TAIPEI: A Chinese film set during the Covid-19 pandemic won the top prizes in Taiwan`s prestigious Golden Horse Awards, which saw the highest number of entries from China in recent years despite political tensions.

Beijing banned its entertainers from joining Golden Horse dubbed the Chinese-language `Oscars` in 2019 after a Taiwanese director voiced support for the island`s independence in an acceptancespeechin2018.

China claims Taiwan as part of its territory,whichthe Taipeigovernmentrejects, and Chinese A-listers and big commercial productions have largely avoided the event ever since.

Despite the sensitivity of the awards, more than 200 Chinese films entered thisyear`s competition, which Taiwan`s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said was the highest number in `recent years`.

Acclaimed Chinese filmmaker Lou Ye was awarded best director late Saturday night for his docu-drama `An Unfinished Film`, which was also named best picture. Lou was absent from the ceremony but his wife Ma Yingli read his acceptance speech, describing the film set during China`s lockdown of Wuhan in the earliest stages of the pandemic as `the most special directing job I have ever done`.

Chinese actor Zhang Zhiyong, who also did not attend the awards, won best actor for his performance in Chinese director Geng Jun`s same-sex drama `Bel Ami`.-AFP