My favourite Taiwanese filmmakers
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Of the ten films that Hsiao-Hsien Hou directed between 1980 and 1989, seven received best film or best director awards from prestigious international films festivals in Venice, Berlin, Hawaii, and the Festival of the Three Continents in Nantes. In a 1988 worldwide critics' poll, Hou was championed as "one of the three directors most crucial to the future of cinema."
Hou's birthplace, a county in Kuangtung Province, had been well-known as an intellectual center in China. In 1948, his family moved to Taiwan and, like all children raised there, he went through an extremely demanding educational system. In 1969, he studied film at the National Taiwan Arts Academy. After graduation in 1972, he worked briefly as a salesman. Later he began his film career as a scriptwriter and assistant director.
Hou's films are often concerned with his experiences of growing up in rural Taiwan in the 1950s and 1960s. The 1950s marked a time in which refugee families from the mainland were struggling painfully for survival, while the 1960s saw the beginning of the most significant social change in modern Taiwan. The economic boom of that period meant the beginning of Western-style industrialization and urbanization. The normal frustrations of growing up were aggravated by these complicated changes, and Hou's films are intimate expressions of those experiences.
His emotionally charged work is replete with highly nostalgic images and beautiful compositions; their power lies in his total identification with the past and the fate of families who suffered through difficult times. His stories, often written in collaboration with scriptwriters T'ien-wen Chu and Nien-Jen Wu, depict the complex intertwining of the different strands that shape the lives of individuals. In a poetic yet relaxed style, they reflect a deep sympathy and a profound humanism.- Director
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Born in Kuching, Malaysia, he graduated from the Drama and Cinema Department of the Chinese Cultural University of Taiwan and worked as a theatrical producer and TV director. His second feature film, Vive L'Amour (1994), won the Golden Lion (best picture) at the 1994 Venice Film Festival. His idiosyncratic oeuvre continues to enthrall audiences worldwide.- Writer
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Born on November 6, 1947 in Shanghai, China, Edward Yang has become one of the most talented international filmmakers of his generation. Along with Hou Hsiao-Hsien and Tsai Ming-Liang, Yang ranks among the leading artists of the Taiwanese New Wave, and one of the world's most brilliant auteurs. Growing up in Taipei, Taiwan, he was very interested in Japanese Manga/Comic Books, which led to the writing of his own screenplays. After studying engineering in Taiwan, he enrolled in the Electrical Engineering program at The University of Florida, receiving his Masters degree in 1974 while doing work with The Center for Informatics Research. Yang did not pursue a PhD and instead attended USC Film School briefly, but dropped out after feeling disenchanted by the program's commerce-and-business focus and his own misgivings of pursuing a Film Career. Upon working in Seattle with microcomputers and Defense software, an encounter with a piece by Werner Herzog (Aguirre, Wrath of God) gave him inspiration to observe classics in world cinema and reignited his interest in Film. He eventually wrote the script and served as a production aide on the Hong Kong TV movie, The Winter of 1905 (1981). Although he returned to Taiwan to direct a number of television shows, his break came in 1982 with the direction and writing of the film short, Desires (1982), in the seminal Taiwanese New Wave collaboration In Our Time(1982). While Hou Hsiao-Hsien's movies dealt primarily with history or Taiwan's countryside, Yang created films analyzing and revealing the many themes of city and urban life. His first major piece was That Day On The Beach (1983), a modernist narrative reflecting on couples and family. He followed with the urban films Taipei Story (1984), a reflection on urban-Taiwan through a couple - where he cast fellow auteur Hou Hsiao Hsien as the lead - and The Terrorizer (1986), a complex multi-narrative tale. In Yang's brilliant A Brighter Summer Day (1991), a sprawling examination of teen gangs, societal clashes, the influence of American pop-culture and youth, his first authentic masterpiece was crafted. He has followed with the satires A Confucian Confusion (1995), and Mahjong (1996), films that looked at the struggle between the modern and the traditional, the relationship between business and art, and how capitalistic greed may corrupt, influence, or effect art. It is, however, his most recent film, Yi Yi (2000), that is considered his magnum opus, an epic story about the Jian family seen through their different perspectives. The three-hour masterwork begins with a wedding, ends with a funeral, and examines all areas of human life in a variety of interesting, artistic ways. He has also collaborated with fellow auteur, novelist, and screenwriter Nien-Jen Wu on the piece, casting him as one of the leads, NJ. Yang's filmmaking style looks at the uncertain future of modernizing Taiwan in an enlightening manner, and his vision is one of the most original operating in world cinema today.- Writer
