61-year-old actor Tony Leung Chiu-wai was awarded the Venice Lifetime Achievement Award

The 61-year-old Hong Kong film emperor Tony Leung Chiu-wai was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 80th Venice Film Festival, becoming the first Chinese in history to receive the award. Ang Lee, the director who had worked with Tony Leung on "Lust, Caution," presented the award to him.

Tony Leung cried with joy on stage. In addition to thanking all those who have supported and encouraged him along the way, Tony Leung also thanked his wife Carina Lau: "Thank you to my wife, family and friends all over the world, and thank you to the Hong Kong film industry for cultivating me. I want to share this award with all the people who have worked with me for 41 years, and dedicate it to Hong Kong films. Thank you."

When Ang Lee presented Tony Leung Chiu-wai with the Venice Film Festival Lifetime Achievement Award on stage, he praised Tony Leung Chiu-wai for being well-deserving: "Because any movie can be enhanced through his performance. From my personal experience, he is a director's dream, both in acting and body language. You can see a lot of exciting things in his eyes, and his eyes can say more than many actors' monologues. He also has a shining soul."

Tony Leung Chiu Wai took the trophy from Ang Lee and burst into tears. He said to Ang Lee, "You just want me to cry. Thank you for the beautiful praise from a respected director and friend like Ang Lee. Thank you Venice, it's a great honor. For 41 years, I have always felt that I just did my job well and reduced the burden on the director. Film is a team work. My part is to help the director express what he wants to express. I just do everything in my position well and be responsible for myself."

"A City of Sadness", "The Rickshaw Man" and "Lust, Caution" starring Tony Leung Chiu-wai have all won the Golden Lion Award for Best Film at the Venice Film Festival.