Andy Lau: A Tribute to a Four-Decade Film Journey

Curated by the Fête Chinoise Team
Images from IMDB Official site

The TIFF Tribute Awards, presented by Bulgari, honor outstanding contributors to the film industry and their remarkable achievements. This year, one of the recipients is none other than Andy Lau, a multi-talented artist widely celebrated as one of the most popular entertainers within the global Chinese community. In the 1990s, he was also renowned as one of the "Four Heavenly Kings" of Chinese pop music. With a career spanning more than four decades, Lau has an impressive filmography that boasts over 160 films.

Andy Lau and Tony Leung Chiu-wai in Infernal Affairs (2002)

Takeshi Kaneshiro, Andy Lau, and Ziyi Zhang in House of Flying Daggers (2004)

Lau's journey began in the early 1980s when he started as an actor at Hong Kong's Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB). His breakthrough into feature films came with Ann Hui's "Boat People" in 1982, a pivotal work of the Hong Kong New Wave movement. By the late 1980s, Lau had fully transitioned into the world of cinema, captivating audiences and critics alike with his roles in Wong Kar Wai's "As Tears Go By" (1988) and "Days of Being Wild" (1990).

During the early 1990s, Lau took a bold step by establishing his own production company. Over the years, he has graced the silver screen in a diverse range of films, including Johnnie To's relentless police thriller "Running Out of Time" (1999), Andrew Lau and Alan Mak's intricate and unpredictable "Infernal Affairs" series (2002), Zhang Yimou's martial arts spectacle "House of Flying Daggers" (2004), Tsui Hark's whimsical fantasy whodunit "Detective Dee: The Mystery of the Phantom Flame" (2010), Ann Hui's poignant drama "A Simple Life" (2011), and Frant Gwo's epic action blockbuster "The Wandering Earth 2" (2023).

As a recipient of the TIFF Tribute Award, Andy Lau will engage in a profound discussion about his illustrious career as an actor, producer, and celebrated Cantopop singer-songwriter. Additionally, he will delve into his latest film, "The Movie Emperor," a Gala Presentation at this year's Festival.

"The Movie Emperor" marks the first cinematic collaboration between Andy Lau and Ning Hao, although their friendship dates back to 2006. Ning Hao's debut feature, "Crazy Stone," was financially supported by Lau's "Asian New Director Project," which aims to nurture emerging Asian directors. "Crazy Stone" enjoyed massive success at the box office and paved the way for Ning's continued triumphs. For over 17 years, Andy Lau has not only strived to excel as an actor and singer but also dedicated himself to championing new filmmakers.

Jackie Chan and Andy Lau in Shaolin (2011)

Lawrence Ah-Mon, Andy Lau, Sui-Man Chim, and Yun-sau Mak in A Simple Life (2011)

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