Director Gao Qunshu is celebrating after scooping the Best Film honour for Beijing Blues at the Golden Horse Awards, the Chinese-language equivalent of the Oscars.

The movie, which follows a crime-solving detective as he interacts with ordinary Chinese men and women, nabbed the night's top prize at the 49th annual ceremony in Yilan County, Taiwan on Saturday (24Nov12).

Meanwhile, filmmaker Johnnie To triumphed in the Best Director category, landing the title for his suspense thriller Life Without Principle, which also earned Hong Kong star Lau Ching-Wan the Best Actor award.

The Best Actress honour was handed to Taiwan's Gwei Lun-mei for her turn in Gf-Bf and veteran actor Shih Chun was presented with the Lifetime Achievement award.