Brokeback Mountain star Heath Ledger might have secretly feathered a love child? According to sources, Heath was 17 when he had an affair with a 25-year-old woman, who is believed to have discovered her pregnancy after the affair ended.

However, the former lover has denied reports that she gave birth to the late actor’s love child.

The buzz started off after Ledger’s uncle revealed that the Brokeback Mountain star might have secretly fathered a love child.

Academy Award winning director Ang Lee , whose films include Brokeback Mountain, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Lust, Caution, will meet with film industry members and students in Vancouver next Saturday afternoon to offer his perspective on the future of the film industry.

The plan for the session with Ang Lee is to make it interactive, with more than 100 industry leaders, young directors and film students getting the opportunity to ask questions of the director in an informal setting.

How wonderful it is that the very brief talent Heath Ledger shared with the world will live on long after we all move off this mortal coil.

You only need to watch this Brokeback Mountain (Two-Disc Collector’s Edition) (2005) to see what talent he had.

His performance as the brooding and distant Ennis Del Marr in this movie is nothing short of brilliant. He should have won the Academy Award instead of Phillip Seymor Hoffman but that’s history now. We can only now think of what might have been in the years ahead.

For people who have not seen the Brokeback Mountain (Two-Disc Collector’s Edition) (2005) , I would like to point out as I’m sure many other reviewers before me have said,it is not a “gay” cowboy movie.

The two men in this movie fall in love with each other in the purest form that the word can ever mean. We all wish for a love so deep and meaningfull and some of us are lucky enough to find it once or twice in our lives.

If you take anything from this cheap DVD: Brokeback Mountain it is a new definition of the meaning of love and life and how short our time on Earth is.

Essential viewing!

The grieving family of the Hollywood actor Heath Ledger said today: “Our hearts are broken.”

Death notices published in an Australian newspaper paid tribute to the Brokeback Mountain star, who was found dead on Tuesday.

“How do we describe our sudden and tragic loss? You were the most individual old soul in a young man’s body,” the family wrote. “You dreamed your dreams and lived them with passion and intelligent commitment. We have been privileged to accompany you on a ride through life that has simply been amazing and, through it all, we have loved each other beyond imagination.

“Your true legacy lives on in beautiful little Matilda, who will always remain in the greatest of care. Our hearts are broken.” Matilda is Ledger’s two-year-old daughter with actress Michelle Williams.

The star’s sister, Kate, said her life had been “torn apart” by the tragedy.

“I can hardly breathe when I try to write this. We were the ultimate in soul mates. I feel both my heart and life have been torn apart,” she said.

“I loved our special talks, our daily chats from wherever you were in the world. I especially loved all the precious time we spent together. We were so fortunate to have you as long as we did.

“You were so many things to so many people, but to me you were just my little brother. There will never, ever be another ‘Heath’ and I think that, in itself, is the greatest tragedy.

“I will continue to talk with you everyday and love you just as if you were here.”

His mother, Sally, wrote to her “darling boy”: “You knew you were so loved. You lived life with courage and daring and we are so grateful for the wonderful times we shared. We will be there for Matilda.”

And his father, Kim, said: “No more chess games, mate… this is it. Couldn’t beat you anyway!

“My body aches for the sound of your voice, our chats, our laughs and our life and times together.”

The British director Terry Gilliam has suspended work on The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, the film on which Ledger was working before his death.

In a statement, the film-maker said: “Heath was a great actor, a great friend and a great spirit. We are still in a state of deep shock, saddened and numb with grief.

“Over the coming days, Terry and the producers will be assessing how best to proceed.”

Ledger worked on the film in London last week before flying back to the US on Sunday.

He was found dead in his New York apartment two days later. Police believe his death was drug-related and six types of prescription pills were found close to his body.

Taiwanese director Ang Lee‘s erotic spy thriller “Lust, Caution” swept the top honours at the Golden Horse Film Awards, seen as the Chinese-language Oscars.

“Lust, Caution,” took home seven awards, including the coveted best film, best director, and best actor accolades.

Lee was also recognised as the outstanding Taiwanese filmmaker of the year at the 44th edition of the awards in a glittering ceremony in the Taipei Arena.

“I am really moved by the audience’s overwhelming support (of the film) in Taiwan and in Asia. I feel like I am sharing a joint effort with them,” Lee said.

The film, called “Se, Jie” in Chinese, also bagged best make-up and costume design, best original film score, best screenplay adaptation for Lee’s long-time filmmaking partner James Schamus and best new performer for Chinese actress Tang Wei.

“Lust, Caution” in September picked up the Golden Lion for best picture at the Venice Film Festival.

Lee, noted for blending elements from East and West to depict characters struggling to fit into society and live up to family pressure, won the best director Oscar for his groundbreaking gay cowboy drama “Brokeback Mountain” in 2006.

He last won a Golden Horse for directing in 1993 for family drama “The Wedding Banquet” about a gay man faking marriage to meet cultural demands.

Hong Kong star Tony Leung Chiu-wei garnered an unprecedented third best actor title for his performance as a powerful Japanese collaborator in “Lust, Caution,” which is set in World War II Shanghai.

He defeated fellow Hong Konger Aaron Kwok, who was also seeking a third best actor gong.

Leung, who was absent from the ceremony, won best actor in 2003 for the hit police thriller “Infernal Affairs” and in 1994 for the love story “Chungking Express.”

Chinese-American veteran Joan Chen beat top rival Tang Wei to take her second best actress crown for her performance in “The Home Song Stories.”

“I am overwhelmed by the award because there are fewer good roles to choose for a middle-aged (actress) and this award is much more important to me than the previous one” received in 1994, Chen said.

The film depicts the troubled love life of Chen’s character after moving to Australia from Shanghai with her two children. It is competing for a best foreign language film Oscar representing Australia next year.

Chinese starlet Fan Bingbing took best supporting actress for her role in the ghost movie “The Matrimony.”

Hong Kong’s Tong Leung Ka-fai won best supporting actor in “The Drummer,” a story about a renegade gangster inspired by Chinese Zen drumming while in hiding.

Meanwhile, Taiwanese pop prince Jay Chou’s directorial debut “Secret,” depicting a mysterious romance, won best original song and best visual effects awards and was named as outstanding Taiwanese film of the year.

Some 36 films were nominated at this year’s Golden Horse Film Awards, which are styled on the US Academy Awards but decided by a jury, as at the Cannes film festival.