Johnnie To, a renowned filmmaker, boasts an impressive portfolio of over thirty directing and producing credits. His films have garnered international recognition, with notable breakthroughs achieved through "Election" (2005),"Election 2" (2006),and "Exiled" (2006). These films have individually appeared at multiple international film festivals and have been sold to more than 21 foreign territories, including theatrical distributions in France and the United States.
As an institution in the Hong Kong film industry, Johnnie To's career spans from the height of the Hong Kong New Wave to the present day. His production company, Milky Way, co-founded with frequent collaborator Wai Ka-fai in 1996, has become synonymous with quality filmmaking in Hong Kong since the Handover in 1997. To's filmography is a diverse collection of films, featuring almost every major Hong Kong film star and encompassing various genres, including classic films from the late 1980s and early 1990s, such as "Heroic Trio" (1993) and "All About Ah-Long" (1989),as well as ultra-cool crime-noir productions like "The Longest Night," "Expect the Unexpected," and "The Mission."
Johnnie To has also explored romantic themes, with films like "Loving You" (1995) and "Needing You" (2000),and has demonstrated his ability to craft crowd-pleasing comedies, such as "Wu Yen" (2001) and "Love on a Diet" (2001).
Unfortunately, the Hong Kong film industry has experienced a decline in recent years, which has affected Johnnie To's box office returns. Some of his recent efforts have underperformed, including "Fat Choi Spirit" (2002),"Full-Time Killer" (2001),and "Running Out of Time 2" (2001).
However, Johnnie To rebounded in 2003 with the release of "PTU," a crime-noir thriller, and "Running on Karma," about a body builder/exotic dancer with special visions that helps a cop track a vicious killer. Both films were award winners at the Hong Kong Film Awards that year. He followed this success with "Breaking News" (2004) and "Throw Down" (2004),then "Election" (2005) and its award-nominated companion piece, "Election 2" (2006).
