Johnnie To

1. Overview

Johnnie To Kei-fung (杜琪峯_{Dù Qífēng}^Chinese) is a renowned Hong Kong filmmaker, born on April 22, 1955. He is widely acclaimed for his prolific output and significant contributions to contemporary Hong Kong cinema. While popular in his native Hong Kong, To has also achieved considerable international recognition, particularly in the West, where he is best known for his distinctive action and crime movies. His work has earned him critical respect and a cult following, notably including American filmmaker Quentin Tarantino. To's films frequently explore themes of friendship, fate, and the evolving landscape of Hong Kong society, often made in collaboration with a consistent group of actors, screenwriters, and cinematographers. He is also the head of Milkyway Image, a Hong Kong-based production company co-founded with Wai Ka-fai.

2. Early Life and Education

Johnnie To Kei-fung was born on April 22, 1955, in Sham Shui Po, Kowloon, then part of British Hong Kong. At the age of 17, in 1972, To began his career in the Hong Kong entertainment industry as a messenger for the television studio TVB. In 1973, he entered the TVB actors' training class, after which he started working as a staff member.

3. Early Career

To's early career was primarily within the Hong Kong television industry. After starting as a messenger, he quickly moved up the ranks at TVB, taking on roles as an assistant producer and director for TV shows beginning in 1973. He worked under the esteemed TVB producer Kam Kwok-leung, directing various television dramas. His first theatrical feature film, The Enigmatic Case (碧水寒山奪命金), was shot in 1978 and released in 1980, marking his debut in cinema. Despite this, he continued to work extensively in television. In 1983, he directed and co-wrote The Legend of the Condor Heroes, a critically acclaimed dramatized TV series based on the martial arts novel by Jin Yong.

The late 1980s saw some of To's significant commercial successes in film. In 1988, he co-directed The Big Heat, his first action movie, which was produced by Tsui Hark. His 1988 film The Eighth Happiness became the highest-grossing movie of that year. In 1989, he directed All About Ah-Long, starring Chow Yun-fat, which also became one of the biggest box office hits of the year. During this period, while still working as an assistant TV director, To began to gain recognition for his cinematic ventures.

4. Milkyway Image and Collaboration

In 1996, Johnnie To co-founded Milkyway Image, a film production company based in Hong Kong, with his frequent collaborator, screenwriter and director Wai Ka-fai. This partnership became pivotal in shaping To's directorial career and artistic output. Milkyway Image was established with a focus on producing cost-efficient independent films. The company served as a creative hub for To, Wai, and their regular collaborators, including director Law Wing-cheung and scriptwriter Yau Nai-hoi, fostering a distinctive cinematic style often referred to as the "Johnnie To style." Through Milkyway Image, To has been able to maintain a high level of creative control over his projects and develop a consistent visual and thematic language in his films. Their collaborations include commercially successful comedies like Needing You... (2000) and Love on a Diet (2001), as well as critically acclaimed crime thrillers such as Fulltime Killer (2001) and Mad Detective (2007).

5. Directing Style and Thematic Concerns

Johnnie To's directing style is characterized by its remarkable versatility and his ability to seamlessly transition between various genres. While internationally recognized for his action and crime thrillers, he has also directed successful romantic comedies, dramas, and even martial arts films. This adaptability has earned him descriptions such as "multifaceted and chameleonic." Despite his genre-switching, To maintains a recognizable and consistent directorial style, often blending subdued realism and incisive social observation with highly stylized visual and acting elements.

His films frequently delve into profound thematic concerns. Recurring themes include the complexities of friendship, the inexorable nature of fate, and the dramatic societal changes occurring in Hong Kong. To has cited King Hu, a prominent director known for his wuxia films, as the filmmaker who has most significantly influenced his own work. This influence is evident in the dynamic and often balletic action sequences found in many of To's productions. His unique approach to filmmaking, which combines intense action, moral ambiguity, and keen social commentary, has cemented his reputation as a distinctive auteur in contemporary cinema.

6. Filmography

Johnnie To has a prolific filmography as a director, often also serving as a producer or screenwriter. His works span various genres, from action and crime to romantic comedies and dramas.

7. Producer and Other Industry Activities

Beyond his extensive work as a director, Johnnie To has made significant contributions to the film industry as a producer and through various organizational roles. From 1999 to 2001, he served as the chief operational officer of China Star Entertainment Group. In 2004, To was appointed to the Hong Kong Arts Development Council, where he soon after chaired its Film and Media Arts Group, demonstrating his commitment to nurturing the local film scene.

