Director Hou Hsiao-hsien has been receiving acclaim for his film "The Assassin." (Photo : Getty Images)
"The Assassin," helmed by veteran filmmaker Hou Hsiao-hsien, bagged eight awards including Best Film, Best Director and Best Actress, sweeping the 10th annual Asian Film Awards held in Macao, China.org reported.
The film stars Taiwanese actress Shu Qi, who played the role of a female assassin tasked to kill her home province's governor, who also happens to be her lover. The film was set in the Tang Dynasty era.
"Thank you director Hou Hsiao-hsien, thank you for 'The Assassin,' and thank you to the bandages and medicine that helped get me through the two years of filming and production," the actress said during her acceptance speech.
For winning eight awards, the film made a new record as the most awarded film in the Asian Film Awards history. The title was previously held by Won Kar-wai's "The Grandmaster," which bagged seven awards in 2014.
Prior to the movie's Asian Film Awards victory, the film has already earned much international acclaim, including the 2015 Cannes Film Festival's Best Director award for Hou.
Meanwhile, South Korean star Lee Byung-hun bagged the Best Actor award for the political thriller "The Inside Men," beating Chinese filmmaker Feng Xiaogang who took the lead role in "Mr. Six."
Nonetheless, Xiaogang still emerged victorious for receiving the Asian Film Awards 10th Anniversary Special Award.
The Best Supporting Actor award was handed to Asano Tadanobu for the film "Journey to the Shore," while Zhou Yun received the Best Supporting Actress award.
For Jessie Li's performance of the thriller "Port of Call," the actress won the Best Newcomer award. The acclaimed film also won the Best Editing award.
India's "Bajirao Mastani" won Best Visual Effects, while China's romantic film "Mountains May Depart" won Best Screenplay.
This year's Lifetime Achievement award went to Hong Kong martial arts choreographer Yuen Wo-ping. Among his works are "The Matrix," "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon,"" Kill Bill" and "Ip Man 3."
Veteran actress Kirin Kiki also received a trophy.
A total of 36 films from nine Asian countries competed in the film awards' 10th edition. The event was organized by the Hong Kong International Film Festival and was hosted at Macao's Venetian resort.
