Hong Kong's first Asian Film Awards were held on Tuesday to kick off the 31st Hong Kong International Film Festival. Korean horror film "The Host" came out on top, winning four awards: Best Film, Best Actor (Song Kang-ho), Best Cinematographer (KIM Hyung-goo), and Best Visual Effects (The Orphanage).

Japanese actress Miki Nakatani won Best Actress for her performance in "Memories of Matsuko."

Jia Zhangke earned Best Director for his "Still Life." Best Screenwriter went to Iran's Mani Haghighi for "Men at Work" and Best Production Designer went to Tim Yip for "The Banquet." Indonesia's Rahayu Supanggah won Best Composer ("Opera Jawa"), while Thailand's Lee Chatametikool picked up Best Editor for "Syndromes and a Century."

A special achievement award was presented to Hong Kong actress Josephine Siao Fong-Fong for her "outstanding contribution to Asian cinema." A similar award was given to American film scholar David Bordwell.