Golden Bell Award and Yidan Prize Winners
The Hong Kong International Film Festival’s prestigious Golden Bell Award has been bestowed to Chinese director Xie Zhang for his “flavourful work” in the genre. The prize has been awarded since the festival’s inception in 1992 and is a major award in the industry. Zhang’s latest film, The Age of Shadows, is a fantasy drama about an ancient Chinese legend. It has garnered positive reviews from critics and audiences worldwide.
The winner will receive HK$5 million (around $1.5 million) in cash and a trophy. In addition, the winning film will be screened at the renowned Cannes Film Festival in France. The film is based on a folk tale that tells the story of a young man who takes up his father’s trade and becomes an expert in blacksmithing.
A team led by Hong Kong University’s Prof. Yip Yuen-hung and Prof. Lee Chi-yan won the HK$500,000 first prize in the chemistry category for their research on the development of nanofibers with applications in medical, biomedical and environmental fields. Their study could lead to a more effective way of filtering drinking water and reducing harmful substances in soil and air. The award was presented at a ceremony at the Grand Hyatt Hotel.
This year’s Hong Kong History Prize is dedicated to the memory of George B. Endacott, who was responsible for the reestablishment of the Department of History in 1946 and served as its Senior Lecturer from 1957 to 1962. The award is a means to encourage students to explore Hong Kong history outside of the classroom, and understand how historical events and changes in society have affected our lives.
Among the winners of this year’s prize are two scholars from the War Child Alliance, Mark Jordans and Luke Stannard. Their work has contributed to global education and helped disadvantaged children. The founder of the Yidan Prize, Chen Yidan, congratulated the pair in an online speech. The runner-ups will receive HK$200,000 and a trophy. Those who lose in the final will receive HK$60,000 and 100 ranking points. Last year, Finland’s Mikko Ruusuvuori and Germany’s Sebastian Ofner both lost in the semis, despite having won round-robin matches, but they were still rewarded with the bonus money.
The Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Prize, sponsored by BOCHK and title-sponsored by the bank, was established in 2022. Each year, experts from Hong Kong and overseas are invited to select outstanding scientific researchers/teams in five fields: Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, Life and Health, New Materials and New Energy, Advanced Manufacturing and FinTech. The prize aims to inspire scientific researchers and entrepreneurs in Hong Kong to persist in innovation, build upon their strengths, serve the country and contribute to the world.