A scene from Soul Mate [Photo/Mtime]

This year's Hong Kong Film Award has announced its nominees, and love story Soul Mate has become a runaway favorite, topping the list with 12 nominations.

Recognitions for the film by Hong Kong director Derek Tseng include Best Picture, Best Director and two Best Actress nominations for its female leads Zhou Dongyu and Ma Sichun.

The film, adapted from a novel of the same title, tells the story of two best friends falling in love with the same man. It was well received upon its release last September by audiences and critics alike, having already received last year's prestigious Golden Horse Awards in Taiwan and this year's Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards.

Other films nominated for Best Film include police action drama Cold War II, The Mermaid, Trivisa and Weeds on Fire.

Mainland actress Tang Wei has also been nominated for best female lead for her performance in Book of Love.

This year's Hong Kong Film Awards will be announced on April 16th.