Hong Kong Film Award for Best Director

The Hong Kong Film Award for Best Director is an award presented annually at the Hong Kong Film Awards (HKFA). It is given to honour the best director of a Hong Kong film.[Note 1] The 1st Hong Kong Film Awards ceremony was held in 1982, with no formal nomination procedure established; the award was given to Allen Fong for his direction of Father and Son. After the first award ceremony, a nomination system was put in place whereby no more than five nominations are made for each category and each entry is selected through two rounds of voting. Firstly, prospective nominees are marked with a weight of 50% each from HKFA voters and a hundred professional adjudicators, contributing towards a final score with which the top five nominees advance to the second round of voting. The winner is then selected via a scoring process where 55% of the vote comes from 55 professional adjudicators, 25% from representatives of the Hong Kong Film Directors' Guild and 20% from all other HKFA Executive Committee Members.[1]

Hong Kong Film Award for Best Director
Awarded forAchievement in cinematic direction
CountryHong Kong
Presented byHong Kong Film Awards
First awarded1982
Currently held bySoi Cheang (2024)

From the 2nd Hong Kong Film Awards (1983), there are five, sometimes 6, nominations for the category of Best Director from which one director is chosen the winner of the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Director. The most recent recipient of the award was Soi Cheang, who was honoured at the 42nd Hong Kong Film Awards (2024), for his film Mad Fate. The directors with most awards in this category is Ann Hui with six wins, followed by Allen Fong, Johnnie To, Tsui Hark and Wong Kar-wai with 3 times each.

Winners and nominees

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Ann Hui has won the award 6 times with 13 nominations.
 
John Woo won in 1990 for The Killer.
 
Wong Kar-wai won in 1991 for Days of Being Wild, 1995 for Chungking Express and 2014 for The Grandmaster.
 
Tsui Hark won for his films Shanghai Blues, Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame and The Taking of Tiger Mountain.
 
Peter Chan won in 2008 for The Warlords.
 
Fruit Chan won in 1998 for crime drama Made in Hong Kong.
 
Dante Lam and Gordon Chan won jointly in 1999 for crime-drama Beast Cops.
 
Johnnie To has won 3 times with 18 nominations.
 
Ang Lee won in 2001 for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.
 
Stephen Chow won in 2002 for martial arts comedy Shaolin Soccer.
 
Sammo Hung received nominations for The Prodigal Son and Heart of Dragon.
 
Jackie Chan was nominated in 1986 for Police Story.
 
Jiang Wen was nominated in 2012 for Let the Bullets Fly.
 
Wilson Yip was nominated six times.
 
Stanley Kwan was nominated six times.
 
Teddy Robin was nominated once in 1984.
 
Derek Tsang won in 2020 for Better Days.
 
Benny Chan won in 2022 for Raging Fire.
Table key
Indicates the winner
Year Director(s) Film Ref.
1981

(1st)

Allen Fong Father and Son [2]
1982

(2nd)

Ann Hui Boat People [3]
David Lai Lonely Fifteen
Sammo Hung The Prodigal Son
Choi Gai-Kwong Teenage Dreamers
Patrick Tam Nomad
1983

(3rd)

Allen Fong Ah Ying [4]
Li Han-hsiang The Burning of Imperial Palace
Wu Ma The Dead and the Deadly
Teddy Robin All the Wrong Spies
Kirk Wong Health Warning
1984

(4th)

Yim Ho Homecoming [5]
Tsui Hark Shanghai Blues
Johnny Mak Long Arm of the Law
Po-Chih Leong Hong Kong 1941
Danny Lee Sau-Yin Law with Two Phases
1985

(5th)

Mabel Cheung The Illegal Immigrant [6]
Stanley Kwan Women
Ricky Lau Mr. Vampire
Sammo Hung Heart of Dragon
Jackie Chan Police Story
1986

(6th)

Allen Fong Just Like Weather [7]
Stephen Shin Brotherhood
John Woo A Better Tomorrow
Derek Yee The Lunatics
Li Han-Xiang The Last Emperor
Stanley Kwan Love Unto Waste
1987

(7th)

Ringo Lam City on Fire [8]
Ching Siu-tung A Chinese Ghost Story
Mabel Cheung An Autumn's Tale
Ringo Lam Prison on Fire
Ann Hui The Romance of Book & Sword
Patrick Tam Final Victory
1988

(8th)

Stanley Kwan Rouge [9]
Lawrence Ah Mon Gangs
Alex Law Painted Faces
Wong Kar-wai As Tears Go By
Jacob Cheung Last Eunuch in China
1989

