Johnnie To

Last updated

Johnnie To Kei Fung
杜琪峯
Johnnie To 2022.jpg
To in an interview for Septet: The Story of Hong Kong in 2022
Born (1955-04-22) 22 April 1955 (age 69)
Sham Shui Po, Kowloon, British Hong Kong
Occupations
  • Film director
  • film producer
  • screenwriter
Years active1972–present
Notable work Full list
Spouse
Wong Po Ling
​
(m. 1978)​
Awards Full list
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese 杜琪峯
Simplified Chinese 杜琪峰
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin Dù Qífēng
Yue: Cantonese
Jyutping dou6 kei4 fung1

Johnnie To Kei Fung (born 22 April 1955) is a Hong Kong filmmaker. Popular in his native Hong Kong, [1] To has also found acclaim overseas. Intensely prolific, To has made films in a variety of genres, though in the West he is best known for his action and crime movies, which have earned him critical respect [2] [3] and a cult following, which includes American filmmaker Quentin Tarantino. [4]

Contents

To's biggest international successes include Breaking News , Election , Election 2 (a.k.a. Triad Election), Exiled , Mad Detective and Drug War ; these films have appeared in a number of international film festivals, been distributed theatrically in France and the United States, and been widely sold to foreign countries.

His films, often made in collaboration with the same group of actors, screenwriters and cinematographers, frequently explore themes of friendship, fate and the changing face of Hong Kong society. [5] [6] Sometimes described as "multifaceted and chameleonic" [3] due to his ability to switch tones and genres between movies, To is nonetheless seen as having a consistent style, which involves mixing subdued realism and social observation with highly stylised visual and acting elements. [5] To has cited King Hu as the director who has influenced his work the most. [7]

To heads the Hong Kong–based production company Milkyway Image with his frequent co-director Wai Ka-fai.

Career

To began his career at age 17 as a messenger for the Hong Kong television studio TVB. [1] From there To moved up the ladder, working as an executive producer and director for TV shows starting in 1973. In 1978, he shot his first theatrical feature, but continued working in television. In 1983, he directed and screen-wrote the critically acclaimed The Legend of the Condor Heroes, a dramatised TV series base on the martial art novel of the same name by Jin Yong.

While working as an assistant TV director during the Shaw Studios era he directed All About Ah-Long (1989), starring Chow Yun-fat. The film became one of the biggest box office hits that year. In 1988, he co-directed The Big Heat , his first action movie. The film was produced by Tsui Hark. The end of the 1980s also saw some of To's biggest commercial successes, the vast majority of which were comedies. His 1988 film The Eighth Happiness was that year's highest-grossing movie. [8]

In 1996, To and frequent collaborator Wai Ka-fai formed Milkyway Image, a production house specialising in cost-efficient independent films made by To and Wai, as well as their frequent collaborators from Law Wing-cheung to scriptwriter Yau Nai-hoi.

To was appointed to the Hong Kong Arts Development Council in 2004 and soon after chaired its Film and Media Arts Group. [9]

In May 2011, To served as a jury member at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival. [10]

His film Life Without Principle (2011) was selected as the Hong Kong's entry for Best Foreign Language Film at the 85th Academy Awards, [11] but did not make the shortlist. [12]

In 2016, To served as the Jury President for the 10th Asian Film Awards. [13]

In June 2017, To was invited to become a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. [14]

In June 2019, To was announced as the Jury President for the 56th Golden Horse Awards, but resigned his position in September. [15] [16]

In February 2023, To served as a jury member at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival. [17]

Festivals and awards

Commercially successful in his native Hong Kong, To's films have regularly appeared at international festivals, most notably in Europe and North America. Six of To's films have been featured at the Cannes Film Festival: Breaking News premiered as an Out-of-Competition midnight screening in 2004; [18] Election was shown in Competition in 2005; [19] its sequel, Election 2 (a.k.a. Triad Election) was screened in Out-of-Competition midnight screenings in 2006, and Triangle was screened in Out-of-Competition midnight screenings in 2007; Vengeance competed for the prestigious Palme d'Or in 2009; Blind Detective was screened in Out-of-Competition midnight screenings in 2013.

