[2025.05.03] TSUI HARK RECEIVES THE UDINE FAR EAST FILM FESTIVAL LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Tsui Hark says that the achievement of a film, aside from the efforts of the cast and the crew , an audience that is willing to buy a ticket and enter the theater to support it is the most important

Tony Leung Ka Fai flies to Italy to present the Lifetime Achievement Award to his good friend Tsui Hark

Tsui Hark accepts the audience's applause
courtesy of mingpao.com

A few days after he and his good partner Shi Nansun were awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 43rd Hong Kong Film Awards on Sunday, Tsui Hark was awarded the "Golden Mulberry Lifetime Achievement Award" at the 27th Udine Far East Film Festival in Italy in recognition of his contribution to cinema for more than 40 years, and his status as a pioneer and experimenter of the Chinese action and fantasy genre. Tsui Hark's friend Tony Leung Ka Fai was the guest presenter, and was moved to tears when he saw Tsui Hark winning the award. Tsui Hark lamented, "I first came to the 27-year-old Udine, I've been making films for more than 40 years. I still sense the all new discoveries and experiences here." He said that in addition to the efforts in front of and behind the cameras, the most important thing for a film's achievements was that the audience to be willing to buy tickets to support it at the theater.

Tsui Hark and Shi Nansun earlier at the Hong Kong Film Awards received the Lifetime Achievement Awards from their frined Brigitte Lin (Lam Ching Ha)'s hands. At the time he said that the film industry has been facing a bumpy road ahead, and hoped that filmmakers will help each other and support each other with their original aspirations and passion, and use professionalism, attitude and ability to work together to face many difficulties and overcome challenges, and break new ground in the complex market.

The Udine Far East Film Festival president Sabrina Baracetti said that since more than 10 years ago, Tsui Hark has been invited to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award every year. Tsui Hark recalls that he first received the first invitation when promoting IRON TRIANGLE at the Cannes Film Festival one year, but he was unable to make the trip every year due to the filming schedules until he finally set foot in Udine this year. During the festival a number of Tsui Hark's classic works will be screened, including THE GREEN SNAKE, 4K RESTORED SHANGHAI BLUE, and his latest work LEGENDS OF THE CONDOR HEROES: THE GALLANTS.

The event invited actor Leung Ka Fai as guest presenter. He often collaborated with Tsui Hark, had a deep friendship, and was also an important partner in the golden age of Hong Kong cinema. Leung Ka Fai in order to support Tsui Hark flew there, he said on he stage, "Mr. Tsui Hark not only created films, but also redefined them. His work has transformed the screen into a land of fantasy and inspired audiences and filmmakers alike." When Tsui Hark gave his speech, Leung Ka Fai frequently wiped away tears. The European premiere of LEGENDS OF THE CONDOR HEROES: THE GALLANTS took place that night at the festival, more than 1,200 people in the audience gave a standing ovation at the end, and Leung Ka-fai and Tsui Hark were moved by the atmosphere.

Attending the festival for the first time in person, Tsui Hark said, "I have been making films for more than 40 years, and this is the first time I have come to this '27-year-old' Udine. I still sense the 'all new discoveries and experiences'." Talking about this "new discovery", he said, "I hope that both the creators and the audience can share the beautiful discoveries that film brings." This sentence expressed his motivation to continue making movies to this day.

Tsui Hark said that the achievement of a film has been never the effort of one person, but the result of the cooperation of everyone. They included the staff in front of and behind the cameras. Of course, the most important thing would be that the audience that is willing to buy tickets to enter the theater to support it. He would like to take this opportunity to wish the audience, creators, and partners of the film festival that they will always make new discoveries in films.