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.
“Scandal” cast will reunite for online script reading for hurricane relief in western North Carolina
The cast of ABC's hit political drama "Scandal" may need to brush up on their snappy, speedy delivery known as "Scandal-pace," because they're reuniting for a good cause. Its stars including Kerry Washington, Tony Goldwyn and Bellamy Young will take part in a live virtual script reading on Nov. 17 to raise money for hurricane relief in western North Carolina.
Beginning Friday, fans can go online and donate to reserve a spot for the online reading. Proceeds will benefit United Way of North Carolina. Everyone who donates will be able to take part in a virtual pre-event with the cast and Shonda Rhimes will give an introduction.
Additional guest stars will also be announced. The online fundraising platform Prizeo is also holding a contest where one person who donates online via their site will be selected to read a role from the script with the actors. The winner should not worry about the "Scandal"-pace, assured Young over Zoom.
"Whomever the lucky reader is can read at whatever pace they want," she said.
Young, who played Mellie Young, the first lady and later Republican presidential nominee on "Scandal," was born and raised in Asheville, North Carolina. She came up with the idea for the effort with a friend and took it to her fellow "Scandal" actors, who all jumped on board. Young said this is the first script reading the cast has all done together since the show ended after seven seasons in 2018.
Which episode they will be reading has not been announced yet.
Young said it's "been devastating" to see so many parts of her hometown badly damaged by Hurricane Helene, which ravaged western North Carolina one month ago.
To research the best use for donations, Young spoke with numerous political leaders, including North... Read More