Nelson Yu Lik-wai

Yu Lik-wai (simplified Chinese: 余力为; traditional Chinese: 余力爲; pinyin: Yú Lìwéi; Jyutping: Yu4 Lik6 Wai4; born 12 August 1966), sometimes credited as Nelson Yu, is a Hong Kong cinematographer, film director, and occasional film producer. Born in Hong Kong, Yu Lik-wai was educated at Belgium's INSAS (Institut National Superieur des Arts de Spectacle) where he graduated with a degree in cinematography in 1994. Yu has become a mainstay in both the cinemas of China (where he is perhaps best known for his collaborations with director Jia Zhangke) and Hong Kong. Yu has served as director of photography for nearly all of Chinese director Jia Zhangke's films, and along with Jia, the two men founded their own independent film production company, Xstream Pictures.

Camera

1996

[ ] Neon Goddesses (Director of Photography)

1997

[ ] Pickpocket (Director of Photography)

1999

[ ] Ordinary Heroes (Director of Photography)

2001

[ ] In Public (Director of Photography)
[ ] Platform (Director of Photography)

2002

[ ] Unknown Pleasures (Director of Photography)

2004

[ ] Jeonju Digital Project 2004 (Director of Photography)
[ ] Dance Me to the End of Love (Director of Photography)
[ ] The World (Director of Photography)

2006

[ ] Still Life (Director of Photography)
[ ] Dong (Director of Photography)

2007

[ ] Getting Home (Director of Photography)
[ ] The Postmodern Life of My Aunt (Director of Photography)

2008

[ ] 24 City (Director of Photography)
[ ] Useless (Director of Photography)
[ ] Black Breakfast (Director of Photography)

2010

[ ] Dream Home (Director of Photography)
[ ] I Wish I Knew (Director of Photography)

2011

[ ] Love and Bruises (Director of Photography)

2012

[ ] A Simple Life (Director of Photography)

2013

[ ] Forgetting to Know You (Director of Photography)
[ 8/10 ] A Touch of Sin (Director of Photography)
[ ] Venice 70: Future Reloaded (Director of Photography)

2015

[ ] Smog Journeys (Director of Photography)
[ ] Mountains May Depart (Director of Photography)

2016

[ ] The Hedonists (Director of Photography)

2017

[ ] Our Time Will Come (Director of Photography)
[ ] Revive (Director of Photography)

2019

[ ] The Bucket (Director of Photography)

2021

[ ] Swimming Out Till the Sea Turns Blue (Director of Photography)
[ ] this body is so impermanent… (Director of Photography)

2023

[ ] The Best is Yet to Come (Director of Photography)

2025

[ ] Heaven and Hell (Director of Photography)
[ ] Caught by the Tides (Director of Photography)

Directing

1996

[ ] Neon Goddesses (Director)

2009

[ ] Plastic City (Director)

????

[ ] Wild Punch (Director)
[ ] Shanghai, I Love You (Director)

Writing

1996

[ ] Neon Goddesses (Scenario Writer)

1999

[ ] Love Will Tear Us Apart (Writer)

2003

[ ] All Tomorrow's Parties (Writer)

2004

[ ] Jeonju Digital Project 2004 (Writer)
[ ] Dance Me to the End of Love (Writer)

Production

2001

[ ] Platform (Associate Producer)

2002

[ ] Unknown Pleasures (Associate Producer)

2004

[ ] The World (Associate Producer)

2008

[ ] Useless (Producer)

2025

[ ] Caught by the Tides (Co-Producer)

Crew

2018

[ ] Ash Is Purest White (Creative Consultant)

2023

[ ] The Best is Yet to Come (Cinematography)

Actor

2010

[ ] Dream Home (Brother Wah)

2016

[ ] Jia Zhangke, A Guy from Fenyang (Self)