This year's film awards was clouded by the ominous presence of the atypical pneumonia virus which has nearly paralysed Hong Kong and its people. Many thought the awards would be postponed to a later date, especially with the recent death of pop icon Leslie Cheung. Yet, the producers had decided to go ahead with the ceremony, hoping that it would give hope to the people that the virus should not be something to be scared of.

Many top actors, singers, directors, and producers attended the show, giving their support, and paying tribute to the medical personnel who stand in the frontline tackling this mysterious and potentially deadly virus. The four Canto-pop kings (Jacky Cheung, Andy Lau, Leon Lai, and Aaron Kwok) appeared on stage for the first time in many years to sing a song in memory of Leslie Cheung.

As the awards went on, it appears that two films would take most of the awards: Hero and Infernal Affairs. It was no surprise that Hero won most of the technical awards while Infernal Affairs went home with the most prestigious including Best Supporting Actor, Best Actor, Best Director and Best Picture. In the end, both films ended up winning seven awards each.

Tony Leung Chiu Wai set a new record in Hong Kong Film Award history when he won his fourth Best Actor award. His previous awards were for Chungking Express, Happy Together and In the Mood for Love.

Biggest upset for the night goes to Sandra Ng for failing to win the Best Actress award. It was widely believed that it was hers for the taking after her mesmerising performance in Golden Chicken, but voters thought Lee Sin Je was better.

Overall, this year's bash was pretty much a subdued affair with several of the winners not turning up to accept their awards. It seems the virus scare is still on most people's thoughts with many of the audience wearing face masks to prevent catching the disease. Let's hope next year's awards would take place under better circumstances.

[Blue indicates the winners]

Best Picture

Golden Chicken
Hero
Hollwood Hong Kong
Infernal Affairs
Three
My Prediction = Infernal Affairs

Best Director

Peter Chan (Three)
Fruit Chan (Hollywood Hong Kong)
Zhang Yimou (Hero)
Law Chi Leung (Inner Senses)
Andrew Lau and Alan Mak (Infernal Affairs)
My Prediction = Andrew Lau and Alan Mak (Infernal Affairs)

Best Screenplay

Alan Mak and Felix Chong (Infernal Affairs)
Li Feng, Zhang Yimou and Wang Bin (Hero)
Fruit Chan (Hollywood Hong Kong)
Su Chao Bin and Chen Kuo Fu (Double Vision)
Jo Jo Hui and Matt Chow (Three)
My Prediction = Alan Mak and Felix Chong (Infernal Affairs)

Best Actor

Leon Lai (Three)
Tony Leung Kai Fai (Double Vision)
Leslie Cheung (Inner Senses)
Andy Lau (Infernal Affairs)
Tony Leung Chiu Wai (Infernal Affairs)
My Prediction = Tony Leung Chiu Wai (Infernal Affairs)

Best Actress

Lee Sin Je (The Eye)
Faye Wong (Chinese Odyssey 2002)
Maggie Cheung (Hero)
Sandra Ng (Golden Chicken)
Karena Lam (Inner Senses)
My Prediction = Sandra Ng (Golden Chicken)

Best Supporting Actor

Eric Tsang (Infernal Affairs)
Chapman To (Infernal Affairs)
Anthony Wong (Infernal Affairs)
Anthony Wong (Just One Look)
Anthony Wong (Princess-d)
My Prediction = Eric Tsang (Infernal Affairs)

Best Supporting Actress

Zhang Ziyi (Hero)
Rene Liu (Double Vision)
Eugenia Yuan (Three)
Krystal Tin (Golden Chicken)
Cecilia Yip (May & August)
My Prediction = Cecilia Yip (May and August)

Best New Performer

Eugenia Yuan (Three)
Wong You Nam (Just One Look)
Wong You Nam (Hollywood Hong Kong)
Wong Chun Chun (The Runaway Pistol)
Kate Yeung (Demi-haunted)
My Prediction = Wong You Nam (Hollwood Hong Kong)

