What to Watch: 13 Best Movies Nominated at the 40th Hong Kong Film Awards

Calling all film lovers!

We’ve got great news for you as the Hong Kong Film Awards Association (HKFAA) will be hosting the 40th Hong Kong Film Awards on July 17, 2022.

Happening at the Star Hall at the Kowloonbay International Trade and Exhibition Centre, the event was approved by the Hong Kong government in line with the easing of social distancing measures from April, following delays due to the pandemic.

Nominees for 19 categories were announced in mid-February and voting ended last April 30.

Before the special day happens, let’s delve into the nitty-gritty of the films that are nominated at the Hong Kong Film Awards 2022.

‘Hand Rolled Cigarette’

“Hand Rolled Cigarette” is a neo-noir film about a British-Chinese veteran and a young South Asian man whose lives are intertwined by debt, suicide, theft, gunfights, and smuggling.

“Hand Rolled Cigarette” had its world premiere at the 17th Hong Kong Asian Film Festival in November 2020 and won the White Mulberry Award at the 23rd Far East Film Festival in July

2021. Upon its debut in Hong Kong, the film garnered HK$1.8 million during its opening weekend in 2020.

Nominations: Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Costume and Make Up Design, Best Film Editing, Best Action Choreography, Best Actor (Ka-Tung Lam), Best New Director (Kin Long Chan)

‘One Second Champion’ 

This is the story of a single father who is given the ability to have a glimpse of the future for one second. He eventually meets a boxing coach who encourages him to unleash his full potential using his gift every time he steps into the ring.

Can his extraordinary ability help him win or will it distract him? Find out and watch the trailer below.

Nominations: Best Action Choreography, Best Original Film Song, Best Screenplay, and Best New Director (Sin-Hang Chiu)

‘Shock Wave 2’

“Shock Wave 2” is a Hong Kong-Chinese action film and is a standalone sequel to “Shock Wave” in 2017. It features a new storyline and characters starring Andy Lau, who played as a former bomb disposal officer and became a terrorist expert in explosives.

The film was officially released in cinemas last December 2020 and amassed HK$226.4 million worldwide, making it the 10th highest-grossing movie in 2020.

Nominations: Best Action Choreography, Best Film Editing, Best Sound Design, and Best Visual Effects.

‘Limbo’

“Limbo” is a black-and-white action, mystery, and thriller movie that features a rookie policeman (portrayed by Hong Kong Film Award winner Lam Ka Tung) and his partner (Mason Lee) whose mission is to capture a brutal murderer of women in Hong Kong.

“Limbo” was the most nominated film at the Hong Kong Film Awards, where it was included in 14 different categories.

Nominations: Best Action Choreography, Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Costume and Make Up Design, Best Film Editing, Best Original Film Score, Best Picture, Best Screenplay, Best Sound Design, Best Visual Effects, Best Supporting Actress (Fish Liew), Best Actor (Ka Tung Lam), Best Actress (Yase Liu), Best Director (Soi Cheang)

‘Raging Fire’

With eight nominations across various categories, Raging Fire is the fourth most nominated film at the Hong Kong Film Awards 2022. There are two main characters in this film: Cheung Sung-bong, a senior inspector of the Regional Crime Unit, and Yau Kong-ngo, Cheung's protégé.

When it comes to his job, Cheung Sung-bong is a strict and uncompromising senior inspector. To him, principles are more important than friendship or comradery.

Nominations: Best Action Choreography, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Original Film Song, Best Picture, Best Sound Design, Best Visual Effects, Best Director (Benny Chan)

‘Anita’

Anita is a biographical musical drama film featuring the life of legendary Cantopop star, Anita Mui. The story narrates her childhood life until her death from cervical cancer.

Despite its mixed reviews, “Anita” became a box-office hit on its premiere in 2021, earning HK$12 million. You can watch its five-episode mini-series on Disney+ through Star. It has received a total of 12 nominations for consideration in a variety of categories for the upcoming Hong Kong Picture Awards 2022, making it the second most nominated film overall.