At the Berlin International Film Festival, Sparrow was shown in Competition in 2008.

At the Venice International Film Festival, Throw Down was screened Out-of-Competition in 2004; Exiled was shown in Competition at the festival in 2006; Mad Detective was shown in Competition in 2007; Life Without Principle was shown in Competition in 2011.

In North America, To's films have been consistently screened at the Toronto International Film Festival. The Mission , Fulltime Killer , PTU , Breaking News, Throw Down and Mad Detective all screened between 1999 and 2007. In 2006, Election, Election 2, and Exiled were screened.

In 2005, To received the "Time Machine Career Achievement Award" at the Festival de Cine de Sitges, Europe's most prestigious film festival specializing in genre films. To was also honoured as a "Filmmaker in Focus" of the 2007 International Film Festival Rotterdam. In 2009, while Vengeance competed at Cannes, To was made an officer of the French Order of Arts and Letters by the French Minister of Culture in recognition of his films. [20]

The annual Hong Kong International Film Festival held its 45th edition in April 2021 and To directed a segment of the 2020 anthology film Septet: The Story of Hong Kong . The other filmmakers who directed segments in the anthology are Sammo Hung, Ann Hui, Patrick Tam, Tsui Hark, Yuen Woo-ping and Ringo Lam. The short films were shot entirely on 35mm film, each of them touching on a nostalgic and moving story set across different time periods, with every one being an ode to the city. [21]

In 2024, To was appointed Jury member at the 2024 Tokyo International Film Festival for its section 'International competition'. [22]

Filmography

Monographs

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ringo Lam</span> Hong Kong filmmaker (1955-2018)

Ringo Lam Ling-Tung was a Hong Kong film director, producer, and screenwriter. He was known for his action and crime films produced during the Hong Kong New Wave, many of them comprising entries in the heroic bloodshed subgenre. He was nominated for six Hong Kong Film Awards, winning Best Director for his 1987 film City on Fire, which he followed with other similar films that shared a dark view of Hong Kong society, collectively known as the "On Fire" cycle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cannes Film Festival</span> Annual film festival in France

The Cannes Film Festival, until 2003 called the International Film Festival, is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres, including documentaries, from all around the world. Founded in 1946, the invitation-only festival is held annually at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès. The festival was formally accredited by the FIAPF in 1951.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chang Chen</span> Taiwanese actor (born 1976)

Chang Chen is a Taiwanese actor. He is best known for his roles in A Brighter Summer Day (1991), Happy Together (1997), Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), Three Times (2005), Brotherhood of Blades (2014), The Assassin (2015) and The Soul (2021). For his performance in The Soul, he won Best Leading Actor prize at the 58th Golden Horse Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tsai Ming-liang</span> Malaysian-Taiwanese filmmaker (born 1957)

Tsai Ming-liang is a Malaysian filmmaker based in Taiwan. Tsai has written and directed 11 feature films, many short films, and television films. He is one of the most celebrated "Second New Wave" film directors of Taiwanese cinema. His films have been acclaimed worldwide and have won numerous awards at festivals. In 1994, Tsai won the Golden Lion at the 51st Venice International Film Festival for the film Vive L'Amour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hong Kong International Film Festival</span> Film festival

The Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) is one of Asia's oldest international film festivals. Founded in 1976, the festival features different movies and filmmakers from different countries, and takes place in Hong Kong.

<i>Exiled</i> (2006 film) 2006 film by Johnnie To

Exiled is a 2006 Hong Kong action drama film produced and directed by Johnnie To, and starring Anthony Wong, Francis Ng, Nick Cheung, Josie Ho, Roy Cheung and Lam Suet, with special appearances by Richie Jen and Simon Yam. The action takes place in contemporary Macau. The film made its premiere at the 63rd Venice International Film Festival, and was in competition for the Golden Lion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Louis Koo</span> Hong Kong actor (born 1970)

Louis Koo Tin-lok is a Hong Kong actor, singer, and film producer. He began his professional career as an actor in local television series, receiving recognition for his roles in The Condor Heroes 95 (1995), Detective Investigation Files IV (1999), and A Step into the Past (2001). After 2001, Koo shifted his focus to films and became one of the stalwarts of the Hong Kong film industry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Busan International Film Festival</span> Annual film festival held in Busan, South Korea

The Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), formerly the Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF), held annually in Haeundae-gu, Busan, South Korea, is one of the most significant film festivals in Asia. The first festival, held from 13 to 21 September 1996, was also the first international film festival in Korea.

