Li Gengxi (middle) wins Best Actress at the 37th Golden Rooster Awards for her performance in Viva La Vida. [Photo by MA WENYI/FOR CHINA DAILY]

"When I was 16 and didn't know what to do after graduating from junior high, Lyu asked me if I wanted to learn acting with him. That changed my life," Lei says with emotion.

"At 16, all I knew was that I was a kid who got noticed by a Golden Rooster Best Actor. That's when I first learned about the award."

Li Gengxi, 24, clinched Best Actress for her moving portrayal of Ling Min, a 25-year-old battling severe uremia in Viva La Vida.

The movie narrates the story of Ling and Lyu Tu, a young man suffering from a brain disease, played by 30-year-old actor Peng Yuchang, who was nominated for Best Actor.

The production unit and cast of the film Viva La Vida received a whopping eight nominations, including Best Feature Film, Best Director, Best Scriptwriter, Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress, making it the most nominated film at this year's Golden Rooster Awards.

Chen Kaige secured the Best Director Award for The Volunteers: To the War, the first part of his war trilogy. This marks his second win in this category.

The Best Supporting Actor Award was bestowed upon Wang Xiao for his role in the crime thriller Endless Journey.