The 31st Hong Kong Film Awards presentation ceremony took place in Hong Kong Cultural Centre on 15 April 2012. The hosts for the awards ceremony are Eric Tsang, Bowie Tsang, Gordon Lam, Ronald Cheng and Angelababy.^[1] TVB, Now TV and RTHK Radio 2 were the live broadcasters of the ceremony, with other networks airing simulcasts around the world.

The film A Simple Life won five of its major nominations (film, director, screenplay, actor, actress). Deanie Ip became the oldest Best Actress Award-winner in the history of Hong Kong Film Awards. Ann Hui has now won four Best Director Awards, the most in awards history.

Let the Bullets Fly directed by Jiang Wen and Flying Swords of Dragon Gate directed by Tsui Hark dominated the nominations in 13 categories, including Best Film and Best Director. Individually, Jiang Wen got nominated in four categories (director, actor, screenplay, film editing).

Winners are listed first, highlighted in boldface, and indicated with a double dagger (‡).^{[2] [3][4][5]}

Best Film

• Tony Leung Ka-fai

Best Director

• Peter Chan

Best Screenplay

• Kam Kwok-leung

Best Actor

• Sandra Ng
• Carina Lau

Best Actress

• Anthony Wong

Best Supporting Actor

• Andy Lau

Best Supporting Actress

• Shawn Yue
• Gao Yuanyuan

Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing

• Julian Cheung
• Shu Qi

Best Art Direction, Best Costume and Makeup Design

• Philip Chan
• John Shum

Best Action Choreography

• Chin Kar-lok
• Kara Hui

Best Sound Design, Best Visual Effects

• Pang Ho-cheung
• Yang Mi

Best Original Film Score, Best Original Film Song

• Coco Lee

Best New Director

• Giddens Ko
• Michelle Chen
• Ko Cheng-tung

Best New Performer

• Jim Chim

Best Film of Mainland and Taiwan

• Hou Hsiao-hsien
• Ng See-yuen
• Li Siao-hung

Lifetime Achievement Award

• Tsui Hark

Professional Achievement Award

• Sammo Hung

These films has received one nomination or more at the awards:

• 13 : Flying Swords of Dragon Gate, Let the Bullets Fly
• 12 : Wu Xia^[a]
• 9 : Overheard 2
• 8 : A Simple Life^[b], Life without Principle
• 4 : Shaolin, White Vengeance
• 3 : A Beautiful Life, Mural
• 2 : Don’t Go Breaking My Heart, Hi, Fidelity, The Sorcerer and the White Snake
• 1 : Cure, If You Are the One 2^[c], Lan Kwai Fong, Magic to Win, Starry Starry Night^[c], Big Blue Lake, The Flowers of War^[c], The Killer Who Never Kills, Seediq Bale^[c], You Are the Apple of My Eye^[c]

Note

a^ : Although Wu Xia receives 12 nominations, the categories it gets nominated are of acting or technical skills.

b^ : A Simple Life gets nominated in all major categories (film, director, screenplay, actor, actress, supporting actor, supporting actress, cinematography).

c^ ^ ^ ^ ^ : The tagged films are from mainland China or Taiwan so they can compete for only 1 award (Best Film of Mainland and Taiwan).