'Mother' Tops Asian Film Awards

The story of a mother who struggles to save her son from a murder accusation, also garnered Kim Hye-ja the award for best actress, and Bong and Park Eun-kyo the award for best screenwriter.

The star-studded event saw 14 awards handed out at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center where veejay and model Lisa S. emceed the broadcast for ATV and FOX.

Lu Chuan of China was named best director for his Nanjing massacre drama “City of Life and Death," and the best actor award went to China's Wang Xueqi for his performance in “Bodyguards and Assassins."

No prizes went to Japan this year, a letdown after Japanese films took home five AFA prizes in 2009.

Winners at the fourth Asian Film Awards

Best film: “Mother"

Best director: Lu Chuan, “City of Life and Death"

Best actor: Wang Xueqi, “Bodyguards and Assassins"

Best actress: Kim Hye-ja, “Mother"

Best supporting actor: Nicholas Tse, “Bodyguards and Assassins"

Best supporting actress: Wai Ying-hung, “At the End of Daybreak"

Best newcomer: Ng Meng Hui, “At the End of Daybreak"

Best screenwriter: Bong Joon-ho, Park Eun-kyo, “Mother"

Best cinematographer: Cao Yu, “City of Life and Death"

Best production designer: Alain-Pascal Housiaux, Patrick Dechesne, Lee Tian-jue, “Face"

Best composer: Lo Ta-yu, “Vengeance"

Best editor: Lee Chatametikool, “Karaoke"

Best visual effects: Yi Zeon-hyung, “Thirst"

Best costume designer: Tina Kalivas, Vaughan Alexander, “Goemon"

Lifetime achievement award: Amitabh Bachchan

Outstanding contribution to Asian film: Zhang Yimou

2009 top-grossing director: John Woo, “Red Cliff II"