Hong Kong superstar Andy Lau to be honoured with special award at Toronto film festival
- Lau will be given special tribute award on September 15 at world premiere of his latest film The Movie Emperor
- ‘An industry icon and multifaceted artist with an impressive filmography, Lau has paved the way for a generation of performers,’ festival head Cameron Bailey says
Hong Kong superstar Andy Lau Tak-wah will be honoured with a special tribute award at one of the top film festivals in the world next month for his “multifaceted” talent and “impressive” body of work spanning decades.
Cultural minister Kevin Yeung Yun-hung congratulated Lau on Thursday for earning the “well-deserved” title at the Toronto International Film Festival.
“Andy Lau has made great contributions to Hong Kong films and music,” Yeung said. “Apart from showcasing Hong Kong’s cultural soft power, Lau, who demonstrates a responsible and professional work attitude, is also a role model for young people.”
According to festival organisers, Lau will receive the award on September 15 at the world premiere of his latest film The Movie Emperor.
“An industry icon and multifaceted artist with an impressive filmography, Lau has paved the way for a generation of performers,” said festival chief executive officer Cameron Bailey.
The festival will also honour two-time Oscar-nominated Polish cinematographer Lukasz Zal and Brazilian filmmaker Carolina Markowicz, who will be presented with the variety artisan award and the emerging talent award respectively.
Described by the festival as “a leading figure in Asian cinema for the past four decades”, Lau began his career in the 1980s as a TVB actor and has appeared in more than 160 films.
Lau was nominated 13 times for best actor at the Hong Kong Film Awards and won three times. He also received the Asian filmmaker of the year award at the 2006 Busan International Film Festival.
He also conquered the music charts, becoming known as one of the “four heavenly kings of Cantopop”.
In an interview with the Post in 2001, Lau spoke about his rise to fame, saying: “I’m a very lucky guy. Not a lot of people can have their lives so much in tandem with the changes around us.
“I have the ability and I work hard, but the same goes for a lot of other people. It’s a matter of being in the right place at the right time.”
The 48th edition of the festival will take place from September 7 to 17.