<i>Election 2</i> 2006 Hong Kong film

Election 2, also known as Triad Election in the United States, is a 2006 Category III Hong Kong crime film directed by Johnnie To with a large ensemble cast including Louis Koo, Simon Yam and Nick Cheung. A sequel to the 2005 film Election, the film concludes the events of the first film centring on triad boss Lok, who struggles to get re-elected as his two-year term approaches its end. He faces competition from Jimmy, who wants to retire from the triad to be a legitimate businessman, but gets drawn into the conflict surrounding the election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soi Cheang</span> Hong Kong filmmaker

Soi Cheang, also known as Bob Cheng or by his birth name Cheang Pou-soi, is a Macau-born Hong Kong filmmaker. Known for his contribution to action crime films, his works Motorway (2012), Limbo (2021) and Mad Fate (2023) earned him three Best Director nominations at the Hong Kong Film Awards, which he won for the latter.

<i>Triangle</i> (2007 film) 2007 Hong Kong action film

Triangle is a 2007 Hong Kong action film produced and directed by Tsui Hark, Ringo Lam, and Johnnie To. The film's title refers to both the acclaimed trio of filmmakers and to the uneasy brotherhood of the film's three protagonists. Triangle tells one story which is told in three thirty-minute segments, independently helmed by the three directors. It stars Louis Koo, Simon Yam and Sun Honglei as a group of friends who uncover a hidden treasure that quickly draws attention among others. The film's tagline is "Temptation. Jealousy. Destiny." Each word is often associated with the segments that appear in chronological order.

<i>Sparrow</i> (2008 film) 2008 Hong Kong film

Sparrow is a 2008 Hong Kong caper film produced and directed by Johnnie To. The film stars veteran Milkyway Image cast and crew alumni Simon Yam, Gordon Lam, Law Wing-cheung and Kenneth Cheung as a small gang of pickpockets, with each member being mysteriously approached by a beautiful Taiwanese woman with a hidden agenda.

<i>Vengeance</i> (2009 film) 2009 film

Vengeance is a 2009 action thriller film co-produced and directed by Johnnie To, and written by Wai Ka-Fai. It stars Johnny Hallyday, Anthony Wong, Gordon Lam, Lam Suet, Simon Yam, Michelle Ye and Sylvie Testud. The film tells the story of Francis Costello, a French chef and former assassin whose daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren are attacked by a gang of Triads. Costello travels to Macau to embark on a quest for revenge, enlisting the aid of three hitmen. The film explores the themes of assassination, violence and the influence of Triads in modern society. Produced by Milkyway Image, the film was released by ARP Sélection in France, and Media Asia Films in Hong Kong.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1989 Cannes Film Festival</span>

The 42nd Cannes Film Festival took place from 11 to 23 May 1989. West German filmmaker Wim Wenders served as jury president for the main competition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2011 Cannes Film Festival</span> Film festival

The 64th Cannes Film Festival |took place from 11 to 22 May 2011. American actor Robert De Niro served as the president of the jury for the main competition. American filmmaker Terrence Malick won the Palme d'Or, the festival's top prize, for the drama film The Tree of Life.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Milkyway Image</span> Hong Kong film production company

Milkyway Image Ltd. is a film production company based in Kwun Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong. The company was established in 1996 by director Johnnie To in partnership with frequent collaborator Wai Ka-Fai. The company is known best for producing dark crime films inspired by the works of French director Jean-Pierre Melville and the film noir genre. Milkyway Image's productions have been repeatedly praised as a bold move against the commercialism found in post-handover Hong Kong cinema, and have also attracted a significant international fan base.

