Wai Ka-fai

Wai Ka-fai (born 21 September 1962)[1][lower-alpha 1] is a Hong Kong film director, screenwriter and film producer. Best known for his frequent collaborations with Johnnie To, he co-formed Milkyway Image in 1996, which is now one of the most successful independent film studios in Hong Kong.

In this Chinese name, the family name is Wai.
Wai Ka-fai
韋家輝
Wai in 2022
Born (1962-09-21) 21 September 1962[1][lower-alpha 1]
British Hong Kong
Occupations
  • Film director
  • screenwriter
  • film producer
Years active1985 – present
RelativesWillie Wai (brother)
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese韋家輝
Simplified Chinese韦家辉

The films that Wai and To have made together as directors and producers include Needing You..., Fat Choi Spirit, Love on a Diet, Fulltime Killer, Turn Left, Turn Right, Running on Karma, and Mad Detective. His solo directorial efforts include Too Many Ways to Be No. 1, Written By and Detective vs Sleuths, which the latter helped him won the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Director.

Two of his films were released in the US theatrically: Fulltime Killer and Mad Detective.

Filmography

Television film
Year Title Role
1982Demi-Gods and Semi-DevilsWriter
1982Soldier of FortuneWriter
1983The Old Miao MythWriter
1983The Return of the Condor HeroesWriter
1984The Duke of Mount DeerWriter
1984Police Cadet '84Writer
1985Police Cadet '85Writer
1985The Young WandererWriter
1986The Feud of Two BrothersWriter
1988The Final VerdictWriter
1989Looking Back in AngerProducer
1989War of the DragonProducer
1990Heaven's RetributionProducer
1992The Greed of ManProducer
1993Racing PeakProducer
1997IntruderProducer
2000Divine RetributionProducer

Feature film
Year Film Credit(s) Notes
Director Screenwriter Producer
1985 Young Cops No Yes No —
1987 Easy Money No Yes No —
1988 It's No Heaven No Yes No —
1990 The Story of My Son No Yes No —
1985 Gun n' Rose No Yes No —
1995 Peace Hotel Yes Yes No Feature directorial debut
Also co-wrote the story with Donald Chow
1997 Too Many Ways to Be No. 1 Yes Yes No Won – Golden Bauhinia Awards for Best Screenplay
Won – Hong Kong Film Critics Society Award for Film of Merit
The Odd One Dies No Yes Yes —
Intruder No No Yes —
1998 The Longest Nite No No Yes —
Expect the Unexpected No No Yes —
A Hero Never Dies No No Yes —
1999 Where a Good Man Goes No No Yes Also as the story writer
2000 Needing You... Yes Yes Yes Co-directed and produced with Johnnie To
Nominated – Hong Kong Film Award for Best Director
Nominated – Hong Kong Film Award for Best Film
Help!!! Yes Yes Yes Co-directed and produced with Johnnie To
2001 Wu yen Yes Yes Yes
Love on a Diet Yes Yes Yes Co-directed and produced with Johnnie To
Nominated – Hong Kong Film Award for Best Director
Nominated – Hong Kong Film Award for Best Film
Fulltime Killer Yes Yes Yes Co-directed and produced with Johnnie To
2002 Fat Choi Spirit Yes Yes Yes Co-directed and produced with Johnnie To
Won – Hong Kong Film Critics Society Award for Film of Merit
My Left Eye Sees Ghosts Yes Yes Yes Co-directed and produced with Johnnie To
2003 Love for All Seasons Yes Yes Yes
Turn Left, Turn Right Yes Yes Yes
Running on Karma Yes Yes Yes Co-directed and produced with Johnnie To
Won – Hong Kong Film Award for Best Film
Won – Hong Kong Film Critics Society Award for Film of Merit
Nominated – Hong Kong Film Award for Best Director
Nominated – Golden Bauhinia Award for Best Director
Nominated – Golden Bauhinia Award for Best Film
Nominated – Chinese Film Media Award for Best Director (Hong Kong/Taiwan region)
Nominated – Chinese Film Media Award for Best Film (Hong Kong/Taiwan region)
2004 Fantasia Yes Yes Yes —
2005 Himalaya Singh Yes Yes Yes —
2006 The Shopaholics Yes Yes Yes —
2007 Mad Detective Yes Yes Yes Co-directed and produced with Johnnie To
Won – Hong Kong Film Critics Society Award for Film of Merit
Won – Hong Kong Film Critics Society Award for Screenplay
Won – Hong Kong Film Award for Best Screenplay
Nominated – Hong Kong Film Critics Society Award for Best Director
Nominated – Hong Kong Film Critics Society Award for Best Film
Nominated – Hong Kong Film Award for Best Director
Nominated – Hong Kong Film Award for Best Film
Nominated – Golden Lion
2009 Vengeance No Yes Yes Nominated – Palme d'Or
Written By Yes Yes Yes Won – Hong Kong Film Critics Society Award for Film of Merit
Won – Hong Kong Film Critics Society Award for Best Screenplay
Nominated – Asian Film Award for Best Screenplay
Nominated – Hong Kong Film Award for Best Screenplay
2011 Don't Go Breaking My Heart Yes Yes Yes —
2012 Romancing in Thin Air No Yes Yes Won – Hong Kong Film Critics Society Award for Film of Merit
Drug War No Yes Yes Won – San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Foreign Language Film
Won – Hong Kong Film Critics Society Award for Film of Merit
Won – Hong Kong Film Critics Society Award for Best Film
Won – Chinese Film Media Award for Best Film (China region)
Nominated – Golden Horse Award for Best Feature Film
2013 Blind Detective No Yes Yes —
2019 Chasing Dream No Yes Yes —
2022 Detective vs Sleuths Yes Yes Yes Won – Hong Kong Film Critics Society Award for Film of Merit
Won – Hong Kong Film Critics Society Award for Best Screenplay
Won – Hong Kong Film Critics Society Award for Best Director
Won – Hong Kong Film Award for Best Screenplay
Won – Hong Kong Film Award for Best Director
Nominated – Hong Kong Film Critics Society Award for Best Film
Nominated – Hong Kong Film Award for Best Film

Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Film Result
2001 20th Hong Kong Film Awards Best Director Needing You... Nominated
Best Film Nominated
2002 21st Hong Kong Film Awards Best Director Love on a Diet Nominated
Best Film Nominated
2004 23rd Hong Kong Film Awards Best Director Running on Karma Nominated
Best Film Won
Best Screenplay Won
2008 27th Hong Kong Film Awards Best Director Mad Detective Nominated
Best Film Nominated
Best Screenplay Won
2010 29th Hong Kong Film Awards Best Screenplay Written By Nominated
2023 41st Hong Kong Film Awards Best Director Detective vs Sleuths Won
Best Film Nominated
Best Screenplay Won

Note
  1. According to Wai in a March 8, 2011 interview, his birthday on the lunar calendar is Wong Tai Sin's birthday. Because Wong's birthday is celebrated on the 23rd of the eighth lunar month, while Wai was born in 1962, and after comparing with the perpetual calendar, it was found that his full New Calendar birth date is September 21, 1962.

References
  1. 香港電影資料館 (6 August 2022). "香港影人小傳檢索：韋家輝" (PDF). Retrieved 6 August 2022.


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