Kate Tsui Receives Best Film Newcomer

The Hong Kong Film Directors Guild (香港電影導演會) held its 2008 Spring Banquet last night in Macau. A total of 18 tables served that night, with guests including the director members, as well as some of the movie industry's new artistes, such as Linda Chung (鍾嘉欣) and Kate Tsui (徐子珊). Alice Chan (陳煒) was invited as a guest, and appearing in a low-cut, red outfit, she managed to steal the limelight from the newcomers.

During the banquet, an awards ceremony took place and the gold award for 2007 Best Newcomer (2007年度新演員獎) was presented to Kate for her role in Eye in the Sky <跟蹤>. In her acceptance speech, Kate happily expressed that she never imagined that she would receive the award, so she was particularly nervous, but thanked Director Yau Nai-Hoi (游乃海) for offering her a suitable character to portray. She also thanked all the judges and Catherine Tsang (曾勵珍) for their support. She also commented that she is yet to be yelled at by director Johnnie To (杜琪峰), who has a reputation for being extremely strict.

Linda and child star Wen Jun Hui (文俊輝) both received the newcomer silver award for their roles in Love is Not All Around <十分．愛> and The Pye-Dog <野．良犬> respectively. Linda thanked TVB for managing her schedule, otherwise she would not have been able to film the movie for which she won the award.

The 2007 Best New Director (2007年度新晉導演獎) was awarded to Nai-Hoi, for his debut fim Eye in the Sky.

Awards in the Most Recommended Film (最受推介電影獎) and Most Distinguished Director (最傑出導演獎) categories went to The Post-modern Life of My Aunt <姨媽的後現代生活>'s Ann Hui (許鞍華), Protege <門徒>'s Derek Yee (爾冬陞) , and The Warlords <投名狀>'s Peter Chan (陳可辛).

Derek thanked Peter for investing well for the guild, saying that although artistes, writers and producers are important, earnings from the investments play a major role in financing the movies. Derek stated that Peter was one of the best producers that he has met to date and ended his speech by publicly thanking his girlfriend for her support. Ann had to bear crutches to go on stage, and in her speech, she laughed that a niche group generally accepted her movies, so she is grateful for the award and thanked everyone for their support. She commented that to be able to receive the award with both Derek and Peter was an honour to her. Peter then returned the compliment, saying modestly that it his motivation to enter the movie industry came from watching Ann's films.