Hong Kong filmmaker Ann Hui is named the recipient of the Camellia Award at this year’s Busan International Film Festival (BIFF). Organizers say the honor recognizes filmmakers who have made significant contributions to elevating the status of women in the film industry. Hui is described across outlets as a leading figure in the Hong Kong New Wave and as an influential director, screenwriter and producer.
BIFF organizers also note Hui’s body of work and past recognition. One source says she made her directorial debut with “The Secret” (1979) and has helmed 27 feature films and two feature-length documentaries. Other reported accolades include an Asian Filmmaker of the Year Award at BIFF in 2014 and a Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice International Film Festival in 2020. In a quote attributed to Hui in a press release, she says she previously felt reluctant to receive “taking-stock” awards but now welcomes the prize as she nears the age at which making films has become more difficult. The award is scheduled to be presented at BIFF’s opening ceremony, part of the festival’s 31st edition running Oct. 6–15 in Busan.
