Carina Lau and Nicholas Tse, winners of the best actress and actor awards respectively, pose backstage at the 30th Hong Kong Film Awards on April 17 (CFP)

Two kungfu movies, one a mystery epic, the other a comedy, swept the 30th Hong Kong Film Awards on April 17.

Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame won six awards, including best director for Tsui Hark and best actress for Carina Lau.

Set in the Tang Dynasty (618-907), the film is based on legendary court judge Di Renjie, who is summoned by the Empress Wu Zetian to investigate a series of mysterious deaths.

The film also picked up four other awards, including best art direction, best costume and make-up design and best visual and sound effects.

Carina Lau started her acceptance speech with a laughter. "Every time I felt happy for being nominated, but I always ended up seeing others went home with awards," Lau said. "I'm used to feeling disappointed. So, I'm so excited when I finally got the award this time."

Teddy Robin won the best supporting actor for his role in Gallants, which also earned him the prize for best original film song.

The film, which has taken the best film award, helped Susan Shaw take home the best supporting actress.

Nicholas Tse has claimed best actor for his performance in the police thriller The Stool Pigeon, an action film about a police detective in Kowloon whose reliance on informants leaves him struggling with a guilty conscience.

Oscar-winning cinematographer Peter Pau, who won an Academy Award for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, was honored for his work on Confucius.

(CRIENGLISH.com April 18, 2011)