Golden Horse Gala: Stars, Statements, and Show‑Stopping Drama
TL;DR: Taipei has turned into the Asian Oscars weekend – directors, actors, and even political activism collide on the red carpet while Zhang Yimou strides toward another chance at that coveted Golden Horse.
What’s the Buzz?
- Zhang Yimou’s Shadow is the hot ticket, up for 12 nods, including Best Film, Director, and both leading acting honors.
- The comedy Dear EX (yes, the title’s been a meme) follows with eight nominations, folks, especially the win‑hopeful Mag Hsu and Hsu Chih‑yen as new directors.
- Two documentaries clash: Our Youth In Taiwan and Umbrella Diaries: The First Umbrella – both about protest movements that felt very Real‑Life since 2014.
Who’s on the Red Carpet?
Imagine a mix of Hollywood glam, Hong Kong swagger, and Chinese cinema swagger.
- Lee Ang – the Taiwanese‑American Lady of Hollywood.
- Gong Li – the one who turns every film into a visual art piece.
- Andy Lau – the “heavenly king” of Hong Kong, still making waves.
Best Director Showdown
All nominees are Chinese – the competition is intense:
- Zhang Yimou (the legend hunting for a director win).
- Jiang Wen (a former star turned director).
- Lou Ye.
- Bi Gan – 29, yet with a sharp edge.
- Pema Tseden – the Tibetan wizard of film.
Jiang won his first director award back in ’96 with “In The Heat of The Sun,” whereas Zhang has been chasing that title since… well, because it’s a classic.
Best Acting Awards
Chinese actors dominate again. In Dear EX, Roy Chiu battles Hsieh Ying‑xuan for a home win. Meanwhile, Zhang’s own Deng Chao steps into the ring as leading man.
- Deng Chao – fighting for Best Actor against Xu Zheng, Duan Yihong, and Peng Yuchang.
- Sun Li – Deng’s on‑screen wife, contending for Best Actress with Zhou Xun, Zhao Tao, and Zeng Meihuizi.
- Marvelous movies like Long Day’s Journey Into Night, Dying To Survive, and An Elephant Sitting Still snag best film nominations.
Where It All Began
The 55th Golden Horse Awards start at 7 pm on the night of Nov 17, at Taipei’s Sun Yat‑sen Memorial Hall – expecting a pageant as dazzling as a film premiere.
Final Takeaway
From ink‑brushed martial arts epics to running street protests that inspired entire films, the Golden Horse captures the heartbeat of Chinese‑language cinema. And yes, the red carpet’s been a hot spot for giddy selfies, witty one‑liners, and that moment when Shadow makes yet another star chase the ultimate prize.
