Hong Kong star Jackie Chan was awarded best actor for his rolein Benny Chan's New Police Story atthis year's edition of mainland China's Golden Rooster Awards.

This year marks the firsttime that the awards have been open to talent from Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau. In a departure from his usual kung-fu comedy roles,Chan plays a tragic hero in the film.

"Two years ago, I wanted tomake a breakthrough in my performance by acting a different role. I didn'texpect to win such an important award with the film," Chan said.

Meanwhile, the jury splitthe award for best picture between Lu Chuan's Kekexili: Mountain Patrol, which also took best film at last year'sGolden Horse Awards in Taiwan, and On TaihangMountain, directed by Wei Lian and Shen Dongjian.

Kekexiliwas backed by Sony's Hong Kong-based production unit while On Taihang Mountain was produced by August 1st FilmStudio, a unit of the People's Liberation Army.

Best director went to MaLiwen for the low-budget film You And Me which also picked up best actress for Jin Yaqin.

The awards, which take placeas part of the Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival, were held onSaturday night on the tropical island of Hainan.

Winners at the 25thGolden Rooster Awards:

BEST PICTURE:
Kekexili: Mountain Patrol (Lu Chuan)
On Taihang Mountain (Wei Lian, Shen Dongjian)

BEST DIRECTOR:
Ma Liwen (You And Me)

BEST SCREENWRITER:
Liu Heng (Zhang Side)

BEST ACTOR:
Jackie Chan (New Police Story)

BEST ACTRESS:
Jin Yaqin (You And Me)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR:
Tang Guoqiang (Zhang Side)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS:
Huang Meiying (Peacock)

BEST DIRECTORIAL DEBUT:
Wanma Caidan (The Silent Holy Stone)

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHER:
Lee Ping-Bin (Letter From An UnknownWoman)

BEST SOUND:
Zhang Lei and Li Anlei (On Taihang Mountain)

BEST ART DIRECTOR:
Cao Jiuping (Letter From An Unknown Woman)

BEST SCORE:
Ye Xiaogang (On Taihang Mountain)

BEST DOCUMENTARY
Knowing Mao Zedong

BEST ANIMATION
The Butterfly Lovers

LIFE-TIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS:
Xie Jin (director)
Xie Tieli (director)