Taiwan director, HK actor to receive Golden Horse achievement award

Taipei, July 27 (CNA) Veteran Taiwanese director Wang Toon (王童) and Hong Kong martial arts actor Jimmy Wang (王羽), whose cinematic careers span over a century combined, are to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 56th Golden Horse Awards (GHA) in November, according to the organizers Friday.

The Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival Executive Committee announced Wang Toon and Jimmy Wang as recipients of the award and commended their dedication to the film industry in a statement that day.

A recipient of six awards at the GHA, Wang Toon won best color film art design for "Feng Yeh Ching" (楓葉情) in 1976, best clothing design for "All the King's Men" (天下第一) in 1983, best art direction and best clothing design for "Run Away" (策馬入林) in 1985, and best director for "Strawman" (稻草人) in 1987 and "Hill of No Return" (無言的山丘) in 1992, the statement said.

The first film Wang Toon directed "If I Were for Real" (假如我是真的) also received best feature film at the GHA in 1981, the statement added.

Wang Toon's cinematic career started when he began working for Central Motion Picture Co. in 1966, starting out in an entry level position in the company's film studio, working his way up to become head of the studio, the statement said.

He has since directed numerous movies that have helped shape the industry as well as help promote study in film, the statement added.

Meanwhile, Jimmy Wang, who shot to stardom following his 1967 martial arts film "One-Armed Swordsman" (獨臂刀), started acting in 1963 and was nominated at the GHA for best leading actor for the film "Shou Tsu Ching Shen" (手足情深) in 1978, best supporting actor for "Wu Xia" (武俠) in 2011, and best leading actor for "Soul" (失魂) in 2013, the statement said.

Jimmy Wang / Photo courtesy of the Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival Executive Committee

Academy Award-winning film director Ang Lee (李安) said Jimmy Wang not only set the bar for action film superstars, but is also a martial arts film pioneer.

"His (Jimmy Wang's) self-starred and directed movie 'The Chinese Boxer' (龍虎鬥) started the genre of martial arts films even before Bruce Lee, inspiring many followers and even people around the world," Lee said, according to the statement.

The nomination list for the 56th GHA will be announced Oct. 1, while the awards ceremony will be held Nov. 23 at National Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall in Taiwan's capital, the GHA website said. Established in 1962, the annual GHA gives recognition to excellence in Chinese-language cinema, the website added.