Ringo Lam Ling-Tung (,
Cantonese: Lam Ling-tung), is a
Hong Kong film director,
producer and
scriptwriter. Born in Hong Kong in 1955, Lam initially went to an acting school. After finding he preferred making films to acting, he went to Canada to study film. In 1983, he returned and began filming comedy films. After the commercial success of his film
Aces Go Places IV, he was allowed to develop his own film. Lam directed
City on Fire in 1987, which led him to winning his first
Hong Kong Film Award, and has been extensively referenced as the fundamental inspiration (and carbon copy) for
Quentin Tarantino's first film,
Reservoir Dogs.