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Giddens Ko was born on 25 August 1978 in Changhua, Taiwan. He is a writer and director, known for You Are the Apple of My Eye (2011), Till We Meet Again (2021) and Mon Mon Mon Monsters (2017).- Director
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Chih-yen Yee was born on 21 November 1959 in Taiwan. He is a director and writer, known for Meeting Dr. Sun (2014), Blue Gate Crossing (2002) and City of Lost Things (2020).- Director
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- Actress
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Ya-che Yang was born on 17 July 1971 in Panchiao, Taipei, Taiwan. Ya-che is a director and writer, known for The Bold, the Corrupt, and the Beautiful (2017), Girlfriend Boyfriend (2012) and Orz Boyz (2008).- Producer
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Kuo-Fu Chen was born on 13 May 1958 in Taiwan. He is a producer and writer, known for The Message (2009), The Personals (1998) and Double Vision (2002).- Writer
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In 1994, Pang Ho-cheung started his career in the media industry by working as a variety show scriptwriter for Asia Television. By this time, Pang was active in several media. He was working as a scriptwriter, a host for radio and television shows, a columnist, a magazine editor and a copywriter. He had also published several novels.
In 2001, Pang co-founded Making Film Productions. In the same year, he directed his feature-length directorial debut, YOU SHOOT, I SHOOT. Thus he began his career as an independent filmmaker, with him taking part in productions as actor, writer, director and producer.- Writer
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Chi-Man Wan is known for Lover's Discourse (2010), Love Off the Cuff (2017) and Zero to Hero (2021).- Actor
- Music Department
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Jay Chou is a Taiwanese musician, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, actor and director. He was born in Taipei to schoolteachers, Yeh Hui-Mei, who taught fine arts, and Chou Yao-Chung, a biomedical researcher. In 2000, Chou released his first album, titled Jay (2000), under the record company Alfa Music. Since then, his music has gained recognition throughout Asia, most notably in regions such as Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and in western Asian communities such as in the United States and Australia. He has sold more than 30 million albums since his debut. Chou continues to write songs for other artists, work on his album and went on to win numerous awards in the music industry. In 2003, he was the cover story of Time magazine (Asia version), titled New King of Asian Pop, acknowledging his influence on popular culture. He has since held five world tours, performing in cities around the world to more than 10 million people. Chou debuted his acting career and made his film debut in Initial D (2005), and also since ventured into many movie projects. He made his Hollywood debut in 2011 with The Green Hornet (2011), starring alongside Seth Rogen and Christoph Waltz. Chou also manages his own record and management company, JVR Music.- Writer
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- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Born in Washington D.C., he holds a PhD in Dramatic Art from Berkeley. He taught at Taiwan's National Institute of the Arts and helped established the Graduate School of Theatre. Founder of renowned theatrical troupe, Performance Workshop, he is one of Taiwan's leading playwright and theatre director.- Writer
- Script and Continuity Department
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Essay Liu was born on 20 October 1980 in Tianwei, Changhua, Taiwan. She is a writer and director, known for Seven Days in Heaven (2010), All Because of Love (2017) and The Tenants Downstairs (2016).- Director
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Kai Fung was born on 4 July 1961 in Taiwan. He is a director and producer, known for Din Tao: Leader of the Parade (2012), Rookie Chef (2016) and Once Upon a Time in Beitou (2014).- Director
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Born in 1969, Te-Sheng's film career began when he got a job in a small production house. Then he became an assistant in Edward Yang's film studio in 1995. When Yang was filming "Mahjong" (1996), he was promoted to assistant director from a grip assistant. From 1995 to 1998, he had shot shorts including "Face in the Evening" (1995), "Three Dialogues" (1996) and "Before Dawn" (1997), and all three films had won Golden Harvest Award for Film and Digital Video. Moreover, his 1999 16 mm film "About July" won great reviews from film critics in Taiwan, and was honored with a Special Mention from the Alcan Dragons And Tigers Award For Young Cinema at the Vancouver International Film Festival. He was also the associate producer of "Double Vision" (2002), produced by Columbia Pictures Film Production Asia. In 2004, he raised 2.5 million NT dollars by himself and shot the teaser of "Seediq Bale," in order to further raise 200 million dollars for the finance of shooting the complete film.
