Wai Ka-fai
Wai Ka-fai (born 21 September 1962) is a Hong Kong filmmaker. 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. 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.
Also recorded as Wai Kar Fai · Wai Ka-Fai · Ka-Fai Wai
Wai Ka-fai
am730 · YouTube: https: t – View/save archived versions on archive.org · CC BY 3.0
- Name
- Wai Ka-fai
- Born
- 21 September 1962
- Birthplace
- British Hong Kong
- Occupation
- * Film director
- Nationality
- People's Republic of China.
- Honours
- Hong Kong Film Award for Best Director and Hong Kong Film Award for Best Screenplay.
- Languages
- Chinese.
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Documentary summary
Wai Ka-fai (born 21 September 1962) is a Hong Kong filmmaker. 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. 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.
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Note VALÉORINE
Wai Ka-fai (born 1962) is a film director, film producer and screenwriter, of Chinese nationality. The film director was born in Hong Kong. Wai Ka-fai worked in Hong Kong and People's Republic of China.
Languages used include Chinese. Honours include Hong Kong Film Award for Best Director and Hong Kong Film Award for Best Screenplay.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 27 September 2026
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Authority files
getty · 500470089 · gnd · 139372113 · wikidata · Q616410 · wikipedia · Wai Ka-fai
In this article
Biography
Biography
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.
Wai Ka Fai on the set of Detective vs. Sleuths in 2022
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Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Wai Ka-fai • Native Name — 韋家輝 • Relatives — Willie Wai (brother) • Born — 21 September 1962 • Birthplace — British Hong Kong • Occupation — * Film director • screenwriter • film producer • Years Active — 1985present Wai Ka-fai (born 21 September 1962) is a Hong Kong filmmaker. 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. 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.
Television series
Television series
• Year — Title — Role • 1982 — Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils — Writer • 1982 — Soldier of Fortune — Writer • 1983 — The Old Miao Myth — Writer • 1983 — The Return of the Condor Heroes — Writer • 1984 — The Duke of Mount Deer — Writer • 1984 — Police Cadet '84 — Writer • 1985 — Police Cadet '85 — Writer • 1985 — The Young Wanderer — Writer • 1986 — The Feud of Two Brothers — Writer • 1988 — The Final Verdict — Writer • 1989 — Looking Back in Anger — Producer • 1989 — War of the Dragon — Producer • 1990 — Heaven's Retribution — Producer • 1992 — The Greed of Man — Producer • 1993 — Racing Peak — Producer • 1997 — Intruder — Producer • 2000 — Divine Retribution — Producer
Identity
Identity
Wai Ka-fai is recorded as having received Hong Kong Film Award for Best Director and Hong Kong Film Award for Best Screenplay.
Feature film
• Year — Film — Credit(s) — Notes • Director — Screenwriter — Producer • 1985 — Young Cops • 1987 — Easy Money • 1988 — It's No Heaven • 1990 — The Story of My Son • 1992 — Gun n' Rose • 1995 — Peace Hotel — Feature directorial debut Also co-wrote the story with Donald Chow • 1997 — Too Many Ways to Be No. 1 — WonGolden Bauhinia Awards for Best Screenplay WonHong Kong Film Critics Society Award for Film of Merit • The Odd One Dies • Intruder • 1998 — The Longest Nite • Expect the Unexpected • A Hero Never Dies • 1999 — Where a Good Man Goes — Also as the story writer • 2000 — Needing You... — Co-directed and produced with Johnnie To NominatedHong Kong Film Award for Best Director NominatedHong Kong Film Award for Best Film • Help!!! — Co-directed and produced with Johnnie To • 2001 — Wu yen • Love on a Diet — Co-directed and produced with Johnnie To NominatedHong Kong Film Award for Best Director NominatedHong Kong Film Award for Best Film • Fulltime Killer — Co-directed and produced with Johnnie To • 2002 — Fat Choi Spirit — Co-directed and produced with Johnnie To WonHong Kong Film Critics Society Award for Film of Merit • My Left Eye Sees Ghosts — Co-directed and produced with Johnnie To • 2003 — Love for All Seasons • Turn Left, Turn Right • Running on Karma — Co-directed and produced with Johnnie To WonHong Kong Film Award for Best Film WonHong Kong Film Critics Society Award for Film of Merit NominatedHong Kong Film Award for Best Director NominatedGolden Bauhinia Award for Best Director NominatedGolden Bauhinia Award for Best Film NominatedChinese Film Media Award for Best Director (Hong Kong/Taiwan region) NominatedChinese Film Media Award for Best Film (Hong Kong/Taiwan region) • 2004 — Fantasia • 2005 — Himalaya Singh • 2006 — The Shopaholics • 2007 — Mad Detective — Co-directed and produced with Johnnie To WonHong Kong Film Critics Society Award for Film of Merit WonHong Kong Film Critics Society Award for Screenplay WonHong Kong Film Award for Best Screenplay NominatedHong Kong Film Critics Society Award for Best Director NominatedHong Kong Film Critics Society Award for Best Film NominatedHong Kong Film Award for Best Director NominatedHong Kong Film Award for Best Film NominatedGolden Lion • 2009 — Vengeance — NominatedPalme d'Or • Written By — WonHong Kong Film Critics Society Award for Film of Merit WonHong Kong Film Critics Society Award for Best Screenplay NominatedAsian Film Award for Best Screenplay NominatedHong Kong Film Award for Best Screenplay • 2011 — Don't Go Breaking My Heart • 2012 — Romancing in Thin Air — WonHong Kong Film Critics Society Award for Film of Merit • Drug War — WonSan Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Foreign Language Film WonHong Kong Film Critics Society Award for Film of Merit WonHong Kong Film Critics Society Award for Best Film WonChinese Film Media Award for Best Film (China region) NominatedGolden Horse Award for Best Feature Film • 2013 — Blind Detective • 2019 — Chasing Dream • 2022 — Detective vs Sleuths — WonHong Kong Film Critics Society Award for Film of Merit WonHong Kong Film Critics Society Award for Best Screenplay WonHong Kong Film Critics Society Award for Best Director WonHong Kong Film Award for Best Screenplay WonHong Kong Film Award for Best Director NominatedHong Kong Film Critics Society Award for Best Film NominatedHong Kong Film Award for Best Film
Primary material
Documents and archives
authority file
- Gemeinsame Normdatei 139372113, Wai, Ka-Fai.
Unverified · Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
- Getty Union List of Artist Names 500470089, Wai, Ka-Fai.
Unverified · The Getty Research Institute
reference work
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q616410: Wai Ka-fai
Reputable secondary · Wikimedia Foundation
- “Wai Ka-fai”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
Awards and nominations
• Year — Award — Category — Film — Result • 2001 — 20th Hong Kong Film Awards — Best Director — Needing You... • Best Film • 2002 — 21st Hong Kong Film Awards — Best Director — Love on a Diet • Best Film • 2004 — 23rd Hong Kong Film Awards — Best Director — Running on Karma • Best Film • Best Screenplay • 2008 — 27th Hong Kong Film Awards — Best Director — Mad Detective • Best Film • Best Screenplay • 2010 — 29th Hong Kong Film Awards — Best Screenplay — Written By • 2023 — 41st Hong Kong Film Awards — Best Director — Detective vs Sleuths • Best Film • Best Screenplay
Literature
Scholarly footprint
A count of publications is evidence of attention, not of standing, and is given here only as a measure.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
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References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
authority file
Gemeinsame Normdatei 139372113, Wai, Ka-Fai.Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
Partially resolvedauthority file
Getty Union List of Artist Names 500470089, Wai, Ka-Fai.The Getty Research Institute
Partially resolvedreference work
Wikidata, structured authority record Q616410: Wai Ka-faiWikimedia Foundation
Partially resolvedreference work
Partially resolved
Further particulars
Held on the record
Further particulars
Open the remaining particulars
Those registers additionally record the forms Wai Ka Fai, Wai Ga-fai, Wei Jiahui, Wei, Jiahui, Kar-fei, Wai, Wai, Ga-fai, Wei Jia Hui and 卫家辉.
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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