Initiated in 1961, the Golden Horse Awards Ceremony has been held every year except for 1962, 1964, and 1974, when the ROC was host to the Asian Film Festival. Because of the red tape and bureaucracy involved and the stress on moral lessons rather than artistic excellence, moviemakers and watchers did not pay much attention to the awards in the past.

Since new professional, artistic and internationalized standards were set out last year by Dr. James C. Y. Soong, Director-General of the GIO, main organizer of the annual event, the Golden Horse awards began to glitter again after being tarnished for the past 15 ceremonies.

To make the 1980 pageant even better than the one the year before, specialists were appointed to organize a panel of judges. International superstars and movie experts were invited to present the awards, and the ceremony was broadcast live on television to stress its significance.

During the six months spent in planning, the GIO decided to sponsor a festival of distinguished foreign films and a seminar on moviemaking given by the "new wave" of directors in Hong Kong.

As a result of these efforts, twice as many movies were entered for this year's best picture award compared with last year. To make sure that decisions were unbiased, the panel of judges was made up of leading figures from the fields of movies, music, arts, literature and communications. The judges were divided into two groups to conduct preliminary and final screenings.

The presentation ceremony was held at the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall in Taipei Nov. 3. Because representatives of the local movie industry and foreign guests occupied most of the seats, the 700 tickets issued to the general public were sold out in half an hour. But through TV and radio broadcasts, the glamor of the pageant could be witnessed islandwide.

Film workers from 10 countries — Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and the United States-gathered together with local movie makers in the richly decorated auditorium. The Hong Kong group was the largest, and the Japanese group included international star Toshiro Mifune and directors of four leading film companies -Toei, Toho, Shochiku and Nikkapsu. Honored guests were Mrs. Chiang Ching-kuo, wife of the President of the Republic of China, Premier Sun Yun-suan and Mrs. Sun, while from abroad, James Roberts, executive director of the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and movie star Connie Stevens attended the ceremony.

After the National Anthem, Dr. Soong gave a short speech in which he said that in view of a cutback in film production because of the energy crisis, the government had put in every effort to improve the production environment for the industry, raise professional morale and standards, and enlarge the Kinma awards ceremony. He hoped that with this substantial and spiritual encouragement, the movie industry would invest more capital and labor in making good motion pictures so as to open a new vista in the art in the Republic of China. He then led the audience in a round of applause to open the awards ceremony.

The curtain was raised to reveal a Chinese-style backdrop consisting of running water, cloisters, flowers, trees, mountains and rocks. Tsai Ming and the choir of the National Taiwan University sang the theme song for the ceremony, which said:

"Let the golden horse lead the progress of the silver screen, like the purity of gold, like the flight of Pegasus giving all to art, for virtue, beauty, truth. Life's joys and sorrows are expressed on screen, so let the golden horse lead us forward in search of our dreams for now and forever."

The masters of ceremonies were Chiang Kwung-chao and Sylvia Chang. Performance programs including popular songs, were given by Chiang Ling, Shen Yen, Teresa Teng and Judy Ongg, folk dances by the Lan Yan Dance Group, and Peiping opera presentation by Kuo Hsiao-chuang and others. The costumes and graceful and tender movements of the Lan Yan Dance Group won the highest acclaim from the capacity audience.

Popular local movie stars and singers including Kuei Ya-lei, Tien Niu, Judy Ongg, Teresa Teng, Chin Han and Lin Feng-chiao, and veteran actors such as Kung Chianung, Ho Lily, Cheng Pei-pei, Chiao Hung and others presented awards to winners in different categories.

The announcement that Wang Kuan-hsiung had won the Kinma Award for best actor of the year was made by Connie Stevens. The popular American singer and actress presented an impromptu song with her 13-year-old daughter after being urged to do so by the emcees and audience. Miss Stevens said that show business is a most time-consuming but rewarding enterprise. Wang won the award for his role as a Japanese physician in "The White Jasmine."

International star Toshiro Mifune presented the award to the best actress Hsu Feng for her outstanding performance in the movie "The Pioneers." Brought up in Tsingtao of Shantung province, Toshiro was able to greet the audience in standard Mandarin. As Hsu Feng was pregnant, her sister, Hsu Chieh, received the award on her behalf.

