Hollywood‑in‑Hainan: Sylvia Chang Clinches Golden Horse Crown
Drama happening in Taiwan’s glittering film scene brought a thrilling highlight: veteran actress Sylvia Chang stepped onto stage, clutching the coveted Golden Horse Award for Best Leading Actress. She outshone a pack of formidable contenders, one of whom was Singapore’s own Hong Huifang.
The Spotlight Piece: A Light Never Goes Out
- Film: A Light Never Goes Out
- Role: a widowed neon‑sign maestro battling heartache.
- Chant: “I’m working hard for my late husband’s legacy.”
With a clench of the microphone, Chang dedicated the trophy to her mum, who once dreamed of acting but had to settle for the behind‑the‑scenes life—an irony that has a hint of “the universe’s sense of humor.”
“It was my mum’s dream bubbling in the universe. I’m just the vessel,” she sighed. “She handed me the torch. I’ll keep burning.”
Why the Award ‘Glows’ in Taiwan
Chang’s win made sure the Golden Horse—a prestigious award that for years has shaped the Asian film landscape—found a rightful home in Taipei. But the evening wasn’t all single triumphs.
Hong Huifang, a Singaporean hair‑in‑the‑wind actress best known for the indie gem Ajoomma, also swirled into the ceremony, bringing a story of Korea‑drama addict housewife’s impromptu Seoul escape.
Hong’s Heart‑Play: she was hopeful, but the Berlin‑style awards proved that storytelling isn’t about accolades alone.
Time‑Traveling: The Ajoomma Saga
- Seven years of script‑to‑screen saga.
- Led by director He Shuming and co‑writer Kris Ong.
- Best Sounds: He even snagged Best New Director with a self‑confident swagger.
Even without trophy haul, Hong and He shared a belly laugh. Hong confessed a feeling of “smallness” for not bringing home Singapore’s universal dreams, yet still ate up the spotlight like a plate of bibimbap.
He articulated the emotional weight behind the win: “Being surrounded by filmmaking comrades from across the region felt like a Wake‑up‑call that I am already a winner.”
Internally: the Inspirational Lens
Both Hong and He deep‑dive into the narrative’s focus on mom‑love, look at the boundaries of modern desires and cultural mix‑ups.
He added: “Ajoomma was created for our mums—this film shows our global affection. The audiences are right there, cheering.”
Side Stories: Not Just for Horror
Sunny Pang, a Singaporean stunt maestro, rubbed his hands for a nomination in Best Action Choreography for the local crime thriller Geylang. He too met defeat, but accepted the honor with a grin, reminiscent of a Kung‑Fu Panda vibe, saying “I’m lucky to be nominated.”
The Afterglow and Looking Ahead
Running out of prizes can be a lesson, but more importantly, the night reinforced the fact that smile‑tempted soul potents, a packed auditorium charged with a mixture of golden glint and human narratives.
For Sylvia Chang: She’s planning the next act—constructing a neon‑wheelhouse of stories, vowing to keep the industry in awe.
For all film geeks: The Golden Horse remains a catalyst for golden dreams, proving that good film is the most entertaining form of comedy, joy, and heartbreak told in a single night.
<img alt="" data-caption="(From left) He Shuming, Hong Huifang, Jung Dong-hwan and Kris Ong.
PHOTO: Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival Executive Commitee” data-entity-type=”file” data-entity-uuid=”174ecd52-7311-4a02-91df-8bd742d94df5″ src=”/sites/default/files/inline-images/goldenawards.png”/>
Singapore’s Silver Stars Shine at the Golden Horse Awards
Remember the slice‑of‑life gem Ilo Ilo? That was the spark that flipped Singapore’s film scene into the spotlight at the Golden Horse Awards. In 2013, director Anthony Chen’s heartfelt tale snatched four top prizes, including Best Feature Film. Since then, local talents have been running like the Singapore MRT—fast, efficient, and cracking the big awards.
Anthony Chen’s Moment‑of‑Glory
When Chen sits on the Golden Horse stage, he literally goes all‑in. “Watching the awards feels like a wake‑up call for my heart,” he says. “It’s a Chinese festival that doesn’t care about borders, languages or cities. The Golden Horse welcomes Koreans, Pakistanis, Japanese, Vietnamese, Thais—all sharing one living room moment.”
How Do Films Qualify?
To join the cut‑ting edge, a film must either have at least half its dialogue in Chinese or involve more than half of its core creative crew as people of Chinese origin. Think of it as a glamour filter: Chinese vibes = acceptance.
Also, BIG news: this has been the 59th edition, and it’s still often called the “Oscars of Chinese‑language cinema.”
The Big Night Highlights
If you thought it was all about the local crowd, think again. Malaysian star Lau Kok Rui stole the night’s spotlight with his film The Sunny Side Of The Street. It’s a sweet story of a Hong‑kong taxi driver and a Pakistani child refugee bumping into life’s improbable friendship.
His awards:
- Best Original Screenplay – Lau Kok Rui (The Sunny Side Of The Street)
- Best New Director – Lau Kok Rui (The Sunny Side Of The Street)
Meanwhile, veteran Hong kong legend Anthony Wong bagged Best Leading Actor for his gritty performance in the same film.
Other Key Winners
- Best Director: Laha Mebow – Gaga
- Best Leading Actress: Sylvia Chang – A Light Never Goes Out
- Best Supporting Actress: Kagaw Piling – Gaga
- Best Supporting Actor: Berant Zhu – Bad Education
- Best Narrative Feature: Coo‑Coo 043 – A quirky pigeon‑racing drama from Taiwan
The Golden Horse Awards showed again that great stories cross borders like popcorn kernels—they end up in everyone’s good‑movie hall.
Original source: The Straits Times – Reproduction requires permission.
