Best actress Kara Hui and best actor Simon Yam pose at 29th Hong Kong Film Awards on April 18 (CFP)

A big-budget action-suspense saga and a small-scale sentimental family drama swept the 29th Hong Kong Film Awards Sunday night.

Bodyguards and Assassins won eight awards, including best film and best director for Teddy Chen. The all-star blockbuster focuses on a group of men from all walks of life who were recruited to protect Sun Yat-Sen from imperial assassins during a secret visit to Hong Kong in 1905.

The film also picked up six other awards, including best supporting actor for Nicholas Tse, best action choreography and best cinematography.

Judging from the applause, Tse's acceptance speech was also winner. "It's delightful to get an award, but I act in movies because I love it, not because of aiming to get awards. If I didn't get this, I would still diligently play my role in my next film."

Alex Law won best screenplay for his autobiographical story Echoes of the Rainbow, which he also directed. The film won three other awards: best actor for Simon Yam; best newcomer for Aarif Lee, as well as best original film song.

Kara Hui was named best actress for her performance in At the End of Daybreak, a tense drama about a family that was shattered when the son faced rape allegations. Michelle Ye received the best supporting actress award for the action thriller Accident.

(CRIENGLISH.com April 19, 2010)