(9th)

John Woo The Killer [10]
Johnnie To All About Ah-Long
Jacob Cheung Beyond the Sunset
Anthony Chan Yau A Fishy Story
Mabel Cheung Eight Taels of Gold
1990

(10th)

Wong Kar-wai Days of Being Wild [11]
John Woo Bullet in the Head
Ann Hui Song of the Exile
Yim Ho Red Dust
Clara Law Farewell China
1991

(11th)

Tsui Hark Once Upon a Time in China [12]
John Woo Once a Thief
Gordon Chan Fight Back to School
Lawrence Ah Mon Lee Rock
Poon Man-Kit To Be Number One
1992

(12th)

Jacob Cheung Cageman [13]
Jeffrey Lau 92 Legendary La Rose Noire
Gordon Chan King of Beggars
Tsui Hark Once Upon a Time in China II
Stanley Kwan Center Stage
1993

(13th)

Derek Yee C'est la vie, mon chéri [14]
Kirk Wong Crime Story
Cha Yuen-Yee Legal Innocence
Peter Chan and Lee Chi-Ngai Tom, Dick and Hairy
Clara Law Temptation of a Monk
1994

(14th)

Wong Kar-wai Chungking Express [15]
Wong Kar-wai Ashes of Time
Peter Chan He's a Woman, She's a Man
Tsui Hark The Lovers
Gordon Chan The Final Option
1995

(15th)

Ann Hui Summer Snow [16]
Derek Yee Full Throttle
Wong Kar-wai Fallen Angels
Yim Ho The Day the Sun Turned Cold
Johnnie To Loving You
1996

(16th)

Peter Chan Comrades: Almost a Love Story [17]
Derek Chiu The Log
Derek Yee and Lau Chi-Leung Viva Erotica
Shu Kei Hu-Du-Men
Benny Chan Big Bullet
1997

(17th)

Fruit Chan Made in Hong Kong [18]
Wong Kar-wai Happy Together
Ringo Lam Full Alert
Mabel Cheung The Soong Sisters
Johnnie To Lifeline
1998

(18th)

Gordon Chan and Dante Lam Beast Cops [19]
Stanley Kwan Hold You Tight
Fruit Chan The Longest Summer
Mabel Cheung City of Glass
Patrick Yau The Longest Nite
1999

(19th)

Johnnie To The Mission [20]
Sylvia Chang Tempting Heart
Ann Hui Ordinary Heroes
Ringo Lam Victim
Johnnie To Running Out of Time
2000

(20th)

Ang Lee Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon [21]
Wong Kar-wai In the Mood for Love
Fruit Chan Durian Durian
Johnnie To and Wai Ka-fai Needing You...
Wilson Yip Juliet in Love
2001

(21st)

Stephen Chow Shaolin Soccer [22]
Ann Hui July Rhapsody
Stanley Kwan Lan Yu
Johnnie To and Wai Ka-fai Love on a Diet
Ann Hui Visible Secret
2002

(22nd)

Andrew Lau and Alan Mak Infernal Affairs [23]
Law Chi-Leung Inner Senses
Peter Chan Three: Going Home
Fruit Chan Hollywood Hong Kong
Zhang Yimou Hero
2003

(23rd)

Johnnie To PTU [24]
Johnnie To and Wai Ka-fai Running on Karma
Derek Yee Lost in Time
Andrew Lau and Alan Mak Infernal Affairs II
Benny Chan Muk-Sing Heroic Duo
2004

(24th)

Derek Yee One Nite in Mongkok [25]
Wong Kar-wai 2046
Stephen Chow Kung Fu Hustle
Benny Chan Muk-Sing New Police Story
Johnnie To Breaking News
2005

(25th)

Johnnie To Election [26]
Derek Yee 2 Young
Andrew Lau and Alan Mak Initial D
Peter Chan Perhaps Love
Tsui Hark Seven Swords
2006

(26th)

Patrick Tam After This Our Exile [27]
Jacob Cheung A Battle of Wits
Johnnie To Election 2
Johnnie To Exiled
Zhang Yimou Curse of the Golden Flower
2007

(27th)

Peter Chan The Warlords [28]
Ann Hui The Postmodern Life of My Aunt
Yau Nai-Hoi Eye in the Sky
Johnnie To and Wai Ka-fai Mad Detective
Derek Yee Protégé
2008

(28th)

Ann Hui The Way We Are [29]
Benny Chan Connected
John Woo Red Cliff
Johnnie To Sparrow
Wilson Yip Ip Man
2009

