia Chang.

Best Director went to Laha Mebow for the Taiwanese comedy Gaga, the first time a Taiwanese filmmaker won the best director award. Set among the Atayal indigenous people of Taiwan, the film also won the Best Supporting Actress award for Kagaw Piling’s performance.

Golden Horse Awards 2022 Full List of Winners:

Best Narration Feature: Cow-cow 043Directed by Chan Ching-lin

Best Documentary: And walk miles before I sleepTarget: Tsai Tsung-long

Best Live Action Short Film: can you hear meDirector: Li Nien-hsu

Best Short Documentary: will you look at medirector: Huang Shuli

Best Animated Short Film: Tropical compound eyesdirector: Zhang Xu Zhan

Best Director: Laha Mebow, Gaga

Best Actor: Anthony Wong The sunny side of the street

Best Actress: Sylvia Chang A light never goes out

Best Supporting Actor: Berant Zhu, Bad education

Best Supporting Actress: Kagaw Piling, Gaga

Best New Director: Lau Kok-rui, The sunny side of the street

Best New Artist: Hu Jhih-ciang, Cow-cow 043

Best Original Screenplay: Lau Kok-rui, The sunny side of the street

Best Adapted Screenplay: Au Kin-yee & Shum Kwan-sin, limbo

Best Camera: Cheng Siu-keung, limbo

Best Visual Effects: Garrett Lam, Ho Man-lok, Diu King-wai, limbo

Best Art Direction: Mak Kwok-keung, Renee Wong, limbo

Best Makeup and Costume Design: Ken Fan, Chen You-feng, Demigod: The Legend Begins

Best Action Choreography: Sheu Fang-yi, regards

Best Original Score: Wong Hin-yang, The narrow street

Best Original Song: Eric Chou for My best friend’s breakfast in What do you think

Best Film Editing: Kevin Ko, incantation

Best Sound Effects: RT Kao, Rockid Lee, Richard Hocks, Nusorn Thongkhum, incantation

Outstanding Taiwanese Filmmaker of the Year: Chen Ming-ze

Lifetime Achievement Awards: Lai Cheng-ying, Chang Chao-tang