<i>Blind Detective</i> 2013 Hong Kong film

Blind Detective is a 2013 Cantonese-language action crime romantic comedy film directed by Johnnie To and starring Andy Lau and Sammi Cheng.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Osaka Asian Film Festival</span> Annual film festival in Japan

The Osaka Asian Film Festival is an annual film festival held in Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture, Japan in March. The festival began in 2005 and currently introduces Asian films.

<i>Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In</i> 2024 Hong Kong film

Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In is a 2024 Hong Kong martial arts action film directed by Soi Cheang, and starring Louis Koo, Sammo Hung, Richie Jen, Raymond Lam, Terrance Lau, Kenny Wong, Philip Ng, Tony Wu and German Cheung. The film was based on the novel City of Darkness by Yuyi and the manhua of the same name by Andy Seto.

References

  1. 1 2 Axmaker, Sean (19 February 2004). "Karma Chameleon: A talk with Johnnie To (Page 1)". Green Cine. Archived from the original on 20 April 2013. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  2. ↑ "Rotten Tomatoes Profile". Rottentomatoes.com. Archived from the original on 2 January 2013. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  3. 1 2 "Senses of Cinema: The Belated Auteurism of Johnnie To". Archived from the original on 30 March 2009.
  4. ↑ Taylor, Ella (18 August 2009). "Quentin Tarantino: The Inglourious Basterds Interview". Archived from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
  5. 1 2 "Interview with Johnnie To". Cineaste. 22 April 1955. Archived from the original on 1 January 2013. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  6. ↑ "Review of Exiled for the Chicago Reader, by Fred Camper". Fredcamper.com. 7 September 2007. Archived from the original on 15 July 2012. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  7. ↑ "Johnnie To: 'I just happened to be assigned to the drama department'". FilmDoo. 18 May 2018. Archived from the original on 28 June 2018. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  8. ↑ "Hong Kong Cinemagic: Johnnie To". Hkcinemagic.com. Archived from the original on 13 May 2011. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  9. ↑ "Johnnie K F To". Hong Kong Baptist University . Archived from the original on 9 May 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  10. ↑ "THE JURY OF THE 64TH FESTIVAL DE CANNES". Festival de Cannes. 5 May 2011. Archived from the original on 9 May 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  11. ↑ "Greece picks 'Unfair World' for Oscar race". The Hollywood Reporter . 21 September 2012. Archived from the original on 20 March 2017. Retrieved 21 September 2012.
  12. ↑ Morgan, David (21 December 2012). "9 foreign films on Oscar shortlist". CBS News . Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  13. ↑ Shackleton, Liz (3 February 2016). "'The Assassin' leads nods for Asian Film Awards". Screen International . Archived from the original on 9 May 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  14. ↑ Stedman, Alex (28 June 2017). "Academy Invites Record 774 New Members". Variety . Archived from the original on 24 April 2018. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  15. ↑ Chu, Karen (20 September 2019). "Hong Kong Director Johnnie To Resigns as Golden Horse Awards Jury President Amid Beijing Boycott". The Hollywood Reporter . Archived from the original on 9 April 2022. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  16. ↑ "Wang Toon will succeed as new Jury President". Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 19 September 2019. Archived from the original on 9 May 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  17. ↑ Goodfellow, Melanie (1 February 2023). "Berlin Jury Announced; Includes Golshifteh Farahani, Johnnie To & '12 Years A Slave', 'Babylon', 'She Said' Casting Director Francine Maisler". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on 16 February 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  18. ↑ "Festival de Cannes: Breaking News". festival-cannes.com. Archived from the original on 10 October 2012. Retrieved 5 December 2009.
  19. ↑ "Festival de Cannes: Election". festival-cannes.com. Archived from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 5 December 2009.
  20. ↑ ADC congratulates Johnnie To awarded the Officer of the National Order of Arts and Letters by French Ministry of Culture / Press Releases / Information Centre / Hong Kong Arts Development Council Archived 21 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  21. ↑ "Must-watch Chinese film premieres at the 2021 Hong Kong International Film Festival". 2 April 2021. Archived from the original on 25 April 2021. Retrieved 25 April 2021. igafencu.com. 2021-04-07
  22. ↑ Abid Rahman (1 August 2024). "Tokyo Film Festival Reveals 2024 Competition Jury Members". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.