Ann Hui, the renowned Hong Kong director, will be conferred with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 29th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK). This latest accolade adds to the notable recognitions in her career, including the prestigious Golden Lion from the Venice Film Festival.
CM Pinarayi Vijayan will present Ann with the award, which carries a cash prize of 10 lakh, a citation and a sculpture, at the IFFK opening ceremony on December 13 at the Nishagandhi Auditorium in Thiruvananthapuram.
Ann, 77, is especially celebrated for the contributions she has made to the new wave movement in Hong Kong cinema. Her career spanning five decades has been dedicated to exploring issues concerning society, with a particular focus on the experiences of women. Her films delve into themes such as gender discrimination as well as the cultural changes concerning the transition of Hong Kong from a British colony to Chinese sovereignty.
Ann made her debut with 1979's The Secret, which marked the beginning of a career that encompasses two documentaries, 26 feature films, and many shorts.
Ann's films have often been screened at big international film festivals. Films such as Boat People (1982) and Song of the Exile (1990) featured at Cannes, while Summer Snow (1995) and Ordinary Heroes (1999) were selected for Berlin. On other hand, Ann's more recent films such as A Simple Life (2011) and The Golden Era (2014) had Venice premiers. She has the record for the most Best Director wins at the Hong Kong Film Awards.
Running from December 13 to 20, the festival will screen Ann's films July Rhapsody, Boat People, Eighteen Springs, A Simple Life, and The Postmodern Life of My Aunt.
