Huabiao awards ceremony held in Beijing

Actress Zhang Ziyi arrives for the 13th Huabiao Awards ceremony in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 29, 2009. The Huabiao Awards, also the governmental film prize, is known as one of the three most important domestic awards for Chinese films. [Photo: Xinhua/Wang Fang]

More than 100 Chinese celebrities, including almost all the A-listers from the country's film industry, attended the 13th Huabiao Awards, China's only official film awards, in Beijing on Saturday.

Most of the important awards were shared by multiple winners. Chen Kaige, the director of "Forever Enthralled" and Feng Xiaogang, director of "The Assembly," won the best director award. Zhang Hanyu ("The Assembly") and Guo Jinglin ("Yuan Longping") won the best actor award, while the best actress award went to Zhang Ziyi ("Forever Enthralled") and Fan Zhibo ("Emergency").

This year for the first time, awards were given to Chinese filmmakers based outside the mainland. Director John Woo was honored as the best overseas-based Chinese director for the war epic "Red Cliff." Donnie Yen and Shu Qi received the best overseas-based Chinese actor and actress awards, respectively.

Launched in 1957, the Huabiao Film Awards has been held biannually since 2005.