From a celebrated television actor to a multi-award-winning film star and the founder of One Cool Group, Koo is renowned for his outstanding performances and dedication to fostering the growth of local cinema. He has actively nurtured talent and breathed new life into the industry, cementing his legendary status through his remarkable accomplishments and lasting influence.
HKIFF49 will take place from 10 to 21 April. As a tribute to Koo’s contribution to Hong Kong cinema, it will showcase his ten most influential works, publish a commemorative book, and produce a limited-edition notebook in collaboration with long-term festival partner Moleskine. The star actor-turned-producer will also engage in a Face to Face session to share his insights and vision with the public.
Albert Lee, Executive Director of the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society (HKIFFS), paid tribute to Koo, stating, “After serving as the HKIFF ambassador for five consecutive years since 2014, we are delighted to welcome Louis Koo back as this year’s Filmmaker in Focus. We are honoured and incredibly excited to reconnect with our ‘good friend.’ Koo’s life and career undoubtedly exemplify the essence of being ‘made in Hong Kong’ – from his beginnings as an actor to establishing his film enterprise, he has achieved remarkable success and made significant contributions to the film industry and society. His unwavering effort and unique vision have allowed local creativity to flourish, ushering Hong Kong cinema into a new chapter.”
Born in Hong Kong, Louis Koo worked for a modelling agency before being recruited by TVB. He has starred in numerous popular television dramas, winning the Best Actor award twice for his outstanding performances in Detective Investigation Files IV and A Step Into the Past. While working in television, he made his film debut in 1994, securing his first lead role in Ringo Lam’s big-budget production, The Suspect. Since 2001, he has concentrated on his film career, exploring various genres, including comedies, crime thrillers, action, and arthouse films, consistently challenging himself with diverse roles.
The prolific Koo has appeared in over a hundred films, many of which are masterpieces that have significantly impacted his career. During his early days, he closely collaborated with producer Nam Yin on the Troublesome Night horror film series, a low-budget production that achieved considerable success. His partnership with director Wilson Yip began with Bullets Over Summer and reached new heights with Paradox, for which he was awarded Best Actor at the Hong Kong Film Awards, Asian Film Awards, and the Hong Kong Film Directors’ Guild Awards.
A frequent collaborator with director Johnnie To, Koo praises the auteur for his profound influence on his production, creativity, and performance. He excels in multiple genres under To’s direction, including Election and Election 2, Fat Choi Spirit, Don’t Go Breaking My Heart, and Drug War. In Throw Down, one of To’s most personal films, Koo’s portrayal of an alcoholic judo expert embodies the indomitable spirit that the director cherishes. Alongside Benny Chan’s Connected and Soi Cheang’s Accident, Koo has established himself as a formidable presence in the thriller, crime, and action genres, earning a solid reputation for his nuanced and powerful portrayals of both heroes and villains.
Koo’s distinctive performance as a drug addict in Derek Yee’s Protégé further highlights his acting prowess, even in a supporting role. In Run, Papa, Run!, directed by Sylvia Chang, he adeptly balances the roles of a devoted father and a fearsome gangster, showcasing his versatility in serious drama and crime thrillers. In 2003’s Naked Ambition, a comedy co-directed by Dante Lam and Chan Hing-ka, he marked a significant career breakthrough by taking on the male lead and producer roles for the first time.
In 2013, he founded One Cool Group, one of Asia’s foremost film enterprises, with a diverse portfolio encompassing every aspect of filmmaking, including financing, artist management, casting, editing, sound and visual effects, distribution, and marketing. The company actively mentors, nurtures, and supports emerging talent. Under its auspices, acclaimed films such as Little Big Master, Men on the Dragon, Zero to Hero, In Broad Daylight, and The Way We Talk have emerged.
Warriors of Future, which took eight years to complete and involved a substantial investment in cutting-edge technology, marks a groundbreaking entry into big-budget CGI sci-fi filmmaking for Hong Kong cinema. Koo’s robust support for Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In, which achieved both critical and commercial success last year, has been instrumental in elevating his ‘disciples’ to rapid fame and embodying a sense of artistic legacy.
As a long-time president of the Hong Kong Performing Artistes Guild and the Federation of Hong Kong Filmmakers, Koo has dedicated himself to maintaining Hong Kong’s status as a creative and commercial filmmaking hub. His passionate commitment to film art and his devoted efforts to promoting the film industry are commendable.
