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'2046' makers deny "Oscars" snub
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-11-25 11:00 Stars of Wong Kar-wai's acclaimed movie "2046" may
skip Asia's glittering version of the Oscars next week, aides said, while
denying the cast was snubbing the event in protest at Wong's absence from the
best director nominees' list.
Hong Kong
film director Wong Kar-wai, seen here in September 2004, has failed to
make the best director nominees' list at Asia's glittering version of the
Oscars. [AFP] | Although the Hong Kong-based
director's epic romance leads the way with eight nominations, including best
feature film, at the Chinese-language Golden Horse Film Awards in Taiwan, the
acclaimed film-maker failed to get a nod.
With just over a week until the December 4 ceremony, however, none of the
movie's nominated stars have confirmed they will walk down the red carpet,
prompting media reports here and in Taiwan of a cast boycott.
Chinese actress
Gong Li arrives for the official projection of Chinese director Wong
Kar-Wai's '2046' at the 57th Cannes Film Festival.
[AFP] | "At the moment, none of them have
confirmed they will be there," confirmed Rita Chuang, head of marketing at
Wong's Jet Tone production company in Hong Kong.
But she denied the actors were boycotting the event.
"We were surprised and puzzled that Wong himself was not nominated (for best
director) but these are two different issues," Chuang said. "Wong can't possibly
have control over the schedules of the stars who are occupied with their new
projects."
The stars were all busy with other projects, she said, adding that it was
"50-50" whether they would be there or not.
Tony Leung, who is vying for leading actor, is filming in South Korea, Chuang
said, while Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi, nominated for leading actress, is in the
United States shooting the Hollywood adaptation of "Memoirs of a Geisha".
Awards organisers also denied the reports and sought to scotch growing fears
the ceremony would lack star quality because of their absence.
"Zhang Ziyi has said she wants very much to come, and is still making
arrangements," said Awards spokeswoman Zoe Chen. "So is Sylvia Chang Ai-chia."
She also said Hong Kong action star Jackie Chan was "almost sure to come".
Golden Horse Awards categories are styled on the Academy Awards, but are
decided by a jury along the lines of the independent-minded Cannes film
festival.
A total of 21 awards will be handed out at a glittering ceremony in the
central Taiwanese city of Taichung.
Wong's opus faces stiff competition for best film from two other Hong Kong
movies -- Johnnie To's "Breaking News" and Derek Yee's "One Nite in Mong Kok" --
as well as China-made "Kekexili: Mountain Patrol" and Taiwan's "The Moon Also
Rises".
|
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