To's prominence extends to his involvement in major international film festivals as a jury member and president. He was a jury member at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival and later served as the Jury President for the 10th Asian Film Awards in 2016. In February 2023, he participated as a jury member at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival. Additionally, in 2024, To was appointed a jury member for the 'International Competition' section at the 37th Tokyo International Film Festival. In June 2017, To was invited to become a member of the prestigious Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

In a notable event in June 2019, To was announced as the Jury President for the 56th Golden Horse Awards in Taiwan but resigned from the position in September of the same year.

8. Awards and Honors

Johnnie To has received numerous significant awards and recognitions throughout his career, cementing his status as one of Hong Kong's most celebrated filmmakers.

He has won the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Director multiple times, including for The Mission (2000), PTU (2004), and Election (2006). He also received the Golden Bauhinia Award for Best Director for PTU and The Mission. To has also been honored with the Golden Horse Award for Best Director at the Golden Horse Awards in Taiwan for The Mission (2000) and Breaking News (2004).

In 2005, To was awarded the "Time Machine Career Achievement Award" at the Festival de Cine de Sitges, Europe's most prestigious film festival specializing in genre films. In 2009, while his film 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 significant contributions to cinema.

9. International Film Festivals and Recognition

Johnnie To's films have consistently garnered international acclaim and a strong presence at major film festivals worldwide, particularly in Europe and North America.

His films have been featured at the Cannes Film Festival on multiple occasions:

• Breaking News premiered as an Out-of-Competition midnight screening in 2004.
• Election was shown in Competition in 2005, competing for the prestigious Palme d'Or.
• Its sequel, Election 2 (also known as Triad Election), was screened in Out-of-Competition midnight screenings in 2006.
• Triangle was screened in Out-of-Competition midnight screenings in 2007.
• Vengeance competed for the Palme d'Or in 2009.
• Blind Detective was screened in Out-of-Competition midnight screenings in 2013.

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

To's works have also frequently appeared 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. This film was later selected as Hong Kong's entry for Best Foreign Language Film at the 85th Academy Awards, though it did not make the shortlist.

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 2007, Johnnie To was honored as a "Filmmaker in Focus" at the International Film Festival Rotterdam. The Hong Kong International Film Festival held its 45th edition in April 2021, featuring Septet: The Story of Hong Kong, an anthology film directed by To and six other prominent Hong Kong filmmakers, with each segment serving as an ode to the city's history. In 2009, the 14th Busan International Film Festival hosted a special retrospective titled "Johnnie To Retrospective: The World of Johnnie To's Films," showcasing nine of his works from All About Ah-Long to Vengeance.

10. Influence and Critical Reception

Johnnie To's influence on contemporary filmmaking, particularly within the Hong Kong action and crime genres, is significant. His films are widely respected for their distinctive cinematic style, which blends grounded realism with highly stylized visual and performative elements. This unique approach has garnered him a dedicated cult following and widespread critical acclaim globally. Critics often note his ability to maintain a consistent artistic vision while working across a diverse range of genres, from gritty crime thrillers to lighthearted romantic comedies.

His works are often analyzed for their complex narratives, exploration of moral ambiguities, and their depiction of the changing socio-political landscape of Hong Kong. Many of his films, such as The Mission, Election, and Exiled, are considered modern classics of the crime genre, influencing filmmakers both in Asia and the West. The intricate choreography of his action sequences and his precise direction of ensemble casts are frequently highlighted as hallmarks of his unique style.

11. Monographs and Studies

Several notable books and academic studies have been dedicated to analyzing Johnnie To's filmography and career, providing in-depth critical perspectives on his work:

• Ingham, Michael. Johnnie To Kei-Fung's PTU. Hong Kong University Press, 2009.
• Teo, Stephen. Director in Action: Johnnie To and the Hong Kong Action Film. Hong Kong University Press, 2007.
• Jost, Marie. The Rise of Johnnie To. HKCinemagic, PDF version.
• Johnnie Got His Gun! (2010): A 59-minute French documentary directed by Yves Montmayeur, exploring To's career.
• Boundless (無涯：杜琪峰的电影世界) (2013): A 95-minute Hong Kong documentary directed by Ferris Lin.

12. Personal Life

Johnnie To is married to Wong Po-ling. They married in 1978.