Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards facts for kids

The Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards are a famous movie festival and awards show held every year in Taiwan. Think of it like Taiwan's version of the Academy Awards, but for films made in Chinese languages.

The event started back in 1962. Today, it's run by an independent group. The awards ceremony usually happens in November or December in the city of Taipei.

What Are the Golden Horse Awards?

The Golden Horse Awards are one of the most important honors in the Chinese-speaking film world. They are often compared to the Hong Kong Film Award and the Golden Rooster Awards in mainland China.

For a long time, these awards were considered the top prize for any film made in Chinese. Movies from Taiwan, Hong Kong, mainland China, and other places can all compete.

The awards show is the grand finale of a month-long film festival. During the festival, many of the nominated movies are shown to the public. Winners are chosen by a group of judges and receive a special Golden Horse statue.

The Story Behind the Awards

The Golden Horse Awards were created in 1962 by the government in Taiwan. The goal was to support and celebrate great movies and filmmakers in the Chinese-language film industry.

The name "Golden Horse" (Jinma in Chinese) comes from two groups of islands: Kinmen (金門) and Matsu (馬祖). These islands are located just off the coast of mainland China and are controlled by Taiwan. The name was chosen to represent the spirit of Taiwan.

Over the years, the awards have helped many filmmakers. They have also introduced amazing films from all over the world to audiences in Taiwan.

In 2019, a disagreement between mainland China and Taiwan led to a change. The Chinese government stopped its filmmakers from participating in the awards. Famous director Ang Lee, who was the chairman of the awards, said it was sad to see politics get in the way of art.

Who Can Enter a Movie?

Any movie made mostly in a Chinese language can be entered for a Golden Horse Award. This includes big-budget blockbusters, artistic films, and even documentaries.

Since 1996, films from mainland China have been allowed to compete. Many Chinese artists and films have won awards over the years. This includes famous actors like Xia Yu and directors like Jiang Wen.

Some people think the awards focus too much on artistic films. They worry this doesn't help Taiwan's more popular movies. However, the festival plays a big role in getting people excited about all kinds of Chinese-language films.

What Kind of Awards Are Given?

The Golden Horse Awards have many categories, just like the Oscars. Here are some of the most important ones.

Main Awards

• Best Narrative Feature: The award for the best overall movie.
• Best Director: For the most outstanding director.
• Best Leading Actor: For the best main actor in a film.
• Best Leading Actress: For the best main actress in a film.
• Best Supporting Actor: For the best actor in a supporting role.
• Best Supporting Actress: For the best actress in a supporting role.
• Best New Director: For a talented first-time director.
• Best New Performer: For a breakout new actor or actress.
• Best Original Screenplay: For the best movie script that is a new story.
• Best Adapted Screenplay: For the best script based on a book or other work.

Special Awards

• Lifetime Achievement Award: This honors someone who has spent their whole life making amazing contributions to film.
• Outstanding Taiwanese Filmmaker of the Year: A special prize for a top filmmaker from Taiwan.

Famous Faces of the Ceremony

For the first few years, the awards show didn't have a regular host. But since the 15th ceremony, famous celebrities have hosted the event.

Often, there are two hosts, sometimes one from Taiwan and one from Hong Kong. Big stars like Jackie Chan, Eric Tsang, and Kevin Tsai have all hosted the show. In 2012, Huang Bo became the first host from mainland China.

Awesome Award Records

Over the decades, some amazing records have been set at the Golden Horse Awards!

• Hong Kong actor Tony Leung Chiu-wai has won Best Leading Actor three times, more than anyone else.
• Hong Kong actress Maggie Cheung holds the record for Best Leading Actress with four wins.
• In 2006, 9-year-old actor Ian Gouw won Best Supporting Actor, making him the youngest winner ever.
• Jackie Chan is the first actor to win Best Leading Actor two years in a row (1992 and 1993).
• In 2015, actress Karena Lam became the first person to win all three acting awards in her career: Best Leading Actress, Best Supporting Actress, and Best New Performer.
• In 2020, 81-year-old actress Chen Shu-fang made history. She became the oldest and first actress to win both Best Leading Actress and Best Supporting Actress in the same year.

See also

In Spanish: Festival de Premios Caballo de Oro de Cine de Taipéi para niños