It was big night for Chinese director Lou Ye as his 'Big Massage' swept Taiwan's 51st Golden Horse Film Festival, also known as the Chinese-language Oscars. The festival is designed to honor all Chinese-language films.

Lou's film based on the best-selling Bi Feiyu novel won six gongs, as the awards are called, including best feature film, film editing, adapted screenplay, cinematography and sound effects. Zhang Lei triumphed as best new performer. It had been nominated in seven categories.

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The film is set in Nanjing, a major city and historical capital often eclipsed by nearby Shanghai. The title alludes to a favored type of massage done by blind therapists in China.

Lou's movie beat out the hot film noir thriller "Back Coal, Thin Ice" that triumphed at the Berlin International Film Festival. 'Blind Massage' won the cinematography prize at that event.

A director with a history of being censored on the mainland, Lou was banned for five years as a result of 2006 film "Summer Palace." That film was set during Beijing's bloody suppression of the pro-democracy movement in 1989.

As for the other gongs, Ann Hui took home her third best director award. The Hong Kong director won it for "The Golden Era." That movie is based on China author Xiao Nong's life story. Hao Lei won best supporting actress for the movie.

The other breakthrough artist at the Taipei ceremony was Chen Jianbin. He took him best new director and best lead actor for "A Fool." He also won best supporting actor in "Paradise in Service," a Taiwanese historical drama about conscription. Fellow Paradise star Regina Wan won best supporting actress.

"Black Coal, Thin Ice" won best art direction Chen Shiang-Chi won best lead actress. She took it for "Exit," saying in her acceptance speech, "I love Taiwan films and I dedicated this for Taiwan."

Tagsblind massage, 51st Golden Horse Awards, films, Taiwan, Taipei, chinese-language films, lou ye, Nanjing