'Raging Fire' Edges Out 'Anita' to Win Best Film at 40th Hong Kong Film Awards

Taking place for the first time in person since 2019, the event was held on Sunday at the Kowloon Bay International Trade & Exhibition Centre after months of postponement. Edging out 2021’s highest grossing Hong Kong film “Anita” to earn the title of coveted Best Film was action thriller “Raging Fire,” starring crowd pleasers Donnie Yen and Nicholas Tse.

“Raging Fire” is the final film of director Benny Chan, who passed away from cancer in August 2020 when it was still in post-production. Chan was also honoured with the awards for Best Director, Best Editing, and Best Action Choreography.

The film that swept up most of its nominations was “Anita,” which had ticked off a total of five awards for Best Costume and Makeup Design, Best Supporting Actress awarded to Fish Liew, Best New Performer awarded to Louise Wong, and Best Sound Design.

"They helped me gradually understand Anita and the role," Wong remarks. "I'm very grateful that I could experience her life."

For the top picks on what to watch from the 2022 Hong Kong Film Awards cohort, check out our breakdown of the top finalists here. See below for the full list of winners from Sunday night.

Best Film: “Raging Fire”

Best Director: Benny Chan (“Raging Fire”)

New Director: Chan Kin-long (“Hand-Rolled Cigarette”)

Best Actor: Patrick Tse as Tin (“Time”)

Best Supporting Actor: Fung Ho Yeung as So Wa Wai (“Zero to Hero”)

Best Actress: Cya Liu as Wong To (“Limbo”)

Best Supporting Actress: Fish Liew as Ann Mui (“Anita”)

Best New Performer: Louise Wong as Anita Mui (“Anita”)

Best Screenplay: Shum Kwan Sin and Au Kin-yee (“Limbo”)

Best Costume & Makeup Design: Karen Yip and Dora Ng (“Anita”)

Best Art Direction: Renee Wong and Kenneth Mak (“Limbo”)

Best Action Choreography: Donnie Yen, Kenji Tanigaki, Nicki Li, Ku Huen-chiu (“Raging Fire”)

Best Cinematography: Cheng Siu-Keung (“Limbo”)

Best Original Film Song: Endy Chow, Chiu Sin-hang, Cheng Man for “Origin of Time” (“One Second Champion”)

Best Original Film Score: Ryuichi Sakamoto (“Love After Love”)

Best Sound Design: Wu Shu-yao and Tu Duu-chich (“Anita”)

Best Visual Effects: Yu Kwok-leung and Garrett Lam (“Anita”)

Best Film Editing: Curran Pang (“Raging Fire”)

Best Asian Chinese Language Film: “American Girl” (Dir. Feng-I Fiona Roan)

Lifetime Achievement Award: Michael Hui

Professional Achievement Award: Shou-Guo Zhong