(29th)

Teddy Chan Bodyguards and Assassins [30]
Ann Hui Night and Fog
John Woo Red Cliff II
Derek Yee Shinjuku Incident
Alan Mak and Felix Chong Overheard
2010

(30th)

Tsui Hark Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame [31]
Derek Kwok and Clement Cheng Gallants
Wilson Yip Ip Man 2
Su Chao-pin Reign of Assassins
Dante Lam The Stool Pigeon
2011

(31st)

Ann Hui A Simple Life [32]
Johnnie To Life without Principle
Tsui Hark Flying Swords of Dragon Gate
Alan Mak and Felix Chong Overheard 2
Jiang Wen Let the Bullets Fly
2012

(32nd)

Longman Leung and Sunny Luk Kim Ching Cold War [33]
Soi Cheang Motorway
Pang Ho-cheung Love in the Buff
Lo Chi Leung The Bullet Vanishes
Dante Lam The Viral Factor
2013

(33rd)

Wong Kar Wai The Grandmaster [34]
Johnnie To Drug War
Benny Chan The White Storm
Derek Kwok As the Light Goes Out
Dante Lam Unbeatable
2014

(34th)

Ann Hui The Golden Era [35]
Fruit Chan The Midnight After
Peter Chan Dearest
Dante Lam That Demon Within
Alan Mak and Felix Chong Overheard 3
2015

(35th)

Tsui Hark The Taking Of Tiger Mountain [36]
Adrian Kwan Shun Fai Little Big Master
Derek Yee I Am Somebody
Wilson Yip Ip Man 3
Philip Yung Tsz Kwong Port of Call
2016

(36th)

Frank Hui, Jevons Au and Vicky Wong Trivisa [37]
Wong Chun Mad World
Derek Tsang Soul Mate
Johnnie To Three
Stephen Chow The Mermaid
2017

(37th)

Ann Hui Our Time Will Come [38]
Kearen Pang 29+1
Herman Yau Shock Wave
Sylvia Chang Love Education
Wilson Yip Paradox
2018

(38th)

Felix Chong Project Gutenberg [39]
Fruit Chan Three Husbands
Dante Lam Operation Red Sea
Sunny Chan Men On The Dragon
Oliver Chan Siu Kuen Still Human
2019

(39th)

Derek Tsang Better Days [40]
Kiwi Chow Beyond the Dream
Ray Yeung Suk Suk
Heiward Mak Fagara
Wilson Yip Ip Man 4: The Finale
2020 and 2021

(40th)

Benny Chan Raging Fire [41]
Peter Chan Leap
Soi Cheang Limbo
Longman Leung Anita
Man Lim-chung Keep Rolling
2022

(41st)

Wai Ka-fai Detective vs Sleuths [42]
Ho Cheuk Tin The Sparring Partner
Lam Sum The Narrow Road
Mabel Cheung and William Kwok To My Nineteen Year Old Self
Sunny Chan Table for Six
2023

(42nd)

Soi Cheang Mad Fate [43]
Nick Cheuk Time Still Turns the Pages
Felix Chong The Goldfinger
Jack Ng A Guilty Conscience
Lawrence Kan In Broad Daylight

Multiple wins and nominations

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Records

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Items Name Statistics Notes
Most wins Ann Hui 6 wins 13 nominations
Most nominations Johnnie To 18 nominations 3 wins
Oldest winner Ann Hui Age 70 years, 327 days For Our Time Will Come
Oldest nominee Mabel Cheung Age 72 years, 150 days For To My Nineteen-Year-Old Self
Youngest winner Stanley Kwan Age 31 years, 182 days For Rouge
Youngest nominee Age 31 years
Most nominations without a win Wilson Yip 6 nominations

See also

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Notes

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^ A film is considered to be a "Hong Kong film" by meeting at least 2 of the following criteria:[1]
  1. The film's director is a Hong Kong resident that holds a Hong Kong Identity Card
  2. At least one of the film's production companies are legally registered in Hong Kong SAR.
  3. At least one person involved in the film's production from any six separate award categories who are Hong Kong resident holding a Hong Kong Identity Card.

