Director Johnnie To is seen in an undated photo. [File Photo: mdbchina.cn]

Hong Kong filmmaker Johnnie To has donated almost every award he has won to a local film archive. Industry observers say the gesture shows his indifference to fame.

A total of 36 awards of the internationally-acclaimed director and producer will be permanently kept by the Hong Kong Film Archive, which is dedicated to preserving and showcasing local film culture, Wen Wei Po reported on Wednesday.

According to the newspaper, the archive will hold a ceremony on Friday to officially accept To's donations. This will be followed by a discussion led by To about his experiences as a filmmaker.

To's donations include awards for Best Director at the 2004 Hong Kong Film Awards for "PTU"; Best Director at the same year's Taiwan Golden Horse Awards for "Breaking News"; and the Carnet Jove Jury Award at the 2006 Sitges - Catalonian International Film Festival in Spain for "Exiled."

Johnnie To first announced he would donate his awards a year ago in an interview with Beijing News. He was quoted as saying, "These trophies are just decorations. [Fame] is not a big deal."

To is among Hong Kong's most renowned filmmakers, and is credited with popularizing crime thrillers.

(CRI June 12,2008)