Director Ann Hui of Hong Kong has been selected as the recipient of the 2026 Camelia Award at the 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF). The Camelia Award is presented to filmmakers who have made significant contributions to elevating the status of women in the film industry.
Director Ann Hui, the recipient of the 2026 Camelia Award, is a leading figure of the Hong Kong New Wave cinema, as well as a screenwriter and producer who has propelled Hong Kong cinema onto the global stage.
Having gained widespread recognition with her 1979 feature directorial debut
The Secret
, she has directed 27 feature films and two feature-length documentaries to date. She has won the Best Director award at the Hong Kong Film Awards a record six times and at the Golden Horse Awards three times. In particular, she achieved grand slams by sweeping Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Actress at the Hong Kong Film Awards with
Summer Snow
(1995) and
A Simple Life
(2011), firmly establishing herself as a representative director of Hong Kong cinema.
Furthermore, she has built her reputation as a master transcending Asia to the global stage, receiving recognition at prestigious film festivals including the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2012 Asian Film Awards, the Asian Filmmaker of the Year Award at the 2014 Busan International Film Festival, and the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the 2020 Venice Film Festival.
Behind Director Ann Hui's global renown and brilliant achievements lies her unique perspective, which delicately captures eras and society. Spanning various genres, she warm-heartedly and densely captures the daily lives of Hong Kong society, the universal sorrows and joys of life hidden beneath the surface, and the narratives of marginalized women, delivering deep resonance and emotion to audiences worldwide.
Director Ann Hui shared her thoughts, saying, "In the past, I was reluctant to receive awards that reflected back on my cinematic journey because my heart was set on simply continuing to make films. However, now that I am nearing the age of eighty and making films has become increasingly challenging, receiving this award holds even deeper meaning." She added, "I am thrilled at the prospect of once again meeting the audiences in Busan, who possess one of the most discerning and profound understandings of film in the world."
Historically, pioneering female filmmakers around the world have played a crucial role in the development of cinematic art by forging new paths across film industry sectors such as directing, producing, screenwriting, cinematography, and art direction. Their meaningful journeys, which challenged traditional norms and thinking, laid the foundation for more women to freely unleash their imaginations today. To honor the footsteps of these pioneering female filmmakers, the Busan International Film Festival and Chanel established the Camelia Award, drawing inspiration from the camellia, which is the flower of Busan and was the favorite flower of Gabrielle Chanel, the founder of Chanel.
The 2026 Camelia Award will be presented during the opening ceremony of the 31st Busan International Film Festival on October 6 at the Busan Cinema Center. The 31st Busan International Film Festival will take place from Tuesday, October 6 to Thursday, October 15 at the Busan Cinema Center and various venues throughout Busan.
(Photo: SBS Entertainment News, reported by Kim Ji-hye)
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