Academy Awards Honorary Doctorate to Director Tsui Hark, Honorary Academician Titles to Five Including Director Kwan
SingTao · 1 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago5 MIN
Summary
The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts announced on Tuesday it will confer honorary doctorate and honorary academician titles on six outstanding figures in the arts and culture sector. Renowned director Tsui Hark, a core representative of Hong Kong's golden era of cinema in the 1980s and 1990s, receives the honorary doctorate. Five other distinguished individuals, including acclaimed filmmaker Stanley Kwan and Cantonese opera performer New Kim-Long, will be named honorary academicians. The award ceremony is scheduled for October 16, 2026.
Key Points
- Director Tsui Hark will receive an honorary doctorate from the Academy for Performing Arts, recognizing his decades of cinematic achievements
- Tsui Hark produced iconic film franchises including "Once Upon a Time in China," "A Better Tomorrow," and "A Chinese Ghost Story" during the 1980s-90s golden age of Hong Kong cinema
- Tsui Hark has actively supported the Academy's Film and Television School through student screenings and sharing his creative experiences with students
- Director Stanley Kwan, known for "Rouge," "Center Stage," and "Red Rose, White Rose," will receive honorary academician status alongside four others
- The five honorary academicians also include Cantonese opera performer New Kim-Long (巫雨田), dancers Yu Yan Wah and Yang Yuntao, and arts administrator Yu Jieyi
- The ceremony will take place on October 16, 2026, at the Academy for Performing Arts campus
Why It Matters
The Academy's recognition of Tsui Hark and Stanley Kwan underscores the institutional validation of Hong Kong cinema's artistic legacy at a time when the industry faces challenges in talent development and creative innovation. By honoring both established masters and dedicated educators, the ceremony highlights the importance of passing on cinematic traditions to the next generation of performers and filmmakers. This cultural investment also signals the Academy's ambition to position itself as a hub for creative industries development in the Greater Bay Area.
The Academy's recognition of Tsui Hark and Stanley Kwan underscores the institutional validation of Hong Kong cinema's artistic legacy at a time when the industry faces challenges in talent development and creative innovation. By honoring both established masters and dedicated educators, the ceremony highlights the importance of passing on cinematic traditions to the next generation of performers and filmmakers. This cultural investment also signals the Academy's ambition to position itself as a hub for creative industries development in the Greater Bay Area.