CHANEL X BIFF Present ‘2026 Camellia Award’ to Director Ann Hui at the Opening Ceremony of the 31st Busan International Film Festival

Honoring the Creative Journey and Contribution to Cinema of Ann Hui, a Leading Figure of the Hong Kong New Wave

▲ Ann Hui receives the Camellia Award trophy from Klaus Oldeget / Director Ann Hui

Established jointly by the Busan International Film Festival and CHANEL, the Camellia Award recognizes the creative achievements of women filmmakers who have elevated the role of women in the film industry and paved new paths. This year, Ann Hui was selected as the recipient in recognition of her creative journey and contribution to the art of cinema, as well as the distinctive cinematic language she has developed through her unique perspective over the course of her career.

The 2026 Camellia Award was presented to Ann Hui during the opening ceremony of the 31st Busan International Film Festival, held on October 6. Taking the stage at the awards ceremony, Ann Hui received her trophy amid warm applause from the audience and fellow filmmakers, savoring the moment of her win.

In her acceptance speech, Ann Hui reflected on her long career in filmmaking, sharing her thoughts on receiving the Camellia Award and the significance of returning to the Busan International Film Festival.

Ann Hui expressed her gratitude for receiving the award, saying, “I wish to thank CHANEL and Busan International Film Festival for giving me the prize,” and shared that “Now that I’m nearly eighty and find it difficult to make a film I think the prize comes just in time for me to appreciate it more.” She also looked back on her time at BIFF since first attending in 1996, recalling the awards she had received for her films and the audiences she had met through the festival’s gala programs, expressing her deep affection for Busan.

▲ Director Ann Hui delivering her acceptance speech for the Camellia Award

Camellia Award Trophy Presented Amid Applause from the Audience and Filmmakers

Since making her feature directorial debut with The Secret (1979), Ann Hui has helmed 27 feature films and two feature-length documentaries to date. She has won the Best Director award at the Hong Kong Film Awards six times and at the Golden Horse Awards three times. She achieved the rare feat of sweeping Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Actress at the Hong Kong Film Awards with Summer Snow (1995) and A Simple Life (2011), firmly establishing herself as one of the defining filmmakers of Hong Kong.

Ann Hui’s achievements have been also recognized internationally with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2012 Asian Film Awards, the Asian Filmmaker of the Year Award at BIFF 2014, and the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the 2020 Venice International Film Festival. Together, these honors have cemented her reputation as one of Asia's foremost filmmakers while securing her place among the great masters on the global stage.

Spanning a wide range of genres, Ann Hui has delicately captured the complexities of Hong Kong society, intimate personal stories, and the stories of women often pushed to the margins. Rooted in her vision of the times and society, she has portrayed women’s lives and narratives with warmth and depth, resonating deeply with audiences around the world.

Camellia Award was established with inspiration from the camellia, the official flower of Busan and Gabrielle Chanel’s favorite flower. Drawing on the camellia’s symbolism of beauty and strength, the award celebrates the achievements of women filmmakers who have forged their own paths in the film industry and highlights their ongoing creative journeys. Previous recipients include Korean production designer Ryu Seong-hie in 2024 and Taiwanese filmmaker Sylvia Chang from Taiwan in 2025.

The festival runs from October 6 (Tue) to October 15 (Thu) at the Busan Cinema Center and across the city, while the 21st Asian Contents & Film Market will take place from October 10 (Sat) to October 13 (Tue).