Three films split honours at Taiwan's Golden Horse awards

Films from Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan shared the honours last night at Taiwan's 50th Golden Horse movie awards, the Chinese-language equivalent of the Oscars.

Singaporean social drama won for best film, best new director for Anthony Chen and best original screenplay.

tells of the relationship between a Filipina maid and the family she serves in Singapore during the Asian recession of 1997. The maid's friendship with the family's young son ignites the jealously of his mother, even as she becomes an integral part of the family.

Hong Kong's highly touted won for best actress - China's Zhang Ziyi - and in four minor categories - best cinematography, best visual effects, best art director and best make-up/costume design - but Wong Kar-wai failed to win the best director prize.

Loosely based on the life of martial arts legend Ip Man, mentor of kung fu star Bruce Lee, employs many of Wong's well-known trademarks, including frequent use of slow motion. Critics say it raises the martial arts genre to a new level, much in the way that Taiwan's Oscar-winning director Ang Lee did in 2000 with his .

Malaysian-born, Singapore-based Yeo Yann Yann took the best supporting actress statuette for playing a mother juggling work and family in .