Nominations: Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Costume and Make Up Design, Best Original Film Score, Best Picture, Best Sound Design, Best Visual Effects, Best Supporting Actor (Louis Koo), Best Supporting Actress (Fish Liew), Best Director (Lok Man Leung), Best Actress and Best New Performer (Louise Wong)

‘Love After Love’

“Love After Love” is a Chinese erotic romantic drama film set during the Second World War that features the life of a young girl named Ge Weilong from Shanghai who traveled to Hong Kong. She moved away to pursue her education, but she eventually began working for her aunt, who was in the business of seducing wealthy men.

The film had its world premiere at the 77th Venice International Film Festival in September 2022.

Nominations: Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Costume and Make Up Design, Best Original Film Score.

‘Drifting’

“Drifting” tells the story of an ex-prisoner Fai based on the real-life court case that happened in Sham Shui Po involving unhoused people. He is welcomed by other people without housing, but authorities force them to leave while their possessions go missing. Meanwhile, a young social worker Ms. Ho gets involved and attempts to resolve this issue.

The film has been nominated for 11 Hong Kong Film Awards, making it the third most nominated film overall.

Nominations: Best Art Direction, Best Original Film Score, Best Original Film Score, Best Picture, and Best Screenplay. Moreover, Best New Director (Jun LI), Best Actor (Francis Ng), Best Supporting Actor (Kwan-Ho Tse), Best Supporting Actress (Loletta Lee), Best New Performer and Best Supporting Actor (Will Or)

‘Dynasty Warriors’

“Dynasty Warriors” was adapted from a Japanese video game franchise of the same title. Released in 2021, the fantasy-action film is set during the time of the Eastern Han Dynasty and focuses on the thirst for power and authority. It features actors and actresses from Hong Kong, China, and Taiwan.

Nomination: Best Costume and Make Up Design

‘The Battle at Lake Changjin’

“The Battle at Lake Changjin” is an “epic historical tale” that talks about the battle of the People’s Volunteer Army as they enter North Korea.

The fictitious war takes place at Lake Changjin, also referred to as the Chosin Reservoir, enveloped in extremely cold weather that poses an extra challenge to the military forces engaged in the conflict. Expect to see plenty of battlefields, military involvement, and survival and escape scenes.

Nominations: Best Film Editing, Best Sound Design, Best Visual Effects

‘Time’

The story begins with a renowned retired assassin who joins a group known as "killer for hire" The group helps elderly people kill themselves to spare them from suffering. This practice, however, changes when the gang comes across a young woman who asks for their assistance in committing suicide after being abandoned by both her parents and her lover.

Find out how the group plans to satisfy the young girl's desires before they leave their current position and retire.

Nominations: Best Actor (Yin Tse), Best New Performer and Best Supporting Actress (Suet-Ying Chung), Best Screenplay, Suet Lam (Best Supporting Actor)

‘Zero to Hero’

“Zero to Hero” is a biographical sports drama film featuring the life of So Wa Wai. He is the first athlete from Hong Kong to win a gold medal in the Paralympics. The movie depicts the personal and physical battles that he endured while pursuing his dream of becoming successful, with the assistance of his mother.

Nominations: Best Actress (Sandra Kwan Yue Ng), Best Actor (Chung-Hang Leung), Best New Performer (Ho Yeung Fung and Chung-Hang Leung), Best Original Film Score, Best Original Film Song, Best Picture, Best Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor ((Ho Yeung Fung)

‘The Way We Keep Dancing’

“The Way We Keep Dancing” is a musical drama film that features hip-hop street dancers, rappers, and local artists from the Kowloon Industrial District who attempt to preserve their culture and way of life through their artistic expression.

Find out what challenges and struggles the group will face in order to combat the “seemingly unstoppable wave of gentrification” among their community.

Nomination: Best Original Film Song