References

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  1. ^ a b "The 36Th Hong Kong Film Awards - Rules Of Election". Hong Kong Film Awards. Archived from the original on 27 November 2016. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
  2. ^ "1st Hong Kong Film Awards" (in Chinese). Official website of Hong Kong Film Awards.
  3. ^ "2nd Hong Kong Film Awards" (in Chinese). Official website of Hong Kong Film Awards.
  4. ^ "3rd Hong Kong Film Awards" (in Chinese). Official website of Hong Kong Film Awards.
  5. ^ "4th Hong Kong Film Awards" (in Chinese). Official website of Hong Kong Film Awards.
  6. ^ "5th Hong Kong Film Awards" (in Chinese). Official website of Hong Kong Film Awards.
  7. ^ "6th Hong Kong Film Awards" (in Chinese). Official website of Hong Kong Film Awards.
  8. ^ "7th Hong Kong Film Awards" (in Chinese). Official website of Hong Kong Film Awards.
  9. ^ "8th Hong Kong Film Awards" (in Chinese). Official website of Hong Kong Film Awards.
  10. ^ "9th Hong Kong Film Awards" (in Chinese). Official website of Hong Kong Film Awards.
  11. ^ "10th Hong Kong Film Awards" (in Chinese). Official website of Hong Kong Film Awards.
  12. ^ "11th Hong Kong Film Awards" (in Chinese). Official website of Hong Kong Film Awards.
  13. ^ "12th Hong Kong Film Awards" (in Chinese). Official website of Hong Kong Film Awards.
  14. ^ "13th Hong Kong Film Awards" (in Chinese). Official website of Hong Kong Film Awards.
  15. ^ "14th Hong Kong Film Awards" (in Chinese). Official website of Hong Kong Film Awards.
  16. ^ "15th Hong Kong Film Awards" (in Chinese). Official website of Hong Kong Film Awards.
  17. ^ "16th Hong Kong Film Awards" (in Chinese). Official website of Hong Kong Film Awards.
  18. ^ "17th Hong Kong Film Awards" (in Chinese). Official website of Hong Kong Film Awards.
  19. ^ "18th Hong Kong Film Awards" (in Chinese). Official website of Hong Kong Film Awards.
  20. ^ "19th Hong Kong Film Awards" (in Chinese). Official website of Hong Kong Film Awards.
  21. ^ "20th Hong Kong Film Awards" (in Chinese). Official website of Hong Kong Film Awards.
  22. ^ "21st Hong Kong Film Awards" (in Chinese). Official website of Hong Kong Film Awards.
  23. ^ "22nd Hong Kong Film Awards" (in Chinese). Official website of Hong Kong Film Awards.
  24. ^ "23rd Hong Kong Film Awards" (in Chinese). Official website of Hong Kong Film Awards.
  25. ^ "24th Hong Kong Film Awards" (in Chinese). Official website of Hong Kong Film Awards.
  26. ^ "25th Hong Kong Film Awards" (in Chinese). Official website of Hong Kong Film Awards.
  27. ^ "26th Hong Kong Film Awards" (in Chinese). Official website of Hong Kong Film Awards.
  28. ^ "27th Hong Kong Film Awards" (in Chinese). Official website of Hong Kong Film Awards.
  29. ^ "28th Hong Kong Film Awards" (in Chinese). Official website of Hong Kong Film Awards.
  30. ^ "29th Hong Kong Film Awards" (in Chinese). Official website of Hong Kong Film Awards.
  31. ^ "30th Hong Kong Film Awards" (in Chinese). Official website of Hong Kong Film Awards.
  32. ^ "31st Hong Kong Film Awards" (in Chinese). Official website of Hong Kong Film Awards.
  33. ^ "32nd Hong Kong Film Awards" (in Chinese). Official website of Hong Kong Film Awards.
  34. ^ "33rd Hong Kong Film Awards" (in Chinese). Official website of Hong Kong Film Awards.
  35. ^ "34th Hong Kong Film Awards" (in Chinese). Official website of Hong Kong Film Awards.
  36. ^ "35th Hong Kong Film Awards" (in Chinese). Official website of Hong Kong Film Awards.
  37. ^ "36th Hong Kong Film Awards" (in Chinese). Official website of Hong Kong Film Awards.
  38. ^ "37th Hong Kong Film Awards" (in Chinese). Official website of Hong Kong Film Awards.
  39. ^ "38th Hong Kong Film Awards" (in Chinese). Official website of Hong Kong Film Awards.
  40. ^ "39th Hong Kong Film Awards" (in Chinese). Official website of Hong Kong Film Awards.
  41. ^ "40th Hong Kong Film Awards" (in Chinese). Official website of Hong Kong Film Awards.
  42. ^ "41st Hong Kong Film Awards" (in Chinese). Official website of Hong Kong Film Awards.
  43. ^ "42nd Hong Kong Film Awards" (in Chinese). Official website of Hong Kong Film Awards.
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