Chinese love story dominates Asian film awards

SINGAPORE, Dec 7 (Reuters) A love story about a mismatched Chinese couple was the big winner at an Asian film festival for first-time film makers in Singapore, scooping up three awards including best film and best screenplay.

The Chinese movie saw off challengers at the Asian Festival of 1st Films from crowd favourites such as a Vietnamese movie about a family's fight for freedom in war-torn Vietnam, and an Indian film about a middle-aged bank employee struggling to fit into society.

''The Road'', which traces the difficult love affair between an elderly bus driver and a young, attractive, female bus conductor in China, also picked up a special film award.

''The movie focuses on why the emotional lives of mainland Chinese are in tatters, and the problems of putting material pursuits before emotional needs,'' said scriptwriter Yuan Da Ju.

The Vietnamese film, ''Journey from the Fall'', and the Indian movie, ''Dombivli Fast'', both won best director.

Co-funded by the Singapore government and in its second year, the festival aims to help debutant movie makers in Asia who are often hamstrung by small budgets and lack of interest from audiences.

''Thank you for your support, and thank you for your financing, which is the most important,'' said Sanjoy Roy, festival founder and director, in his opening speech yesterday as he addressed a Singapore government official present at the event.

Held at the Raffles Hotel, the awards counted Hollywood scriptwriter James Hart -- who wrote the film ''Hook'' directed by Steven Spielberg -- among its presenters.

Hong Kong stars Anthony Wong, known for his villain roles, and Cecilia Yip, who has been named best actress at several Chinese film awards, were also present.

The festival, which showed 29 films this year, drew 320 entries mainly from China, Indonesia, New Zealand, Israel, Canada and Spain.

''The Road in the Air'', a Taiwanese film about a relationship between a teenage delinquent and a police officer, received the best male actor award, while Indian love story ''Gangster'' clinched best female actress.

REUTERS PB BST0914