Jia Zhangke

Jia Zhangke

Jia Zhangke （贾樟柯）, a sixth generation director in the Chinese cinema industry, has garnered much international praise for a number of films, such as “The World” and “Still Life.”

Born in 1973 in Fenyang, Shanxi Province, Jia became interested in directing after seeing “Yellow Earth.” He took the entrance exam to Beijing Film Academy three times, finally succeeding in 1993, and enrolled in the literature school of the university.

His first film was the short “One Day in Beijing,” a 10-minute documentary on tourists in Tiananmen Square. His second film, “Xiaoshan Goes Home,” won top honors at the Hong Kong Independent Short Film and Video Awards and instantly made Jia a star in the film industry. He then made his feature-film debut with “Xiao Wu,” which garnered eight awards.

He shot three more films, including “The World,” which took him from an underground filmmaker to a publicly renowned director. In 2006, “Still Life,” his most critically acclaimed movie, was released. His realistic and detailed portrayal of China’s transformation was praised by critics around the world, and the film won the Golden Lion award at the 63rd Venice International Film Festival.

Since then, he has directed “Dong,” “Useless,” “Cry Me on the River” and “I Wish I Knew.”

In May, 2013, his movie "A Touch of Sin" won the best screenplay at the 66th Cannes.