TAIPEI: Stars from across Asia gathered in Taipei on Saturday for this year’s Golden Horse Film Awards, with Wong Kar-wai’s martial arts epic “The Grandmaster” taking several early gongs.

As the first results came in, “The Grandmaster,” inspired by the life of Yip Man, the mentor of legendary kung fu star Bruce Lee, swept the technical awards, winning best cinematography, best visual effects, best art director and best make-up/costume design.

The movie, leading the race with 11 nominations, is also vying for best feature film, best director for Wong, best actress for China’s Zhang Ziyi and best actor for Hong Kong’s Tony Leung Chiu-wai.

Singaporean director Anthony Chen won best new director and best original screenplay for the family drama “Ilo Ilo,” which is based on his own experience and tells the story of a Filipino maid who befriends the troubled son of the Singaporean family she works for.

“I didn’t think I could win, my only wish coming here is to shake Ang Lee’s hand,” Chen joked after accepting the award. “I want to thank the Golden Horse organizers and the judges.”

Malaysia-born, Singapore-based Yeo Yann Yann took the best supporting actress statuette for playing a mother juggling work and family in “Ilo Ilo.”

“This is a fantastic journey for me to attend the Golden Horse ceremony in Taiwan. I want to thank the director and my family in Malaysia ... I hope my fantastic journey will continue,” said Yeo, who was six months pregnant during filming.

Veteran Chinese performer Li Xuejian was awarded best supporting actor for his role as a nationalist Kuomintang party official in the historical drama “Back to 1942.”

Chinese director Jia Zhangke’s sensitive social drama “A Touch of Sin,” which has reportedly been banned in China, collected the best film editing and best original film score awards, while the best action choreography title went to action hero Jackie Chan for “CZ12.”

The cream of Chinese-language cinema walked down the red carpet earlier Saturday, including Zhang Ziyi, Taiwan’s screen siren Shu Qi, Hong Kong filmmaker John Woo, as well as Canto-pop idols Andy Lau and Aaron Kwok.

Zhang and Shu are vying for the best actress crown for their respective roles as a kungfu master in “The Grandmaster” and an exorcist in “Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons.”