KUALA LUMPUR, Oct. 2 -- Malaysia is front and centre at the 62nd Golden Horse Awards, with two of its productions landing multiple nominations in key categories.

Chong Keat-aun's Mother Bhumi scored eight nods, including best film and best director, while also placing its star Fan Bingbing in the best actress race.

The drama, set to world premiere in Tokyo's main competition later this month, casts Fan as a widow who toils in the fields by day and turns to mysticism by night to safeguard her village.

Her performance puts her up against Caitlin Fang (A Foggy Tale), Ariel Lin (Deep Quiet Room), Alexia Kao (Family Matters) and Rene Liu (Unexpected Courage).

Lau Kek-huat's The Waves Will Carry Us collected five nominations, also earning a...