# 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. 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.

## Filmography
### 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 |

### Feature film

| Year | Film | Credit(s) | Credit(s) | Credit(s) | Notes |
| Year | Film | Director | Screenwriter | Producer | Notes |
| 1985 | Young Cops | No | Yes | No | — |
| 1987 | Easy Money | No | Yes | No | — |
| 1988 | It's No Heaven | No | Yes | No | — |
| 1990 | The Story of My Son | No | Yes | No | — |
| 1992 | Gun n' Rose | No | Yes | No | — |
| 1995 | Peace Hotel | Yes | Yes | No | Feature directorial debut Also co-wrote the story with Donald Chow |
| 1997 | Too Many Ways to Be No. 1 | Yes | Yes | No | Won – Golden Bauhinia Awards for Best Screenplay Won – Hong Kong Film Critics Society Award for Film of Merit |
| 1997 | The Odd One Dies | No | Yes | Yes | — |
| 1997 | Intruder | No | No | Yes | — |
| 1998 | The Longest Nite | No | No | Yes | — |
| 1998 | Expect the Unexpected | No | No | Yes | — |
| 1998 | A Hero Never Dies | No | No | Yes | — |
| 1999 | Where a Good Man Goes | No | No | Yes | Also as the story writer |
| 2000 | Needing You... | Yes | Yes | Yes | Co-directed and produced with Johnnie To Nominated – Hong Kong Film Award for Best Director Nominated – Hong Kong Film Award for Best Film |
| 2000 | Help!!! | Yes | Yes | Yes | Co-directed and produced with Johnnie To |
| 2001 | Wu yen | Yes | Yes | Yes | Co-directed and produced with Johnnie To |
| 2001 | Love on a Diet | Yes | Yes | Yes | Co-directed and produced with Johnnie To Nominated – Hong Kong Film Award for Best Director Nominated – Hong Kong Film Award for Best Film |
| 2001 | Fulltime Killer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Co-directed and produced with Johnnie To |
| 2002 | Fat Choi Spirit | Yes | Yes | Yes | Co-directed and produced with Johnnie To Won – Hong Kong Film Critics Society Award for Film of Merit |
| 2002 | My Left Eye Sees Ghosts | Yes | Yes | Yes | Co-directed and produced with Johnnie To |
| 2003 | Love for All Seasons | Yes | Yes | Yes | Co-directed and produced with Johnnie To |
| 2003 | Turn Left, Turn Right | Yes | Yes | Yes | Co-directed and produced with Johnnie To |
| 2003 | Running on Karma | Yes | Yes | Yes | Co-directed and produced with Johnnie To Won – Hong Kong Film Award for Best Film Won – Hong Kong Film Critics Society Award for Film of Merit Nominated – Hong Kong Film Award for Best Director Nominated – Golden Bauhinia Award for Best Director Nominated – Golden Bauhinia Award for Best Film Nominated – Chinese Film Media Award for Best Director (Hong Kong/Taiwan region) Nominated – Chinese Film Media Award for Best Film (Hong Kong/Taiwan region) |
| 2004 | Fantasia | Yes | Yes | Yes | — |
| 2005 | Himalaya Singh | Yes | Yes | Yes | — |
| 2006 | The Shopaholics | Yes | Yes | Yes | — |
| 2007 | Mad Detective | Yes | Yes | Yes | Co-directed and produced with Johnnie To Won – Hong Kong Film Critics Society Award for Film of Merit Won – Hong Kong Film Critics Society Award for Screenplay Won – Hong Kong Film Award for Best Screenplay Nominated – Hong Kong Film Critics Society Award for Best Director Nominated – Hong Kong Film Critics Society Award for Best Film Nominated – Hong Kong Film Award for Best Director Nominated – Hong Kong Film Award for Best Film Nominated – Golden Lion |
| 2009 | Vengeance | No | Yes | Yes | Nominated – Palme d'Or |
| 2009 | Written By | Yes | Yes | Yes | Won – Hong Kong Film Critics Society Award for Film of Merit Won – Hong Kong Film Critics Society Award for Best Screenplay Nominated – Asian Film Award for Best Screenplay Nominated – Hong Kong Film Award for Best Screenplay |
| 2011 | Don't Go Breaking My Heart | Yes | Yes | Yes | — |
| 2012 | Romancing in Thin Air | No | Yes | Yes | Won – Hong Kong Film Critics Society Award for Film of Merit |
| 2012 | Drug War | No | Yes | Yes | Won – San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Foreign Language Film Won – Hong Kong Film Critics Society Award for Film of Merit Won – Hong Kong Film Critics Society Award for Best Film Won – Chinese Film Media Award for Best Film (China region) Nominated – Golden Horse Award for Best Feature Film |
| 2013 | Blind Detective | No | Yes | Yes | — |
| 2019 | Chasing Dream | No | Yes | Yes | — |
| 2022 | Detective vs Sleuths | Yes | Yes | Yes | Won – Hong Kong Film Critics Society Award for Film of Merit Won – Hong Kong Film Critics Society Award for Best Screenplay Won – Hong Kong Film Critics Society Award for Best Director Won – Hong Kong Film Award for Best Screenplay Won – Hong Kong Film Award for Best Director Nominated – Hong Kong Film Critics Society Award for Best Film Nominated – Hong Kong Film Award for Best Film |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Film | Result |
| 2001 | 20th Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Director | Needing You... | Nominated |
| 2001 | 20th Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Film | Needing You... | Nominated |
| 2002 | 21st Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Director | Love on a Diet | Nominated |
| 2002 | 21st Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Film | Love on a Diet | Nominated |
| 2004 | 23rd Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Director | Running on Karma | Nominated |
| 2004 | 23rd Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Film | Running on Karma | Won |
| 2004 | 23rd Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Screenplay | Running on Karma | Won |
| 2008 | 27th Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Director | Mad Detective | Nominated |
| 2008 | 27th Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Film | Mad Detective | Nominated |
| 2008 | 27th Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Screenplay | Mad Detective | Won |
| 2010 | 29th Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Screenplay | Written By | Nominated |
| 2023 | 41st Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Director | Detective vs Sleuths | Won |
| 2023 | 41st Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Film | Detective vs Sleuths | Nominated |
| 2023 | 41st Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Screenplay | Detective vs Sleuths | Won |