Johnnie To

Johnnie To Kei-fung, born on 22 April 1955, is a renowned Hong Kong filmmaker well received both in his homeland and overseas. Known for his impressive prolificacy, To has created films in various genres, with his action and crime movies particularly drawing attention in the West, gaining him widespread acclaim and a dedicated cult following. Among his numerous international successes are Breaking News, Election, Election 2 (a.k.a. Triad Election), Exiled, Mad Detective and Drug War. These films were featured in countless international film festivals and distributed extensively in France and the U.S., striking foreign sales records.

To's distinctive filmmaking style sees frequent collaborations with the same group of actors, screenwriters, and cinematographers. While his ability to masterfully switch tones and genres between movies has earned him a reputation of being multifaceted, his consistent approach of combining subdued realism and social observation with highly stylised visual and acting elements is equally admired. To cites King Hu as his primary influence. He is also a core part of Hong Kong–based production company Milkyway Image, which he heads, alongside frequent co-director Wai Ka-fai. Beginning his career at 17 as a messenger for TVB, To swiftly climbed the ladder, eventually shooting his first theatrical feature in 1978. His 1988 film The Eighth Happiness stands as one of his biggest commercial successes, being the highest-grossing film of that year. To continues to make significant contributions to the film industry till date.