Yimou Zhang

From his directorial debut, "Red Sorghum" (1987), which won the Golden Bear Award at the Berlin Film Festival, ZHANG Yimou (Director, Co-Writer, Producer) has established his reputation as one of the world’s great film masters.

Zhang Yimou was born in China in 1950 and studied cinematography at the Beijing Film Academy. He became a leading member of China’s Fifth Generation Filmmakers, the first group to graduate following the turbulent Cultural Revolution. He is also an accomplished actor, earning the Best Actor Award at the Tokyo International Film Festival for his performance in "Old Well" (1986). Before becoming a director, Zhang Yimou was an exceptional cinematographer with credits including "Yellow Earth" (1984), "Old Well" (1986), and "The Big Parade" (1986).

Zhang Yimou has received multiple honors as a director. He is the first Chinese filmmaker to be recognized by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, nominated in the Best Foreign Language Film category for "Ju Dou" in 1990, "Raise the Red Lantern" in 1991, and "Hero" in 2002. He has earned numerous accolades around the world, including two Golden Lions and a Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival, the Grand Jury Prize at the 47th Cannes Film Festival for "To Live" (1994), the Silver Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival for "The Road Home" (1999), and the Alfred Baur Award for "Hero" (2002).

Zhang Yimou has had amazing success with actors over the years. Many performances in his movies have won awards and he is known to work with the same actors time and time again. Actresses Gong Li and Ziyi Zhang have given their greatest performances under his direction.

• Attended the Beijing Film Academy, Beijing, China
• Zhang Yimou is part of China's Fifth Generation of filmmakers, who began making films after the Cultural Revolution. Others from this group include Chen Kaige and Zhang Junzhao.
• Dated actress Li Gong. [1987-1995]
• A former photographer
• Member of the jury at the Berlin International Film Festival in 1993
• Chief director of opening and closing ceremonies of the 2008 Olympic games in Beijing.
• Jury president of 2007 Venice Film Festival.

As an actor:

• 1997 You hua hao hao shuo
• 1990 Qin yong
• 1987 Hong gao liang
• 1986 Lao jing

As a director:

• 2010 Amazing Tales: Three Guns
• 2007 Chacun son cinéma ou Ce petit coup au coeur quand la lumière s'éteint et que le film commence
• 2006 Man cheng jin dai huang jin jia
• 2005 Qian li zou dan qi
• 2004 Shi mian mai fu
• 2002 Ying xiong
• 2000 Xingfu shiguang
• 1999 Yi ge dou bu neng shao
• 1999 Wo de fu qin mu qin
• 1997 You hua hao hao shuo
• 1995 Lumière et compagnie
• 1995 Yao a yao yao dao waipo qiao
• 1994 Huozhe
• 1992 Qiu Ju da guan si
• 1991 Da hong deng long gao gao gua
• 1990 Ju Dou
• 1989 Daihao meizhoubao
• 1987 Hong gao liang

As a producer:

• "Metropolitan Opera: Live in HD"
• 2006 Man cheng jin dai huang jin jia
• 2005 Qian li zou dan qi
• 2004 Shi mian mai fu
• 2002 Ying xiong
• 1997 Long cheng zheng yue
• 1994 Xi chu bawang

(misc crew):

• "Metropolitan Opera: Live in HD"
• 1999 Turandot in the Forbidden City of Beijing