Ben Yuen Wins Best Supporting Actor at Golden Horse

The 55th Golden Horse Awards took place on 17 November at the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall in Taipei. Powerful period drama, “Shadow” was the numerical winner, taking home four prizes. Mainland Chinese actor Xu Zheng received Best Actor for his role in “Dying to Survive”. Taiwanese stage performer Hsieh Yin-xuan won Best Actress for her role in “Dear EX”. Ding Ning from Taiwan won Best Supporting Actress for her role in “Cities of Last Things”. The only major prize for a film originating from Hong Kong was Ben Yuen’s Best Supporting Actor award for “Tracey.”

A veteran stage actor from Hong Kong, the 54-year old Yuen has appearances in a number of films in recent years. He embarked upon the acting career at the age of 24. This year marks his 30th anniversary in the performing industry. In his speech, Yuen gave thanks to the Golden Horse Awards for the recognition, which proved the decision he had made 30 years ago a right one. He also expressed his gratitude to the cast of “Tracey”, director Jun Li, financer Louis Koo and producer Shu Kei. “If it had not been Shu Kei’s suggestion of this role, I wouldn’t have been standing here,” said Yuen.

In “Tracey”, Yuen plays Brother Darling, a Cantonese opera singer who identifies himself as a female. Yuen’s flawless portrayal of Brother Darling’s struggle with identity did not come easy. He had a Cantonese opera instructor teach him singing techniques and acting-dancing movements. It took him quite some time to manage performing and acting simultaneously. Yuen revealed that he had thought of giving up acting because the income could not make ends meet. He was nominated for best supporting actor a number of times but would always go home empty-handed. Winning the Golden Horse Award made him feel that his effort had finally been recognized.

List of winners Best feature film: “An Elephant Sitting Still” (Director: CHU Yanhua & HU Yongzhen) Best director: ZHANG Yimou “Shadow” Best new director: WEN Muye “Dying to Survive” Best leading actor: XU Zheng “Dying to Survive” Best leading actress: HSIEH Ying-xuan “Dear EX” Best supporting actor: Ben YUEN “Tracey” Best supporting actress: DING Ning “Cities of Last Things” Best new performer: Si Pangoyod “Long Time No Sea” Best original screenplay: “Dying To Survive” HAN Jianv, ZHONG Wei, WEN Muye Best adapted screenplay: “An Elephant Sitting Still” HU Bo Best cinematography: YAO Hung-i, DONG Jinsong, David CHIZALLET “Long Day’s Journey Into Night” Best visual effects: Samson WONG “Shadow” Best art direction: MA Kwong Wing “Shadow” Best make-up and costume design: CHEN Minzheng “Shadow” Best action choreography: HE Jun, TANIGAKI Kenji, YAN Hua “Hidden Man” Best film editing: LEI Cheng-ching “Dear EX” Best sound effects: LI Danfeng, SI Zhonglin “Long Day’s Journey Into Night” Best original film score: LIM Giong, Point HSU “Long Day’s Journey Into Night” Best original film song: Bali Song by Lee Ying-hung “Dear EX” Best documentary: “Our Youth In Taiwan” FU Yue Best animated feature: “On Happiness Road” SUNG Hsin-yin Best live action short film: “A Final Reunion” Da Peng Best animated short film: “Where Am I Going?” HUANG Yun Sian, TSAI Yi Chin Outstanding Taiwanese film-maker of the year: Saburo LIU Special contribution award: LIAO Ching-sung

Visit www.goldenhorse.org.tw for details