Veteran Hong Kong filmmaker Johnnie To (To Kei-fung) will serve as President of the Jury for the Asian Competition section at the 4th Da Nang Asian Film Festival (DANAFF IV). With more than four decades in cinema, he is regarded as one of the most influential figures in Hong Kong cinema, contributing significantly to bringing the region’s genre films to major international film festivals such as Cannes, Venice, and Berlin.
Throughout his career, Johnnie To has left a mark with numerous notable works such as All About Ah-Long (1989), starring Chow Yun-fat and Sylvia Chang; The Mission (Súng Hỏa, 1999), featuring Francis Ng, Anthony Wong, Simon Yam, Eddie Cheung, and Lam Suet; as well as the Election series (Election I & II, 2005–2006), with performances by acclaimed actors including Tony Leung Ka-fai, Louis Koo, Simon Yam, Nick Cheung, Cheung Siu-fai, and Lam Ka-tung.
In addition to action films, To Kei-fung has also achieved success with romantic comedies — a genre long considered a hallmark of Hong Kong cinema. Together with the popular duo Andy Lau and Sammi Cheng, he created several box office successes such as Needing You… (2000) and Blind Detective (2013). His film Don’t Go Breaking My Heart, starring Louis Koo and Gao Yuanyuan, also surpassed RMB 100 million in box office revenue in mainland China.
In 1996, Johnnie To and his collaborators founded Milkyway Image, marking a major turning point in his filmmaking career. Under the Milkyway banner, he developed a distinctive cinematic style characterized by tight pacing, sharp visual language, and highly stylized action choreography, while balancing commercial appeal with artistic creativity.
Beyond filmmaking, To Kei-fung has made significant contributions to the development of Hong Kong cinema through his support for young filmmakers. He previously held an important role within the Hong Kong Arts Development Council and founded the Fresh Wave short film competition to discover and support emerging talents in regional cinema.
His experience serving on the juries of major international film festivals such as Cannes (2011), Venice (2008), and Berlin (2023) represents an important professional contribution that Johnnie To brings to DANAFF IV. His role as President of the Jury for the Asian Competition section is expected to further enhance the professional quality of the awards while strengthening connections between Vietnamese cinema and other film industries in the region.
DANANG TOURISM PROMOTION CENTER
