former anti-corruption official, Alex Tsui Ka-kit, of the Independent Commission Against Corruption [ICAC]

THE SHADOWY [EX]ANTI-CORRUPTION  OFFICIAL TSUI KA-KIT,  SHOWS UP FOR FILM AWARD

Crime thriller Cold War is going head to head with mystery drama The Bullet Vanishes in the Hong Kong Film Awards in April, each with 12 nominations.

But the biggest surprise in the run-up to the [local version of Hollywood's Oscars] is the appearance of a 


 65-year-old former anti-corruption official. Alex Tsui Ka-kit, who used to be deputy head of operations for the Independent Commission Against Corruption, has been nominated for best new performer for his role in Cold War.

"This is a big surprise. At this stage of my acting or artistic career, I didn't expect to get any recognition," said Tsui, who was sacked from the ICAC 20 years ago for reasons yet to be fully explained.

"I enjoyed filming, every minute of it," he said of his role, which reprises his past career as a top graft-buster investigating two policemen played by Aaron Kwok Fu-shing and Tony Leung Ka-fai, a nominee for best actor.

"It was a difficult role. I was stuck with two policemen and didn't know which one was the good guy. I hope people liked it."

It was a difficult role. I was stuck with two policemen and didn't know which one was the good guy. I hope people liked it

Cold War, directed by Longman Leung and Sunny Luk Kim-ching, competes with Lo Chi-leung's The Bullet Vanishes in the best film category.

But they face a big challenge from Soi Cheang's underground racing thriller Motorway, which earlier won best film in the Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards.

Action drama The Viral Factor - directed by Dante Lam Chiu-yin, who shared the best director award with Cheang in the film critics award on January 14 - is also among contenders for best film.

It is joined by Pang Ho-cheung's comedy Vulgaria, which was the talk of the town when it opened in the city last year.

Comedian Chapman To received two nominations: best actor for his lead as an unsuccessful film producer in Vulgaria, and best supporting actor for his role as a star manager in Diva, which earned him the best actor title from the Film Critics Society.

Mainland screen diva Zhou Xun received two nominations in the best actress category, for her performances in The Great Magician and The Silent War.

The Hong Kong Film Awards ceremony will be held at the Cultural Centre on April 13, with more than HK$5.3 million in support from the Film Development Fund.