Latest news with #43rdHongKongFilmAwards
The Star
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Sean Lau says his perspective on fatherhood changed after starring in 'Papa'
Despite having no children of his own, Hong Kong actor Sean Lau Ching-wan delivers one of his most emotionally gripping performances yet as a father in the true crime film Papa . Directed by Philip Yung, the movie – which premiered at the 37th Tokyo International Film Festival in October 2024 – is based on a 2010 murder case in Tsuen Wan, where a mentally unstable teenager stabbed his mother and younger sister before turning himself in. But unlike the typical murder drama, Papa – now screening at cinemas nationwide – doesn't dwell on the horrific crime. 'It focuses more on the emotional wreckage left behind rather than the crime itself. 'It's not a murder tale but a story about emotional survival,' the 46-year-old told StarLifestyle in a recent roundtable interview alongside Lau on Zoom. Having previously directed Port Of Call (2015), another movie based on a real-life murder, Yung was careful to avoid sensationalism. Instead, he spent over 10 years developing the script and even met with the real father at the centre of the case to understand the emotional layers behind the tragedy. 'He has now moved on from the case. I don't know if he watched the movie. 'I learned about his emotions, his late wife and daughter, as well as his mentally ill son. 'Sadness doesn't have to be loud... The father cares for his son but he keeps his grief internal and his emotions well-hidden – that's what makes it more heartbreaking,' he said. A role that demands heart In Papa , Lau plays Nin – a humble cafe owner wrestling with intense survivor's guilt after his son Ming (Dylan So) murders his own mother (Jo Koo) and sister Grace (Lainey Hung). After being diagnosed with schizophrenia, Ming is sentenced to indefinite psychiatric care. Still, Nin continues to visit him twice a month, carrying his grief silently. In the film, Lau (right) plays Nin, a father struggling with survivor's guilt after his son murders his mother and his sister. For Lau, 61, the role marked a turn from the stoic personas he's often portrayed, pushing him to delve into a more emotionally raw and vulnerable territory. To embody Nin, he immersed himself fully in the character's quiet turmoil. 'I believe no man is born knowing how to be a father. 'You learn through life experiences – getting married, having kids and growing with them. 'I carried that mindset while filming and learned how to be a father along the way,' he said. That approach paid off as Lau's performance struck a chord with both audiences and critics, earning him his fourth Best Actor win at the 43rd Hong Kong Film Awards earlier in April. Lau was named Best Actor at the 43rd Hong Kong Film Awards on April 27, 2025, for his performance in 'Papa' . Photo: AP He had previously taken home the honour for Detective Vs Sleuths (2022), Overheard 3 (2014) and My Name Is Fame (2006). 'It's rare for my movies to have such a strong emotional impact on others. 'I was shocked because it wasn't impactful to just movie- goers – even friends who watched the film connected deeply with it. 'It made me realise my profession carries more weight than expected,' added the actor, who's married to former Miss Hong Kong winner Amy Kwok. Shifting perspective Yung praised Lau's performance, revealing that the latter had always been his first choice for the role of Nin. 'Kids feel close to him. I wanted the father in Papa to be loving, wise and grounded... Sean brought that out with great realism,' he said. Lau shared that prior to filming Papa , his understanding of fatherhood was fairly simple as he didn't share a close bond with his father and has no children of his own. However, his perspective has since shifted. 'It feels like I've gained some insight on fatherhood after filming, but at the same time, I feel like I haven't fully understood it. 'It's strange how something so simple carries so much weight,' he said. As for whether he had ever considered reaching out to the real father behind the case once more to personally thank him, Lau replied that he didn't want to disturb the man or risk reopening old wounds. 'I don't think we should pry too much into the father's life. I'm grateful for his tolerance. It was his patience that allowed us to complete this story.'
