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. 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.
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 43rd Hong Kong Film Awards (2025), for his film Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In. 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
+ Table key Indicates the winner
Year Director(s) Film1981 (1st)Allen FongFather and Son1982 (2nd)Ann HuiBoat PeopleDavid LaiLonely FifteenSammo HungThe Prodigal SonClifford ChoiTeenage DreamersPatrick TamNomad1983 (3rd)Allen FongAh YingLi Han-hsiangThe Burning of Imperial PalaceWu MaThe Dead and the DeadlyTeddy RobinAll the Wrong SpiesKirk WongHealth Warning 1984 (4th)Yim HoHomecomingTsui HarkShanghai BluesJohnny MakLong Arm of the LawPo-Chih LeongHong Kong 1941Danny Lee Sau-YinLaw with Two Phases 1985 (5th)Mabel CheungThe Illegal ImmigrantStanley KwanWomenRicky LauMr. VampireSammo HungHeart of DragonJackie ChanPolice Story1986 (6th)Allen FongJust Like WeatherStephen ShinBrotherhoodJohn WooA Better TomorrowDerek YeeThe LunaticsLi Han-XiangThe Last EmperorStanley KwanLove Unto Waste1987 (7th)Ringo LamCity on FireChing Siu-tungA Chinese Ghost StoryMabel CheungAn Autumn's TaleRingo LamPrison on FireAnn HuiThe Romance of Book & SwordPatrick TamFinal Victory1988 (8th)Stanley KwanRougeLawrence Ah MonGangsAlex LawPainted FacesWong Kar-waiAs Tears Go ByJacob CheungLast Eunuch in China1989 (9th)John WooThe KillerJohnnie ToAll About Ah-LongJacob CheungBeyond the SunsetAnthony Chan YauA Fishy StoryMabel CheungEight Taels of Gold1990 (10th)Wong Kar-waiDays of Being WildJohn WooBullet in the HeadAnn HuiSong of the ExileYim HoRed DustClara LawFarewell China1991 (11th)Tsui HarkOnce Upon a Time in ChinaJohn WooOnce a ThiefGordon ChanFight Back to SchoolLawrence Ah MonLee RockPoon Man-kitTo Be Number One1992 (12th)Jacob CheungCagemanJeffrey Lau92 Legendary La Rose NoireGordon ChanKing of BeggarsTsui HarkOnce Upon a Time in China IIStanley KwanCenter Stage1993 (13th)Derek YeeC'est la vie, mon chériKirk WongCrime StoryCha Yuen-yeeLegal InnocencePeter Chan and Lee Chi-ngaiTom, Dick and HairyClara LawTemptation of a Monk1994 (14th)Wong Kar-waiChungking ExpressWong Kar-waiAshes of TimePeter ChanHe's a Woman, She's a ManTsui HarkThe LoversGordon ChanThe Final Option1995 (15th)Ann HuiSummer SnowDerek YeeFull ThrottleWong Kar-waiFallen AngelsYim HoThe Day the Sun Turned ColdJohnnie ToLoving You1996 (16th)Peter ChanComrades: Almost a Love StoryDerek ChiuThe LogDerek Yee and Law Chi-leungViva EroticaShu KeiHu-Du-MenBenny ChanBig Bullet1997 (17th)Fruit ChanMade in Hong KongWong Kar-waiHappy TogetherRingo LamFull AlertMabel CheungThe Soong SistersJohnnie ToLifeline1998 (18th)Gordon Chan and Dante LamBeast CopsStanley KwanHold You TightFruit ChanThe Longest SummerMabel CheungCity of GlassPatrick YauThe Longest Nite1999 (19th)Johnnie ToThe MissionSylvia ChangTempting HeartAnn HuiOrdinary HeroesRingo LamVictimJohnnie ToRunning Out of Time2000 (20th)Ang LeeCrouching Tiger, Hidden DragonWong Kar-waiIn the Mood for LoveFruit ChanDurian DurianJohnnie To and Wai Ka-faiNeeding You...Wilson YipJuliet in Love2001 (21st)Stephen ChowShaolin SoccerAnn HuiJuly RhapsodyStanley KwanLan YuJohnnie To and Wai Ka-faiLove on a DietAnn HuiVisible Secret2002 (22nd)Andrew Lau and Alan MakInfernal AffairsLaw Chi-LeungInner SensesPeter ChanThree: Going HomeFruit ChanHollywood Hong KongZhang YimouHero2003 (23rd)Johnnie ToPTUJohnnie To and Wai Ka-faiRunning on KarmaDerek YeeLost in TimeAndrew Lau and Alan MakInfernal Affairs IIBenny Chan Muk-SingHeroic Duo2004 (24th)Derek YeeOne Nite in MongkokWong Kar-wai2046Stephen ChowKung Fu HustleBenny Chan Muk-SingNew Police StoryJohnnie ToBreaking News2005 (25th)Johnnie ToElectionDerek Yee2 YoungAndrew Lau and Alan MakInitial DPeter ChanPerhaps LoveTsui HarkSeven Swords2006 (26th)Patrick TamAfter This Our ExileJacob CheungA Battle of WitsJohnnie ToElection 2Johnnie ToExiledZhang YimouCurse of the Golden Flower2007 (27th)Peter ChanThe WarlordsAnn HuiThe Postmodern Life of My AuntYau Nai-HoiEye in the SkyJohnnie To and Wai Ka-faiMad DetectiveDerek YeeProtégé2008 (28th)Ann HuiThe Way We AreBenny ChanConnectedJohn WooRed CliffJohnnie ToSparrowWilson YipIp Man2009 (29th)Teddy ChanBodyguards and AssassinsAnn HuiNight and FogJohn WooRed Cliff IIDerek YeeShinjuku IncidentAlan Mak and Felix ChongOverheard2010 (30th)Tsui HarkDetective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom FlameDerek Kwok and Clement ChengGallantsWilson YipIp Man 2Su Chao-pinReign of AssassinsDante LamThe Stool Pigeon2011 (31st)Ann HuiA Simple LifeJohnnie ToLife without PrincipleTsui HarkFlying Swords of Dragon GateAlan Mak and Felix ChongOverheard 2Jiang WenLet the Bullets Fly2012 (32nd)Longman Leung and Sunny LukCold WarSoi CheangMotorwayPang Ho-cheungLove in the BuffLo Chi LeungThe Bullet VanishesDante LamThe Viral Factor2013 (33rd)Wong Kar WaiThe GrandmasterJohnnie ToDrug WarBenny ChanThe White StormDerek KwokAs the Light Goes OutDante LamUnbeatable2014 (34th)Ann HuiThe Golden EraFruit ChanThe Midnight AfterPeter ChanDearestDante LamThat Demon WithinAlan Mak and Felix ChongOverheard 32015 (35th)Tsui HarkThe Taking Of Tiger MountainAdrian KwanLittle Big MasterDerek YeeI Am SomebodyWilson YipIp Man 3Philip Yung Tsz KwongPort of Call2016 (36th)Frank Hui, Jevons Au and Vicky WongTrivisaWong ChunMad WorldDerek TsangSoul MateJohnnie ToThreeStephen ChowThe Mermaid2017 (37th)Ann HuiOur Time Will ComeKearen Pang29+1Herman YauShock WaveSylvia ChangLove EducationWilson YipParadox2018 (38th)Felix ChongProject GutenbergFruit ChanThree HusbandsDante LamOperation Red SeaSunny ChanMen On The DragonOliver ChanStill Human2019 (39th)Derek TsangBetter DaysKiwi ChowBeyond the DreamRay YeungSuk SukHeiward MakFagaraWilson YipIp Man 4: The Finale2020 and 2021 (40th)Benny ChanRaging FirePeter ChanLeapSoi CheangLimboLongman LeungAnitaMan Lim-chungKeep Rolling 2022 (41st)Wai Ka-faiDetective vs SleuthsHo Cheuk-tinThe Sparring PartnerLam SumThe Narrow RoadMabel Cheung and William KwokTo My Nineteen Year Old SelfSunny ChanTable for Six2023 (42nd)Soi CheangMad FateNick CheukTime Still Turns the PagesFelix ChongThe GoldfingerJack NgA Guilty ConscienceLawrence KanIn Broad Daylight2024 (43rd)Soi CheangTwilight of the Warriors: Walled InPhilip Yung and Au Cheuk-manPapaAdam WongThe Way We TalkAnselm ChanThe Last DanceRay YeungAll Shall Be Well2025 (44th)Patrick LeungCiao UFO Shu Qi Girl Tommy Ng Another World Jonathan Li, Chow Man-yu Behind the Shadows Peter Chan She's Got No Name
Multiple wins and nominations
The following individuals received two or more Best Director awards: Wins Director Years 6 Ann Hui 1982, 1997, 2008, 2011, 2014, 2017 3 Allen Fong 1981, 1983, 1986 Johnnie To 1999, 2003, 2005 Tsui Hark 1991, 2010, 2015 Wong Kar-wai 1990, 1994, 2013 2 Derek Yee 1993, 2004 Peter Chan 1996, 2007 Soi Cheang 2023, 2024
The following individuals received three or more Best Director nominations: Nominations Director 18 Johnnie To 13 Ann Hui 10 Derek Yee 9 Peter Chan Wong Kar-wai 8 Tsui Hark 6 Alan Mak Benny Chan Dante Lam Fruit Chan John Woo Mabel Cheung Stanley Kwan Wilson Yip 5 Felix Chong Wai Ka-Fai 4 Gordon Chan Jacob Cheung Ringo Lam Soi Cheang 3 Allen Fong Andrew Lau Patrick Tam Stephen Chow Yim Ho
Records ItemsNameStatisticsNotesMost winsAnn Hui6 wins13 nominationsMost nominationsJohnnie To18 nominations3 winsOldest winnerAnn HuiAge 70 years, 327 daysFor Our Time Will ComeOldest nomineeMabel CheungAge 72 years, 150 daysFor To My Nineteen-Year-Old SelfYoungest winnerStanley KwanAge 31 years, 182 daysFor RougeYoungest nomineeAge 31 yearsMost nominations without a winWilson Yip6 nominations
See also Hong Kong Film Award Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actor Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actress Hong Kong Film Award for Best Supporting Actor Hong Kong Film Award for Best Supporting Actress Hong Kong Film Award for Best Action Choreography Hong Kong Film Award for Best Cinematography Hong Kong Film Award for Best Film Hong Kong Film Award for Best New Performer
Notes A film is considered to be a "Hong Kong film" by meeting at least 2 of the following criteria: The film's director is a Hong Kong resident that holds a Hong Kong Identity Card At least one of the film's production companies are legally registered in Hong Kong SAR. 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
External links Hong Kong Film Awards Official Site