Stephen Chow's action comedy Kung Fu Hustle and art house director Wong Kar-wai's romance 2046 are the top contenders at the 24th Hong Kong Film Awards.

Between them the films clinched a total of 28 nominations.

The Hollywood-financed Kung Fu Hustle, about kung fu masters who battle gangsters in their neighborhood, was the top nominee, with 16 nods in 18 available categories, including best film.

2046, Wong Kar-wai's follow-up to the Cannes-winning In the Mood for Love, was named in 12 categories, including best picture.

Other nominees in the best film category are the action thriller New Police Story starring Jackie Chan, and Derek Yee's One Nite in Mongkok about a Chinese assassin and a prostitute who cross paths in Hong Kong.

The remaining best film nominee is Johnnie To's Breaking News, an action-packed battle between Hong Kong police and a mainland Chinese criminal.

Kung Fu Hustle, 2046 and One Nite in Mongkok are all competing for five top honors: best film, best director, best actor, best actress and best screenplay.

The 24th Hong Kong Film Awards Presentation Ceremony will be held on March 27th at the Hong Kong Coliseum.

(CRI via KFCC February 2, 2005)