Beijing (CNN) An award acceptance speech by a young Taiwanese filmmaker has stirred passionate reactions on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, pitting some of the region's leading entertainment and political figures against each other just a week before an important election on the self-ruled island.

"I really hope our country will one day be treated as a genuine independent entity," said an emotional Fu Yue, the best documentary winner at Taiwan's annual Golden Horse film awards Saturday, to loud applause and cheers from the audience in Taipei.

"This is my biggest wish as a Taiwanese," the 36-year-old director added.

But when the camera turned to several mainland Chinese movie stars in attendance, including this year's jury chair Gong Li, they appeared stone-faced. Taiwan-born and US-based director Ang Lee, a two-time Oscar winner who heads the awards' executive committee, flashed an awkward smile.

When Chinese actor Tu Men walked on stage later, the recipient of last year's best actor award poignantly said he was honored to be a presenter at the Golden Horse ceremony in "Taiwan, China" and that people from both sides of the Taiwan Strait were "family."

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