James M. Roberts presented the award for the best feature film of the year "Good Morning, Taipei."

Expressing his admiration for the Kinma Award, he advised local film producers to select one motion picture to take part in the U.S. Oscar foreign film section.

Among the other recipients of Golden Horse Awards were:

--Best director: Jo Jo Wang for "The Legend of the Six Dynasties."

--Best supporting actor: Hsiang Yun-peng for his role in "The Orientation."

--Best supporting actress: Shao Pei-ling for her role in "The White Jasmine."

--Best child performer: Lin Hsiao-lou for his role in "The Orientation."

During the ceremony, Premier Sun Yun-suan presented special awards to Hong Kong movie moguls Raymond Tsou of Golden Harvest Co. and Run Run Shaw of Shaw Bros. for their outstanding contributions to the Mandarin film industry.

The ceremony ended successfully after Dr. James Soong presented memorial awards to foreign guests.

[Picture Caption]

1. Poster advertising the 1980 Golden Horse Awards ceremony. 2. Actress Connie Stevens presents the award for best actor to Wang Kuan-hsiung for his role in "The White Jasmine." 3. Dr. Soong addresses the opening ceremony. 4. Masters of ceremony Chiang Kwung-chao and Sylvia Chang.

1. Wang Kuan-hsiung and Sylvia Chang were both nominated for best actor and actress of the year for their performances in "The White Jasmine." 2. Hsu Feng, who won the best actress award for her role in "The Pioneers." 3. Kuo Hsiao-chuang presents an excerpt from Peiping opera at the ceremony. 4. Shao Pei-ling, winner of the award for best supporting actress. 5. Hsiang Yun-peng wins the award for best supporting actor for his role in "The Orientation."

1. Veteran actress Lily Ho congratulates Jo Jo Wang for winning the best director award. Premier Sun Yun-suan presents special awards to Run Run Shaw (2.) and Raymond Tsou (3.) for their outstanding contributions to Mandarin films. 4. Best child performer, Lin Hsiao-lou. in the film "The Orientation." 5. Best feature film of the year "Good Morning, Taipei" is directed by Lee Hsin. 6. Connie Stevens and her 13-year-old daughter sing at the ceremony. 7. Connie and daughter view the huge Buddha statue in Changhua County in Central Taiwan. 8. Special guest at the ceremony, James Roberts, executive director of the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

1. International movie star Toshiro Mifune takes part in the grand pageant from Japan. 2. Judy Ongg sings at the ceremony. 3. Lan Yan Dance Group presents a "Feather-fan Dance."

Actress Connie Stevens presents the award for best actor to Wang Kuan-hsiung for his role in "The White Jasmine.".

Dr. Soong addresses the opening ceremony.

Masters of ceremony Chiang Kwung-chao and Sylvia Chang.

Wang Kuan-hsiung and Sylvia Chang were both nominated for best actor and actress of the year for their performances in "The White Jasmine.

Hsu Feng, who won the best actress award for her role in "The Pioneers.

Kuo Hsiao-chuang presents an excerpt from Peiping opera at the ceremony.

Shao Pei-ling, winner of the award for best supporting actress.

Hsiang Yun-peng wins the award for best supporting actor for his role in "The Orientation.".

Veteran actress Lily Ho congratulates Jo Jo Wang for winning the best director award. Premier Sun Yun-suan presents special awards to Run Run Shaw.

and Raymond Tsou.

for their outstanding contributions to Mandarin films.

Best child performer, Lin Hsiao-lou. in the film "The Orientation.

Best feature film of the year "Good Morning, Taipei" is directed by Lee Hsin.

Connie Stevens and her 13-year-old daughter sing at the ceremony.

Connie and daughter view the huge Buddha statue in Changhua County in Central Taiwan.

Special guest at the ceremony, James Roberts, executive director of the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

International movie star Toshiro Mifune takes part in the grand pageant from Japan.

Judy Ongg sings at the ceremony.

Lan Yan Dance Group presents a "Feather-fan Dance.".