Derek Yee's drug dealer-centered film, Protégé, dominated the nominations list of the 27th Hong Kong Film Awards, gaining 15 nods out of 19 categories.

According to the list announced on Saturday, Protégé will compete for such coveted awards as best film, best director and best actress for the efforts of actress Zhang Jingchu.

Other front-runners on the list are Peter Chan's brotherhood war epic the Warlords, with 13 nominations, Ann Hui's comedy Postmodern Life of My Aunt, with nine, Yau Nai-Hoi's police thriller Eye in the Sky and Johnnie To-Wai Ka-Fai cooperation, Godly Detective, each with eight nominations.

A poster of Derek Yee's "Protégé," which dominated the nominations list of the 27th Hong Kong Film Awards announced on Saturday. (photo: CRI)

The directors of these films are all contenders for best director.

Warlords earned Andy Lau and Jet Li best actor nods. They will compete for the title with Sean Lau Ching-Wan (Godly Detective), Simon Yam Tat-Wah (Eye in the Sky), and Aaron Kwok (The Detective).

Andy Lau, who is also featured in Protégé, is in competition for best supporting actor. His rivals include fellow Protégé actor Louis Koo and Postmodern Life of My Aunt's Chow Yun-Fat.

Zhang Jingchu's best actress rivals are Teresa Mo (Mr Cinema), Siqin Gaowa (Postmodern Life of My Aunt), Rene Liu (Kidnap) and Charlene Choi (Simply Actors).

Oscar-winning director Ang Lee's Lust, Caution, previously rumored to be shunned from Hong Kong Film Awards due to a lack of Hong Kong efforts in its production team, has been nominated for best Asian film alongside Taiwan singer-turned director Jay Chou's Secret and mainland director-actor Jiang Wen's The Sun Also Rises.

Final winners will be announced at a ceremony on April 13.

(CRI February 3, 2008)