Zhang Yang

Zhang Yang, born in 1967 in Beijing, is a renowned Chinese film and television director, screenwriter, and producer, recognized as a representative figure of the "sixth generation" of Chinese filmmakers. He graduated from the Chinese Department of Sun Yat-sen University in 1988 and then entered the directing department of the Central Academy of Drama, completing his studies in 1992. He was subsequently assigned to the Beijing Film Studio as a director.
In 1997, Zhang Yang directed his first film, "Spicy Love Soup," which marked his emergence in the directing field and earned him the Best Directorial Debut Award at the 18th China Golden Rooster Awards and the Best Director Award at the 5th Beijing College Student Film Festival. In 1999, his drama film "Shower" achieved both domestic and international success, winning the Best Director Award at the 47th San Sebastián International Film Festival. In 2001, his self-written and directed film "Yesterday" was screened at the Venice Film Festival, telling the story of an actor's struggle with drug addiction and garnering widespread attention.
In 2005, his film "Sunflower" received the Best Director Award at the San Sebastián International Film Festival for its delicate portrayal of the father-son relationship. In 2007, his self-written and directed road film "Getting Home" won the Catholic Humanitarian Spirit Award at the Berlin International Film Festival. In 2010, Zhang Yang ventured into commercial genre films with "Wu Ren Jia Shi," and in 2012, he released the youth inspirational film "Full Circle." His public welfare microfilm "Voices In The Mountains" received positive reviews in 2014. In 2016, he served as the producer for the romantic film "Spicyhot in love."
In 2017, his pseudo-documentary "Paths of the Soul/Kang rinpoche" won the Best Film Award at the Italian Chinese Film Festival, and the art film "Soul on a String," adapted from the novel by Tashi Dawa, also attracted audience attention when it premiered in August of the same year. Zhang Yang's works predominantly feature a realistic style, achieving a good balance between commercial and artistic elements, and he has received numerous awards and nominations at major film festivals, making significant contributions to the Chinese film industry. In 2022, the television series "Gentlemen of East 8th," for which he served as a screenwriter, officially aired. In 2024, the film "Love of Nirvana," for which he also served as a screenwriter, is set to be released.