Born in 1970 in Fanyang, Shanxi Province, North of China, Jia Zhang-Ke entered, aged eighteen, the Performing Arts School of Taiyuan to study paintings. He developed as well an interest for fiction and published in 1991 his first novel "The Sun Hung on The Crotch".
In 1993, he is admitted at the Beijing Film Academy and two years later became the founder of the Youth Experimental Film Group, the first independent production company in China with whom he directed his two first films in video format, "Xiao Shan Going Home" and "Du Du".
Graduated from the Academy in 1997, he wrote and directed in 16mm the following year his first feature film "Pickpocket", which won a prize at the Berlin Festival Forum.
In 2000, Jia Zhang-Ke was recognized by critics and cinema enthusiast public with his second film "Platform". In 2002, "Unknown Pleasures" was selected in competition at the Cannes Film Festival. Two years later, "The World" was presented in competition at the Venice Film Festival and Jia Zhang-Ke was granted Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Government.
Jia Zhang-Ke has become one of leading figures of the "Sixth Generation" of Chinese directors. Now settled in Beijing, he is actively involved in independent filmmaking over China. "Still Life", his fifth feature film, won the Golden Lion at the last Venice Film Festival.
Editorials
Jia Zhang-Ke
