SOUTH KOREA’S “Handmaiden” leads the Asian Film Awards nominations, unveiled Wednesday, with six nods, followed by China’s “I Am Not Madame Bovary” and South Korea’s “Train to Busan,” each with five.

    “The Handmaiden,” directed by Park Chan-wook, was nominated for best supporting actress, best newcomer, best screenplay, best editing, best costume design and best production design. But it missed out on nominations in the best film and best director categories.

    Chinese director Feng Xiaogang, who won the Golden Horse Award for best director last November, saw his social satire “I Am Not Madame Bovary” garner best film and best director nominations, as well as nods for best actress for Fan Bingbing, best supporting actor for Dong Chengpeng (Da Peng) and best cinematography.

    South Korean blockbuster zombie hit “Train to Busan” also received five nominations, including nods for Gong Yoo for best actor, Ma Dong-seok for best supporting actor, best editing, best costume design and best visual effects.

    Overall, 34 films from 12 countries were nominated in 15 categories this year. Among those, 21 films that are from China or are Chinese co-productions were nominated, followed by 20 from South Korea.

    The best film category is a race between “The Wailing” and “The Age of Shadows,” both from South Korea, “Harmonium” from Japan, “Godspeed” from Taiwan and “I Am Not Madame Bovary” from the Chinese mainland.

    In addition to Gong, star of South Korea’s “Train to Busan,” also nominated in the best actor category are Hong Kong veteran actor Michael Hui of Taiwan’s “Godspeed,” Asano Tadanobu of Japan’s “Harmonium,” Fan Wei of China’s “Mr. No Problem” and Taiwanese actor Richie Jen of Hong Kong’s “Trivisa.”

    Sharing with Fan Bingbing’s nomination in the best actress category is Son Ye-jin of South Korea’s “The Last Princess,” Haru Kuroki of Japan’s “A Bride for Rip Van Winkle,” Kara Wai of Hong Kong’s “Happiness” and Charo Santos-Concio of the Philippines’ “The Woman Who Left.”

    The jury will be presided over by Chinese director Jia Zhangke as jury president, while Hong Kong actress Karena Lam has been named the celebrity juror. Taiwanese actor Cheng Jen-shuo is the first student ambassador of the Asian Film Awards Academy.

    Marking the 20th anniversary of the return of Hong Kong to China, the Asian Film Awards will return to Hong Kong after being held in Macao for the past three years. The awards ceremony will be held at the Hong Kong Cultural Center on March 21.

    (SD-Agencies)