Mr Lau Kar Leung

1934-2013

Choreographer & Director

Martial arts choreographer and director Lau Kar Leung learned martial arts from his father, Lau Cham, as a child. He was well-versed in the lineages of Hung Fist and Wong Fei Hung. Between 1950 and 1963, Lau served as a stuntman in more than a hundred movies. He made his chorographical debut alongside Tong Kai with South Dragon, North Phoenix in 1963. This was followed by The Jade Bow (1966) and One-Armed Swordsman (1967). Lau was the first action choreographer in Hong Kong to become a film director, which he did with Spiritual Boxer in 1975. His subsequent works The 36^th Chamber of Shaolin (1978) and Heroes of the East (1978) won Best Action Film and Best International Martial Arts Film, respectively, at the Asian Film Festival. Other titles Lau directed include Challenge of the Masters (1976), My Young Auntie (1981), Legendary Weapons of China (1982) and The Eight Diagram Pole Fighter (1984). Lau’s works are rich in Chinese tradition and intended to promote martial arts and its honourable spirit. His contribution to the genre was recognised with an Outstanding Achievement Award at the 10^th Golden Bauhinia Awards presented by the Hong Kong Film Critics Association. In 2010, the Hong Kong Film Awards honoured him with the Lifetime Achievement Award.