Hong Kong's Ann Hui has been named best director for her movie "A Simple Life" at Taiwan's Golden Horse Film Festival. The jovial veteran director says she was surprised that Saturday's award did not go to one of the more promising younger directors also nominated for Chinese-language movies.

"A Simple Life" also won Andy Lau the best actor award and Deanie Ip best actress. Ip plays a domestic helper who copes with her own aging while serving her master, played by Lau.

Lau says the awards will encourage Hong Kong's lagging film industry to keep producing good movies.

Andy Lau, Best Actor Award, said, " When the director got the award, I was so happy. And when Deanie Ip got her award, it was wonderful. And this is a good movie and it portrays what a real simple life is really like."

Actress Deanie Ip expressed her feelings.

Deanie IP, Best Actress Award, said, " I was so happy when I got the award from Andy Lau"

Director Ann Hui spoke about how her work may help other films.

Ann Hui, Best Director Award, said, " We will try our best to have this movie doing well in the box office in Hong Kong and so that way, that will help other directors as there will be more investors interested investing in this type of the movie."

The best film award went to Taiwan director Wei Te-sheng's "Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale," an epic film about an aboriginal tribe's uprising against Japanese colonial rulers.

Wei Te-Sheng, Director of "Warriors of the Rainbow", said, "I was very nervous but it's fantastic that we won this award especially when we got such strong competitors. And this movie is really encouraged us and I want to thank the Golden Horse committee, judges and thank you everyone"

The Golden Horse Awards in Taiwan are extremely popular on the island. And with the trophies handed out Saturday night, the winners were all extremely happy.