He is good at manipulating dramatic elements and shaping characters, which create more tension and levels in his films. Moreover, to overcome the predicament of unable to produce big budget films, which is due to the restricted finance in Taiwan's film industry, he always endeavors to prove the talent and ability of Taiwanese filmmakers. Although he failed to raise the money needed to shoot "Seediq Bale," the vast scenery and epic atmosphere presented in the film teaser surprised and amazed the film circle in Taiwan. This shows his unquestionable ability to create films. "Cape No. 7" is the highest grossing film ever produced in Taiwan surpassing even Ang Lee's "Lust: Caution" and "Crouching Tiger and Hidden Dragon" and is on its way to becoming the highest-grossing film ever in Taiwanese box-office history. "Cape No. 7" is also the winner of the Grand Prize of the 2008 Taipei Award, the winner of Grand Prize of the 4th Asian Marine Film Festival in Japan as well as the winner of Best Narrative Feature of 28th Hawaii International Film Festival.- Director
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Tom Lin was born on 8 February 1976 in Hsinchu, Taiwan. He is a director and assistant director, known for Winds of September (2008), Starry Starry Night (2011) and Zinnia Flower (2015). He has been married to Kimi Hsia since 31 May 2019. He was previously married to Jo-Hsuan Huang.- Actor
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Doze Niu was born on 22 June 1966 in Taipei, Taiwan. He is an actor and director, known for What on Earth Have I Done Wrong?! (2007), Monga (2010) and Love (2012).- Director
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Arvin Chen was born on 26 November 1978 in Boston, USA. He is a director and writer, known for Au revoir Taipei (2010), Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? (2013) and Mei (2006).- Director
- Producer
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Zero Chou was born on 24 July 1969 in Keelung, Taiwan. She is a director and producer, known for Ripples of Desire (2012), Spider Lilies (2007) and Yan guang si she ge wu tuan (2004).- Director
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- Cinematographer
Hou Chi-jan (born in 1973) is a Taiwanese film director and screenwriter. He won the First prize at the 2003 Taipei Film Festival for his first short film Stardust 15749001 (2003), and the Golden award at the 1st Screenplay Competition held by Taipei Film Commission in 2009 for When A Wolf Falls in Love with A Sheep (2012). His film-making and visual style is known to be poetic in his works and he also won the first prize of Top 100 Chinese Micro Film Directors in 2015.- Director
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Director Chang Tso Chi was graduated from the Cinema & Drama Division of Chinese Culture University, Department of Theatrical Arts. Chang had followed and learned from many famous film directors, such as, Yue Ham Ping, Tsui Hark, Hou Hsiao Hsien and Yim Ho. Chang's first film production, Midnight Gunshot, failed to release in Taiwan due to a certain reason.
