Jia Zhang-Ke
China’s master filmmaker
Jia Zhang-Ke is an acclaimed Chinese filmmaker whose works have profoundly influenced contemporary cinema with their realism.
Cinema is an art but it’s also a craft, a kind of art and technology, a pursuit that needs to be passed on from generation to generation. It needs to move forward to maintain its vitality so that films can constantly present the changes in the world and the problems we are facing.
Jia Zhang-Ke
Chronicler of change
Jia Zhang-Ke is renowned for insightful films that have captured the rapid pace of social and economic change in China.
Known for works such as Still Life, which won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival in 2006, and A Touch of Sin, which received the Best Screenplay Award at the Cannes Film Festival in 2013, Jia’s films often explore themes of modernity and nostalgia.
Powerful voice in cinema
Jia began his career in the 1990s, emerging from the “Sixth Generation” of Chinese filmmakers known for their independent and realistic style.
He is one of the most influential and critically acclaimed filmmakers to emerge from China in recent decades. Jia's unique vision combines neorealist sensibilities with experimental techniques, offering a window into the lives of ordinary Chinese citizens navigating the complexities of a changing nation.
His early works, known as the Shanxi trilogy, including his first feature Xiao Wu (Pickpocket, 1997), marked him as a groundbreaking filmmaker, one who often casts non-actors for authenticity and whose exploration of identity and memory provides the basis for the reflection on the whole of society.
Jia’s transition to state-approved productions with The World (2004) marked a new era in his career, allowing him to reach wider audiences without compromising his artistic integrity. His later films, such as Still Life showcase his ability to capture the human cost of China's economic miracle. Jia’s work is characterized by the use of non-professional actors, regional dialects, and a documentary-like aesthetic that blurs the line between fiction and reality. Beyond filmmaking, Jia has become a cultural ambassador, founding the Pingyao International Film Festival and nurturing new talent. His ongoing exploration of China's past, present, and future through cinema continues to provide invaluable insights into the nation.
The director spent two years, from 2023 to 2024, collaborating with emerging Filipino filmmaker Rafael Manuel through the Rolex mentoring programme.
Jia became a Rolex Testimonee in 2024.