New Straits Times
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Tragic tale of a loving dad
IN conjunction with Fathers Day, an emotionally powerful and critically acclaimed Hong Kong film 'Papa' opened in Malaysian cinemas on June 12. This moving exploration of a father's unwavering love in the face of unthinkable tragedy, 'Papa' has won wide acclaim and recently swept three major awards at the 43rd Hong Kong Film Awards. Directed and written by Philip Yung, best known for the acclaimed 'Port of Call', the film stars award-winning actor Sean Lau Ching Wan in a career-defining role. At the 43rd Hong Kong Film Awards, 'Papa' earned honours for Best Actor — Sean Lau, Best Supporting Actress — Jo Koo and Best New Performer — Dylan So. In a recent interview, Philip said that these accolades are a testament to the film's exceptional storytelling and emotionally resonant performances. "Sean delivers one of the most powerful portrayals of his career as a father struggling with guilt, grief and love following an unimaginable family tragedy," he said. "His heart-wrenching performance rightfully earned him his fourth Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actor, solidifying his legacy as one of the finest actors in Hong Kong cinema." Philip said: "Jo's deeply moving role as the mother brings emotional depth to the film, and newcomer Dylan's remarkable debut as the tormented son earned him the Best New Performer award, marking the arrival of a promising new talent." Sean said the story is inspired by a real-life one that is terribly tragic, "but it's also one about a father's love and redemption 10 years in the making". He added that the crime that took place in Hong Kong in 2010 saw a teenage boy with schizophrenia killing two of his loved ones. "Yet the heart of the story is not the crime — it is the emotional journey of a father coping with the aftermath. "The film touches on themes of unconditional love, forgiveness and the strength of familial bonds, making it a deeply human and timely story." RAW Philip said 'Papa' is a raw, intimate and heartbreaking portrayal of a family torn apart, offering a cinematic experience that resonates long after the credits roll. The film is brought to Malaysia by Lotus Five Star Sdn Bhd and Five Star AV Sdn Bhd. CAFE 'Papa' tells the story of Nin (Sean), a cafe owner whose world is turned upside down when his son, Ming (Dylan), murders his own mother and sister. Diagnosed with schizophrenia, Ming is sentenced to indefinite psychiatric imprisonment until he recovers. "Left alone, Nin leads a quiet, solitary life, burdened by memories of his lost family. And despite the pain, he continues visiting Ming twice a month," said Sean. DEVOTED Sean describes Nin as a devoted father. "Although I don't have children in real life, I approached the role by learning how to be a father through the character's journey, just like how people learn in real life — by going through experiences. "It was definitely a new kind of role for me, very emotionally grounded, and one that made me reflect a lot." HARD Sean said the whole film felt like one complete experience. "Personally, I liked the scenes where the family was happy together. After they leave, every scene becomes a challenge, expressing those emotions is not easy." Sean has worked mainly with Jo Koo in the past. "I was happy to finally act closely with her as a couple — a great experience. I think she did wonderfully." SUNNY Sean would love to film in Malaysia some day, as he loves the friendliness of the people, the good food and the sunny weather. "I've visited Malaysia many times for promotional events, but never for filming. "During those trips, time was short — just one day, then I'd go buy chicken wings!" PROPER Philip said he had never worked directly with Sean, but is happy to do so. "Sean usually does big commercial films, but this is a more grounded, realistic story — a new kind of performance for him." He added that filming began in early 2023 and post-production took about two months. "All of the scenes were shot in Hong Kong, with some real locations — like Tsuen Wan Park where the son turned himself in — kept for authenticity." DIFFICULT Philip described the murder scene as the most difficult one, as it was painful and gruesome. "We were all so worried about young actress Lainy Hung's mental well-being and safety — her eye was injured during filming. "The emotional and physical intensity was extremely high, thank God everything turned out perfectly." Philip started working on the script in 2011 for a year. "The only major change was the ending scene where the son returns home — a symbolic gift to the real father and son." TRANSITED Philip would love to film in Malaysia, and to date has only "transited through" the country. "I know that Malaysia is a major market for Hong Kong films, so I'm currently developing a script set in Malaysia and hope to film and meet audiences there soon," he said. For future films, Philip hopes to do some that are set in Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur.
