HK film fest fetes chopsocky gurus

Action choreographers honored

By PATRICK FRATER

HONG KONG -- The Hong Kong Film Festival kicked off a day earlier than skedded with presentation of awards to five of the territory's favorite sons: the action choreographers who make martial arts stars look cool.

Recipient list was headed by Jackie Chan, "Matrix" action director Yuen Wo-ping and "Martial Law" star Sammo Hung. Only slightly less well known recipients were Lau Kar-leung ("36th Chamber of Shaolin") and Ching Siu-tung ("Hero," "House of Flying Daggers").

Festival gets under way Tuesday with twin gala ceremonies for world preem of triad drama "Election 2" and family drama "Isabella," which had its bow in competish in Berlin.