In 1996, Ah Chung, his second feature film about the traditional "Bajiajiang" dance, drew the attention from many international film festivals, for Chang unconventionally adopted non-professional actors as protagonists. In 1999, Darkness & Light, played by mostly non-professional actors, depicted stories of the blind. The influence of this film is so enormous that it had written many records in the Tokyo International Film Festival. Afterwards, Chang presented another film masterpiece, The Best of Times, and Holy Ridge, a Television drama series that he produced and directed. Soul of a Demon, released in 2007, is a film about a young man struggling over family kinship and humanity. In 2008, How are you, Dad? is produced to fulfill his father's wish. In 2010, When Love Comes broke Taiwanese film records by winning 14 nominations and 4 awards, including "Best Feature Film", in the Golden Horse Film Festival. In 2011, he shot a short historical war film, Sparkles, and was awarded the National Award for Arts. In 2013, A Time in Quchi, won the nomination in The Festival del film Locarno and two nominations in the Golden Horse Film Festival. In 2015, Thanatos, Drunk won the Siegessäule Readers' Jury Award in 65th Berlin International Film Festival and ten nominations in the Golden Horse Film Festival, including wining Best Supporting Actress, Best New Performer, Best Music and Best Film Editing awards. The latest work, The Beloved Stranger, is on pre-production.- Actor
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He was educated in art school in Beijing, left China for Hong Kong in 1949 and entered the film industry in 1951 in the art department. In the 1950s he began acting and in 1958 joined Shaw Brothers as an actor and writer, and later a director. In 1967 he left to start his own studio in Taiwan, returned to Hong Kong in 1970s, working in Hong Kong, Taiwan and China before his death.- Cinematographer
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Mong-Hong Chung was born in 1965 in Pingtung, Taiwan. He is a cinematographer and writer, known for A Sun (2019), Soul (2013) and Parking (2008).- Actor
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Kang-sheng Lee was born in 1968 in Taipei, Taiwan. He is an actor and director, known for What Time Is It There? (2001), Help Me, Eros (2007) and The Missing (2003).- Writer
- Director
- Music Department
Yi Chang was born on 14 December 1951 in Taiwan. He was a writer and director, known for Kuei-mei, a Woman (1985), Jade Love (1984) and A Dog's Life (2017). He was married to Sa Hsiao and Hui-Shan Yang. He died on 1 November 2020 in Taiwan.- Cinematographer
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- Camera and Electrical Department
Kun-Hou Chen was born on 25 July 1939 in Taichung, Taiwan. He is a cinematographer and director, known for Jie hun (1985), Growing Up (1983) and He Never Gives Up (1979).- Writer
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- Producer
Wu Nien-Jen was born in a coal miner's family in 1952. He started writing short stories for newspapers in 1975, when he was still an accounting majored college student. After writing his first screenplay in 1978, Wu entered Central Motion Picture Corporation as a creative supervisor and worked with several pioneering directors such as 'Hou Hsiao-Hsien' and Edward Yang. Wu has since written more than 70 screenplays that were made into films, and became one of the driving forces for the New Taiwanese Cinema Movement in the early 1980's. Wu set the record of winning the most Golden Horse Awards to date, among those includes the collaboration with the internationally acclaimed Hong Kong director 'Anne Hui' on her film Song of Exile, aka Song of the Exile (1990). His novels and screenplays also made him one of the best-selling authors in Taiwan as well. Wu Nien-Jen made his directorial debut A Borrowed Life, aka A Borrowed Life (1994) in 1994. The award winning movie commemorates Wu's Japanese-educated, hard-working father. The film won the Grand Prize at Torino Film Festival in Italy, and Best actor and International Critics Award in Thessaloniki Film Festival in Greece. In 1996, Wu wrote and directed his second film Buddha Bless America, aka Tai ping tian guo (1996),a political satire set in the 1960s. Besides his directing and writing career, Wu cameo in films from time to time. But it was not until he acted in a series of beer and food products commercials that his acting talent was discovered. He was cast as the leading actor in Edward Yang's latest film A One And A Two, which was critically acclaimed and won several international awards. Wu runs his own production company Wu's Productions now, and actively writes, directs, produces and performs in both commercials and television programs.- Li Kao Yang is known for Dull Ice Flower (1989) and Sheng ming kuai che (1989).
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Yu-Hsun Chen was born in 1962 in Taipei, Taiwan. He is a director and writer, known for My Missing Valentine (2020), Tropical Fish (1995) and The Village of No Return (2017).