The Star
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
HK Film Awards: Sean Lau is Best Actor for 4th time, Michelle Wai wins 1st time
It was a 'family affair' at the Hong Kong Film Awards (HKFA) on April 27, with actors playing family members in the films Papa and The Last Dance clinching acting awards. Veteran actor Sean Lau, 61, won for his role as a father in Papa , which is based on the 2010 Heung Wo Street murders. The film is set in the aftermath of the tragedy, as the father navigates survivor guilt and seeks reconciliation with his teenage son, who killed his mother and sister. Lau was previously named Best Actor for Detective Vs Sleuths (2022), Overheard 3 (2014) and My Name Is Fame (2006). Hong Kong singer-actress Jo Koo, 47, who played his on-screen wife in Papa , and rookie Dylan So, 18, who played his son, won Best Supporting Actress and Best New Performer respectively. (From left) Edan Lui, Sean Lau, Jo Koo and Dylan So from the film 'Papa' arrive for the 43rd Hong Kong Film Awards on Sunday, April 27, 2025. Photo: AP Lau thanked the team, Papa 's director and screenwriter Philip Yung and his real-life wife – former actress Amy Kwok – for his win. The actor also thanked the real-life father on whom the film is based, who gave his approval for the film after Yung had approached him several times. Meanwhile, the Best Actress award went to hot favourite Michelle Wai in The Last Dance , which explores the meaning of life and death through funeral rituals. This was the first Best Actress win for Wai, 40, who has been in the industry for 17 years. She won for her role as an ambulance medic who is the daughter of a hard-nosed Taoist priest, played by veteran actor Michael Hui. Hui, 82, missed out in the Best Actor category, which he last won at the inaugural HKFA in 1982 for the comedy Security Unlimited . Actor Tommy Chu, who played Hui's son and Wai's brother in The Last Dance, was named Best Supporting Actor. This was the first award at the HKFA for the 42-year-old. The Last Dance, Hong Kong's top-grossing film in 2024, also won for Best Screenplay, Best Original Film Score and Best Original Film Song. (From left) Aaron Kwok, director Soi Cheang, Louis Zoo and producer John Chong react with the cast and crew of 'Twilight Of The Warriors: Walled In' after winning the Best Film Award during the 43rd Hong Kong Film Awards. Photo: AP Twilight Of The Warriors: Walled In emerged as the biggest winner of the night after clinching nine awards, including for Best Picture and Best Director for Soi Cheang. Cheang, 52, also won Best Director for the mystery drama Mad Fate at the HKFA in 2024. A crime action film set in the notorious Kowloon Walled City in the 1980s, Twilight Of The Warriors was based on the nove l City Of Darkness by writer Yuyi and the comics of the same name by artist Andy Seto. The film featured Hong Kong stars such as Raymond Lam, Louis Koo and Sammo Hung, as well as younger actors like Terrance Lau, Tony Wu and German Cheung. Twilight Of The Warriors also claimed other awards such as Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Art Direction and Best Action Choreography. Koo, 54, who played the godfather of the Walled City , said during the Best Film acceptance speech that he hoped to see the younger actors taking the Hong Kong movie industry to the next level in subsequent HKFAs. Tony Leung Chiu-wai (left) and Carina Lau attend the 43rd Hong Kong film awards. Photo: AP The Best New Director went to Robin Lee for the documentary Four Trails , while the Best Asian Chinese Language Film went to Taiwan's Old Fox , directed by Hsiao Ya-chuan and starring actor Liu Kuan-ting. The Lifetime Achievement Award went to director Tsui Hark and film producer Shi Nan Sun. – The Straits Times/Asia News Network
Time Out
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
‘Twilight of the Warriors' dominates at Hong Kong Film Awards, while Sean Lau wins Best Actor
