A Foggy Tale dominates 62nd Golden Horse Awards with four major wins

A Foggy Tale, a poignant drama set during Taiwan’s White Terror era, was the standout film at the 62nd Golden Horse Awards on 22 November, securing four of the night’s most prestigious prizes.

Directed by Chen Yu-hsun, the film won Best Feature Film, Best Original Screenplay, Best Art Direction, and Best Makeup and Costume Design. It also received the Audience Choice Award, underscoring its resonance with both critics and audiences.

The film, set in the 1950s, follows a young girl who enlists the help of a former soldier to retrieve the body of her brother, a political victim executed during a government crackdown. Chen said the story was inspired by the experiences of families affected by the White Terror, a period of political repression in Taiwan from 1949 to 1992.

“This film belongs to the predecessors and forebears who protect us from above,” Chen stated in his acceptance speech.

The Golden Horse Awards, held at the Taipei Pop Music Center, celebrated a diverse range of Chinese-language cinema, with strong showings from Hong Kong and Malaysia.

Fan Bingbing won Best Actress for her performance in Mother Bhumi, directed by Chong Keat-aun. The Malaysian production also earned Best Cinematography for Leung Ming-kai and Best Original Film Song for Bhujanga, written by Chong and performed by Penny Tai. The singer, who also performed the song live, admitted feeling nervous but expressed gratitude for the recognition.

In a Facebook post, director Chong described the film as the most meaningful project of his career, saying, “I feel so lucky to be able to produce Mother Bhumi and support Fan Bingbing’s comeback.”

Lucky Lu, directed by Lloyd Lee Choi, earned three awards including Best Actor for Chang Chen, Best New Director, and Best Original Film Score by Charles Humenry.

Hong Kong’s Jun Li was awarded Best Director for Queerpanorama, while Palimpsest: The Story of a Name, edited by Mary Stephen, took Best Documentary Feature and Best Film Editing. Best Animated Feature went to Another World by Tommy Ng Kai-chung.

Among other notable wins, Ma Shih-yuan was named Best New Performer for her role in The Left-Handed Girl, Taiwan’s Oscar submission. Tseng Jing-hua won Best Supporting Actor for Family Matters, while Vera Chen was awarded Best Supporting Actress for The Waves Will Carry Us, another Malaysian film directed by Lau Kek-huat.

Technical categories saw 96 Minutes win Best Visual Effects, Marching Boys take Best Action Choreography, and A Mighty Adventure—produced with input from Malaysia’s Fly Studio—receive Best Sound Effects.

Veteran actress Chen Shu-fang received the Lifetime Achievement Award. With a career spanning nearly seven decades, she gave an emotional speech thanking her fans and collaborators. “As long as there is love and passion in your heart, age is never a concern,” she said.

The ceremony, held without a formal host, opened with a comedic video referencing 96 Minutes, portraying the Golden Horse trophy as a volatile object passed among panicked actors. Hip-hop group MJ116 later transitioned from the video to a live performance, urging filmmakers to reject fear and focus on creating excellent cinema.

First established in 1962, the Golden Horse Awards are regarded as the highest honour in Chinese-language film. This year’s competition drew nearly 600 entries and concluded the Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival, which ran from 6 to 23 November.