Andrew Lau Wai-Keung was born in Hong Kong in 1960, and developed a passion for photography as a child. After graduating from secondary school, he joined Shaw Brothers (HK) Ltd. and began working as a semi-skilled worker in cinematography on the film Legendary Weapons of China directed by Chia-Liang Liu.
Throughout his career, Lau's position rose with films such as City on Fire, Where's Officer Tuba?, As Tears Go By, Curry and Pepper, Lee Rock and Lee Rock II. His work as a cinematographer earned him several nominations at the Hong Kong Film Awards, with recognition for his loose style in capturing natural light and dynamic camera movements.
Lau made his directorial debut in 1990 with Against All, while continuing to work as a cinematographer. He co-directed the films To Live and Die in Tsimshatsui and Modern Romance alongside director Jing Wong. In 1995, he took up the position of director and cinematographer again for the films Love of the Last Emperor and The Mean Street Story.
In 1996, Lau founded B.O.B. & Partners Co. Ltd. with Manfred Wong and Jing Wong, and directed the film Young and Dangerous, which became a box office hit. He continued to direct films, including the Young and Dangerous Saga and The Storm Riders, and finished his involvement with the franchise with Young and Dangerous: The Prequel in 1998 and Born to Be King in 2000.
Lau is also known for combining martial arts with computer-animated special effects on the movie screen in films such as The Storm Riders and A Man Called Hero. Other films, such as Sausalito and Dance of a Dream, have lightened his film career.
In 2002, Lau established Basic Pictures, a company that started with the blockbuster movie Infernal Affairs, which he co-directed alongside co-writer Alan Mak. The film starred four top actors and two top actresses, and was the number one box-office hit in Hong Kong that year, breaking several box office records. The film won many Hong Kong Film Awards, including Best Picture, Best Directors, Best Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actor.
Not only was the film successful worldwide, but it later became the inspiration for Martin Scorsese's 2006 film, The Departed. In 2003, Lau and Mak completed the trilogy with the prequel Infernal Affairs II and the sequel/prequel Infernal Affairs III, and won the "Leaders of the Year 2003" Award in the Sports/Culture/Entertainment Category.
In 2004, Lau and Mak worked on another blockbuster, Initial D, which was shot in Japan and released in Hong Kong during the summer. Once again, it was a successful film for Lau and Mak, winning multiple awards at the Hong Kong Film Awards.
In 2006, Lau, Mak, and scriptwriter Felix Chong re-teamed to make the 2005 film, Moonlight in Tokyo, and again for the 2006 film, Confessions of Pain, re-teaming with Infernal Affairs star Tony Leung Chiu-wai.
With his unique style and aspirations, Andrew Lau continues to make good quality films that will appeal to a mass audience.
