Image copyrightReutersImage caption Zhang Yimou had never won a Golden Horse until now One of China's most acclaimed directors, a rising star with a tragic story and a documentary charting mass protests have all won top prizes at this year's Golden Horse awards.The 55th annual awards - dubbed the "Chinese Oscars" - were held in the Taiwanese capital Taipei on Saturday.Zhang Yimou's Shadow took home the most awards, including Best Director for the 68-year-old screen veteran.Best Film went to novelist-turned-director Hu Bo for his first feature.An Elephant Sitting Still was an adaptation of his own novel, which told the story of four people who run away from their troubles to search for a mythical elephant.Hu took his own life in the Chinese capital Beijing last year, aged 29.
His mother accepted the award on his behalf, thanking the jury and the audience.Best documentary was won by Yue Fu, for Our Youth in Taiwan, about the island's 2014 Sunflower Movement.Accepting the award, she said: " "I hope one day our country will be recognised and treated as a truly independent entity.
This is my biggest wish as a Taiwanese." Taiwan's status is sensitive.
The island has been self-ruling since 1949 but China regards it as a breakaway province it will reunite with one day.Image copyrightReutersImage caption Yue Fu (right) documented Taiwan's 2014 mass protests Worries for future awardsBy Cindy Sui, TheIndianSubcontinent News, TaipeiPolitics got in the way last night and threatens future awards ceremonies.
Fu Yue, a Taiwanese winner who made a documentary about Taiwan's anti-China Sunflower Movement, dropped a bombshell in her acceptance speech, saying that she really hoped Taiwan would become an independent country one day.
Mainland Chinese former Best Actor winner Tu Men then raised more eyebrows by saying he was honoured to present an award in "China, Taiwan" a phrase many Taiwanese object to.
He added the two sides were like a close family.Oscar award-winning director Ang Lee tried to defuse the tensions by calling for politics to be kept out of the awards.
But leading Chinese actress Gong Li, chair of the jury, declined to stand on stage with him, reportedly because of the Taiwanese documentary winner's pro-independence comment.Many Chinese celebrities reportedly did not attend the after-ceremony party and left Taiwan early.
This is leaving Ang Lee, who chairs of the Golden Horse committee, very worried about next year's awards.
The festival and awards bring together the best in Chinese-language films and has been able to avoid politics in the past, but not apparently in the current tense atmosphere.The Golden Horse film awards: Who won whatBest Feature Film: An Elephant Sitting StillBest Director: Zhang Yimou, ShadowBest Leading Actor: Xu Zheng, Dying to SurviveBest Leading Actress: Hsieh Ying-xuan, Dear EXBest Supporting Actor: Ben Yuen, TraceyBest Supporting Actress: Ding Ning, Cities of Last ThingsBest New Director: Wen Muye, Dying to SurviveBest New Performer: Si Pangoyod, Long Time No SeaBest Documentary:"Our Youth in TaiwanOutstanding Taiwanese Filmmaker of the Year: Saburo Liu