Tammy Cheung

Tammy Cheung is a Hong Kong documentary filmmaker.

Born in Shanghai, China, Cheung moved to Hong Kong with her family at a young age and grew up there. In the mid-1980s, she went to Montreal, Quebec, Canada, to study film at Concordia University. Although she initially intended to pursue communication theory, her exposure to cinema during this period led her to change direction and focus on filmmaking. After returning to Hong Kong in 1994, Cheung worked as a production assistant, wrote film reviews, and taught film courses. In 2000, she worked as a translator at a foreign bank earning a generous salary, but she later left the job to pursue a filmmaking career. Filmed in two Band 1 secondary schools, her documentary Secondary School (2002) presents everyday classroom life without commentary. It sparked discussion about the current education system in Hong Kong.

Another notable work, Rice Distribution (2003), documented a Chinese Ghost Festival rice giveaway event. The police played clips of the documentary to highlight the problems associated with the event at a Wong Tai Sin District Council meeting, contributing improvements in its organization. Her film July (2004) recorded the 1 July march in Hong Kong, capturing the perspectives of participants during the social moment.

In 2004, with other like-minded individuals from the fields of film, culture and education, Cheung founded Visible Record , which distributes and promotes documentary films in Hong Kong. The non-profit organisation also hosts the annual Chinese Documentary Festival.

Documentaries

Invisible Women (1999) Secondary School (2002) Rice Distribution (2003) July (2004) Speaking Up (2005) Election (2008)