Hong Kong star Andy Lau works hard to be not only a good actor/singer, but also supporter of new filmmakers.

Lau has invested 8 million yuan ($1.2 million) in Gallants, a kungfu comedy released on June 4 in Cantonese.

Starring Kuan Tai Chen, Teddy Robin and Siu-Lung Leung, the film pays tribute to the old-fashioned Hong Kong kungfu comedies with similar production design and fight sequences.

Lau has been very supportive of young directors. He initiated the Focus: First Cuts project in 2005 and financially aided six Asian directors with their works. Among the young filmmakers was Ning Hao who made the popular The Crazy Stone.

Clement Cheng and Chi-kin Kwok, the two directors of Gallants are also beneficiaries of the project. Lau usually does not appear in these new directors' works, joking he doesn't want to increase the films' costs.