The 43rd Hong Kong Film Awards (HKFA) took place at Tsim Sha Tsui's Hong Kong Cultural Centre on April 27, honouring the best of local films and our city's cinematic talents. A total of 17 Hong Kong films and 5 Asian Chinese-language films were nominated for awards, and if you've kept an eye on our city's movie industry and reviews over the past year, then it should come as no surprise that Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In was pretty much the runaway winner. Soi Cheang's martial arts epic was nominated in 14 categories at the HKFA 2025, and ended up winning nine awards, for Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Art Direction, Best Costume & Makeup Design, Best Action Choreography, Best Sound Design, Best Visual Effects, as well as the top prize of Best Film. This action thriller set in the old Kowloon Walled City of the 80s is one of Hong Kong's most successful pictures in recent years, attracting at least 1.59 million box office views since premiering in May 2024, was chosen to represent our city in the Best International Feature Film category at the Oscars, and was also shown in the Midnight Screening of the Cannes Film Festival 2024. The Last Dance was also a firm favourite for many, receiving the most number of nominations at this year's HKFA at 18 categories. This drama about a Taoist priest and a wedding planner who team up to run funeral services won a total of five awards, including Best Screenplay, Best Original Film Score, and Best Original Film Song. Notably, Michelle Wai won Best Actress for her work in this film, while Tommy Chu took home the Best Supporting Actor award, winning against other established talents such as Louis Koo, Paul Chun Pui, Siuyea Lo Chun-yip, and Philip Ng. The Last Dance is Hong Kong's highest-grossing film. Meanwhile, the honour of the Best Actor award went to Sean Lau for his role in the gripping and heartwrenching drama Papa. Other nominated actors in the category include Raymond Lam for Twilight of the Warriors, Neo Yau Hawk Sau for The Way We Talk, Michael Hui for The Last Dance, and Aaron Kwok for Rob N Roll. This marks Lau's fourth win in this category of the HKFA, and just last month, he also won Best Actor for this movie at the 18th Asian Film Awards. In total, Papa clinched three wins last night, including Jo Koo for Best Supporting Actress and Dylan So for Best New Performer. Other notable awards handed out at the HKFA include Robin Lee winning Best New Director for Four Trails, which documents endurance runners taking on one of Hong Kong's most daunting athletic challenges. The Taiwanese film Old Fox by Hsiao Ya-chuan was also awarded Best Asian Chinese Language Film. Finally, veteran Hong Kong filmmaker Tsui Hark and his long-time professional and romantic partner Shi Nan Sun were both honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award for their work in the Hong Kong film industry since the 80s.
South China Morning Post
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Teen crowned ‘best newcomer' at Hong Kong Film Awards for role in Papa
A teenager has been crowned 'best newcomer' at the Hong Kong Film Awards, beating a veteran kung fu artist and pop stars. Advertisement The 43rd Hong Kong Film Awards on Sunday revealed the first major result of the night, with Dylan So, who was just 16 when he played the role of a killer son in Papa, scooping the prize for best newcomer. Papa, starring veteran actor Sean Lau Ching-wan, tells the story of a cha chaan teng boss who dwells on the memory of his deceased wife and young daughter, who were killed by his eldest son one night in 2008. Simultaneously, he struggles to maintain his role as a father and navigate his relationship with his son, which is both familial and hostile. In a speech after receiving his award from veteran actor Tony Leung Chiu-wai, So thanked his family and film producers for giving him the opportunity, and also his movie 'parents', Lau and 'mum' Jo Koo Cho-lam. Advertisement 'I really want to tackle youthful, school drama next,' So told reporters after his win, when asked about the role he wanted to play next. The other nominees were Lau Wai-ming, also known as Jozev Kiu, for his portrayal of 'Double Blade' in Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In. At 56, he was the oldest nominee.
