Cover Ann Hui from Hong Kong is one of the directors who have brought the region’s perspective to the global stage (Photo: Raul Docasar for Hong Kong Tatler)
Ann Hui from Hong Kong is one of the directors who have brought the region’s perspective to the global stage (Photo: Raul Docasar for Hong Kong Tatler)
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Together, they shape how the world perceives Asia and its diverse stories and cultures
The film directors of Asia’s Most Influential have been instrumental in representing their respective cultures. These veterans of the entertainment industry bring unique perspectives, storytelling techniques and cultural narratives to the big screen, shaping how the world perceives Asia and its diverse societies. Ann Hui from Hong Kong, for example, is celebrated for films that explore identity, history and migration. Erik Matti from the Philippines, meanwhile, is known for tackling social issues through genre-bending works, blending action, horror and thriller. And Shau Di Wang from Taiwan offers nuanced portrayals of everyday life, focusing on family dynamics and societal changes. Together, these award-winning filmmakers not only elevate Asian cinema but also influence the global entertainment scene.
Shau Di Wang, director and screenwriter (Taiwan)
Above Shau Di Wang, director and screenwriter
Shau Di Wang, director and screenwriter
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Shau Di Wang has directed several acclaimed works, including the comedy Yours and Mine, the family drama Bear Hug and Grandma and Her Ghosts, a feature-length animated film based on a Taiwanese storybook. Both a director and a screenwriter who explores family connections and personal struggles, Wang has received numerous awards, including honours from the Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival Award and the Taipei Film Festival. In 2014, she received the Taiwan National Award for Arts for her contribution to filmmaking.
In 1992, Wang founded Inari Film Studio, a platform for producing television dramas and films. The studio has tackled various social issues, creating TV series like Big Hospital, Little Doctor, Miss Policeman and Forever Young Dad. Her recent projects include the highly anticipated sequel Grandma and Her Ghosts 2: Baby Power, which will be released in 2025.
Ann Hui, film director (Hong Kong)
Above Ann Hui, film director (photo: Raul Docasar)
Ann Hui, film director (photo: Raul Docasar)
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A key figure in the Hong Kong New Wave cinema, Ann Hui is celebrated for her socially relevant films that explore themes like displacement, gender issues and cultural identity. For her work, Hui has received numerous awards, winning the best director honour six times at the Hong Kong Film Award and three times at the Golden Horse Awards. She also received the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice Film Festival in 2020, marking her as a pioneering female director in Asian cinema.
Apart from social issues, the director touches on the complexities of everyday life, tackling subjects such as family connection and unemployment in The Way We Are, Night and Fog and A Simple Life. In 2023, Hui shifted gears, releasing the documentary Elegies, an exploration of the multifaceted narratives of Hong Kong through conversations with poets, Huang Canran, Liu Waitong and Xi Xi.
Erik Matti, director (Philippines)
Above Erik Matti, director (photo: Getty Images)
Erik Matti, director (photo: Getty Images)
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A gritty retelling of true-to-life events proved a winning idea for Erik Matti. His crime thriller On the Job was showcased at the 2013 Cannes Director’s Fortnight, the parallel strand of the Cannes Film Festival, and nominated for the SACD Prize. Following up on the film’s critical and commercial success, the director embarked on two projects in 2021: its sequel On the Job: The Missing 8, which premiered at the Venice International Film Festival, and the six-episode series, also titled On the Job, which received a nomination from the International Emmy Awards.
The prolific filmmaker, who has directed and written films in a variety of genres, from fantasy to horror, drama to comedy, continues to create. In 2024, Matti was among the directors who won Seriesmakers, the mentoring programme for filmmakers venturing into series work. Matti will receive €50,000 to develop The Squatter, an eight-part crime series that begins with the discovery of a dead body in London. “Here’s to representing the country and telling more stories through films and series that capture our creativity as Filipino filmmakers. The Series Mania Festival is now concluded and our project The Squatter will finally be in the works!” he shared on Instagram.
Tatler Asia’s Most Influential is the definitive list of people shaping our world today. Asia’s Most Influential brings together the region's most innovative changemakers, industry titans and thought leaders who are driving positive impact in Asia and beyond. View the full list here.
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