Kathryn Bigelow, you rock!

Another year, another missed Oscars. I still have time to catch up on Hong Kong Film Award pictures though - and stalk the ceremony. Meanwhile, Kathryn Bigelow made many a girl proud last night with her Oscar for Best Director. I doubt her win will bring a tidal wave of new opportunities for women, but at least the award comes with some acknowledgment that chicks don't need a dashing chap to make a good movie. Really, Hollywood, even Hong Kong has its feminist act together, at least when it comes to recognizing female directors. Ann Hui added to her healthy collection of statues by winning for last year's 天水圍的日與夜 (The Way We Are), and previous Best Director recipients include Mabel Cheung, Sylvia Chang, and Clara Law, all of whom boast multiple pieces of HKFA hardware. Especially impressive since the ceremony isn't even 30 years old! Take note, Hollywood.

2010 Hong Kong Film Critics Society winners and Oscar nominations.

Results for the 16th Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards came in a couple weeks ago. There were a few interesting winners that infused some light into the dying Hong Kong cinematic fire. Best Picture went not to a shoot em up stuffed with stars but to KJ (音樂人生), a documentary about a local music prodigy. Meanwhile, Kara Hui (惠英紅), added another Best Actress trophy to her Golden Horse win for her performance as a distressed single mother in At the End of Daybreak (心魔). Mainland actor Wang Xueqi (王学圻) elbowed out all the other bodyguards and assassins, including Hu Jun, Tony Leung Ka-Fai, Leon Lai, Nic Tse, Eric Tsang, Simon Yam, and Donnie Yen, for the Best Actor prize in that movie (十月圍城). Of course it wouldn't be a proper Hong Kong film awards without some recognition for the star-laced hits that keep the industry afloat. Best Director went to Alan Mak and Felix Chong for the cops v financial industry thriller Overheard (竊聽風雲). Another Lau Ching-Wan film, Written By (再生號), took the top writing prize.

Shortlists include: Prince of Tears (淚王子); Tactical Unit - Comrades in Arms (機動部隊 - 同袍); McDull Kung Fu Ding Dong (麥兜粛噹噹); Michelle Ye; Zhang Jingchu (張靜初); Sammi Cheng; Ada Choi; Liu Kai-Chi (廖啟智); and Simon/Ching-Wan/Louis.

On the other side of the International Date Line, the Academy announced nominations for the 82nd annual awards. Entirely predictable in the categories that people care about, meaning that Avatar and The Hurt Locker cleaned up with nine nods a piece. Up in the Air grabbed the most acting nominations with 3 for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress(es). As usual, I have not seen most of the films but will be rooting for one of the 3 that I did see, In the Loop, which is up for Best Fucking Adapted Screenplay. Oscars drop March 7.