Best Cinematography

Andrew Lau and Lai Yiu Fai (Infernal Affairs)
Christopher Doyle (Hero)
Christopher Doyle (Three)
Arthur Wong Ngok Tai (Double Vision)
Peter Pau (The Touch)
My Prediction = Christopher Doyle (Hero)

Best Action Design

Dion Lam (Infernal Affairs)
Tony Ching Siu Tung (Hero)
Cory Yuen and Guo Jianyong (So Close)
Philip Kwok (The Touch)
Stephen Tung (Princess-d)
My Prediction = Tony Ching Siu Tung (Hero)

Best Film Editing

Eric Kong (Three)
Zhai Ru and Angie Lam (Hero)
Pang Brothers (The Eye)
Wen Ze Ming (Double Vision)
Danny Pang and Pang Ching Hei (Infernal Affairs)
My Prediction = Zhai Ru and Angie Lam (Hero)

Best Art Direction

Huo Ting Xiao and Yi Zhen Zhou (Hero)
Tony Au (Chinese Odyssey 2002)
Yee Chung Man and Wong Bing Yiu (Golden Chicken)
Tim Yip (Double Vision)
Yee Chung Man (Three)
My Prediction = Yee Chung Man and Wong Bing Yiu (Golden Chicken)

Best Costume

Lee Pik Kwan (Infernal Affairs)
Yee Chung Man and Dora Ng (Golden Chicken)
Jessie Dai (Hollywood Hong Kong)
Emi Wada (Hero)
William Chang Suk Ping (Chinese Odyssey 2002)
My Prediction = Emi Wada (Hero)

Best Sound Design

Kinson Tsang (Inner Senses)
Kinson Tsang (Infernal Affairs)
Sunit Asvinikul (Three)
Tao Jing (Hero)
Sansab Team (The Eye)
My Prediction = Kinson Tsang (Infernal Affairs)

Best Original Film Score

Peter Kam and Cho Sung-Woo (Three)
Frankie Chan and Roel A. Garcia (Chinese Odyssey 2002)
Chu Hing Cheung and Lam Wah Chuen (Hollywood Hong Kong)
Chan Kwong Wing (Infernal Affairs)
Tan Dun (Hero)
My Prediction = Tan Dun (Hero)

Best Original Song

Infernal Affairs (Infernal Affairs)
Composer - Ronald Ng
Lyric - Lin Xi
Sung by - Tony Leung and Andy Lau

Today Next Year (If U Care)
Composer - Chan Siu Ha
Lyric - Lin Xi
Sung by - Eason Chan

Hero (Hero)
Composer - Wong Yiu Ming
Lyric - Lin Xi
Sung by - Faye Wong

I Fly - (Princess-d)
Composer - Jonathan Lee and Sakae Tetsuo
Lyric - Jonathan Lee
Sung by - Lee Sin Je

II (Visual Secret II)
Composer - Eason Chan
Lyric - Lin Xi
Sung by - Eason Chan

My Prediction = Hero

Best Visual Effects

Wu Jian Rong, Chiu Cheng Ning, Daniel Ho and Alan Tuan (Princess-d)
Jack Ho Man Chik, Rubens Chiu Wai Chun, Leung Wai Kit and Wong Hin Leung (The Eye)
Ellen Poon, Murray Pope, Richard Schlein, Luke O'Byrne (Hero)
Christopher Doyle (Infernal Affairs)
Peter Webb (Double Vision)
My Prediction = Hero

Best Asian Film

JSA (Joint Security Area) (Korea)
I Not Stupid (Singapore)
Big Shot's Funeral (China)
My Sassy Girl (Korea)
The Way Home (Korea)
My Prediction = My Sassy Girl

Best New Director

Law Chi Leung (Inner Senses)

Lifetime Achievement Award

Cho Tat Wah and Shek Kin