Sylvia Chang - Legacy

Legacy

While her acting career ranges over multiple character types, the films she directs tend to have a more contemporary theme. They usually follow the intricate lives of a few characters and explore their relationships with each other. While most of her films are considered dramas, she has dappled in comedies. What makes her films even more unique is the animation and special effects she puts in them. Chang once said of her films that, “I’ve always felt that animation or special effects shouldn’t just be limited to science-fiction films and their ilk. Dramas can also play around with them”.

Chang has left her mark on the Hong Kong film industry, paving the way for female filmmakers. She has opened the doors to more women in the film industry not only as an actress, but as a writer, producer, and director. One critic wrote of her, that “In an industry that kisses young actresses with celebrity, then swallows them and spits them out, Chang has a sequoia's longevity. She is the only Hong Kong actress of her generation--the early '70s--to keep starring in movies”.

Not only has she received the Hong Kong award for best actress, but her films have even been accepted into both the London and Toronto International film Festivals. She has even been honored to serve on the jury for the Berlin Film Festival. She also holds the record for the most nominations for Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actress, with nine nominations and 2 wins.