Dante Lam

Dante Lam Chiu-Yin (born July 1, 1964) is a seasoned Hong Kong filmmaker renowned for his multifaceted roles as a director, screenwriter, and producer. Beginning his career as an actor, action choreographer, and assistant director, Lam honed his craft through hands-on experience on film sets, gradually developing a signature hard-hitting visual style.
A pivotal moment in his career came in 1998 when he co-directed "Beast Cops" with Gordon Chan, sweeping the 18th Hong Kong Film Awards with Best Film and Best Director accolades, cementing his status in the industry. His later collaboration with Chan on "Undercover Hidden Dragon" (2007) marked an unconventional footnote, earning a nomination for "Worst Director" at the Golden Plum Film Awards. Lam’s creative team, anchored by frequent collaborator actor Liu Kai-chi and screenwriter Jack Ng, has produced gripping narratives since their 2001 partnership on "Runaway", noted for taut storytelling, meticulously choreographed shootouts, and rigorous attention to police procedural details.
The 2008 film "The Beast Stalker" marked a turning point in Lam’s work, blending psychological depth with action through standout performances by Nick Cheung and Nicholas Tse. This film propelled Cheung to win seven Best Actor awards and revitalized Liu Kai-chi’s career. Lam further pushed boundaries with "The Stool Pigeon" (2010), featuring Tse’s award-winning portrayal of "Little Ghost," which earned him a Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actor.
In 2013, "Unbeatable" showcased Lam’s mastery of combat cinema, earning him a Best Director nomination at the 33rd Hong Kong Film Awards. The following year, "That Demon Within" (2014) expanded his global reach with a screening in the Panorama section of the 64th Berlin International Film Festival. From 2016 onward, Lam helmed a patriotic trilogy—Operation Mekong (2016), Operation Red Sea (2018), and The Rescue (2018)—with "Operation Red Sea" becoming a box office phenomenon and winning him Best Director at both the 34th Hundred Flowers Awards and 32nd Golden Rooster Awards. His action choreography prowess was further recognized with a 2019 Hong Kong Film Award.
Lam’s latest military action epic, "Operation Leviathan" (set for release on January 29, 2025), continues his signature "land-sea-air" spectacle. Balancing commercial appeal with nuanced character studies—from crime thrillers to international rescue missions—Lam has redefined the benchmarks for Chinese-language action cinema, merging visceral thrills with profound human drama.