Li film sweeps Hong Kong awards

Jet Li is one of Hong Kong cinema's biggest action stars

Martial arts star Jet Li has been named best actor at the Hong Kong Film Awards - one of eight prizes won by his period epic The Warlords.

"If I had not made a lot of kung fu films, I could have won the best actor award 20 years ago," said Li, 44.

The Warlords, an action drama set in the 19th Century, was also named best film at the event, with another prize going to its director Peter Chan.

Ang Lee's erotic wartime thriller Lust, Caution was named best Asian film.

The Warlords was also recognised for its cinematography, art direction and special effects.

Quirky

Li, who beat his co-star Andy Lau to the best actor prize, apologised to his "brother" for "betraying" him.

Lau did not go home empty-handed, though, winning the best supporting actor award for gangster thriller Protege.

The best actress award went to Siqin Gaowa for her role opposite Chow Yun-Fat in quirky comedy The Postmodern Life of My Aunt.

Jet Li will soon be seen opposite action star Jackie Chan in action adventure The Forbidden Kingdom.