TAIPEI: Widely acclaimed two-part epic “Seediq Bale” leads the nominations at Taiwan's annual Golden Horse Awards, also known as the “Chinese Oscars”.

The latest offering from Taiwanese director Wei Te-sheng was nominated in 11 categories including best feature film, according to a statement from the Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards committee.

“Seediq Bale” was also nominated in the best director, best supporting actor and best new performer categories at the awards, which celebrate cinema from Taiwan, mainland China and Hong Kong.

The film cost Tw$700 million ($23 million) to make, a record in Taiwan's cinema history.

Experts expect “Seediq Bale”, based on the true story of Taiwan's indigenous headhunters fighting against Japanese colonial forces in the 1930s, to break the box office record of Tw$530 million set by “Cape No. 7”, the romance movie that shot Wei to fame in 2008.

The first instalment of “Seediq Bale”, “The Sun Flag”, has raked in Tw$370 million in box office earnings since it was released on September 9. The second part, “The Rainbow Bridge”, was released on September 30.

Chinese blockbuster “Let the Bullets Fly” has nine nominations and another China-produced film, “The Piano in a Factory”, has seven.

A total 161 films compete in the 48th annual awards and winners will be announced on November 26.