Yimou Zhang
Birth Name:
Yimou Zhang
Birth Place:
Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
Profession
Director, Writer, Producer, Actor, Cinematographer, Production designer, Assistant director, Camera department
Fast Facts
- Holds honorary degrees from Harvard University and Boston University
- Graduated from the Beijing Film Academy in 1982
- Quote: "I love to make movies․ I don't love doing anything else; on a personal level, I don't have any hobbies or distractions of my own․ So I devote 100 percent of my time to filmmaking․"
- Quote: "(On how he is able to accomplish so much with limited time) "To me, no time should be wasted․ I've always been educated that way and shaped that way, so it's become second nature to me to work like that․""
- Helped to launch the career of Chinese actress Gong Li
- Is considered a member of Chinese cinema's "Fifth Generation․"
- Made his directorial debut in 1987 with the release of Chinese war drama "Red Sorghum․"
Awards
- 1985Golden Rooster - Best Cinematography:Winner
- 1985Best CinematographyWinner
- 1987Golden Kite - Best New Director:Winner
- 1987Golden Kite - Best Director:Winner
- 1987Huabiao Film Award - Outstanding Film:Winner
- 1988Golden Berlin BearWinner
- 1988Golden Rooster - Best Director:Nominated
- 1988Golden Rooster - Best Film:Winner
- 1988Hundred Flowers Award - Best Film:Winner
- 1988FIPRESCI PrizeWinner
- 1988Best FilmWinner
- 1988Best DirectorWinner
- 1988Best Artistic AchievementWinner
- 1989Youth Jury Award - Best Picture:Winner
- 1989German Film Critics Award - Best Foreign Language Film(Bester fremdsprachiger Film):Nominated
- 1989Kinema Junpo Award - Best Foreign Language Film:Nominated
- 1989Sliver AntigoneWinner
- 1990Palme d'OrNominated
- 1990Gold Hugo - Best Feature:Winner
- 1990Golden Kite - Best Leading Actor:Nominated
- 1990Golden Spike - Best Film:Winner
- 1990Audience Award - Best Film:Winner
- 1991Amanda - Best Foreign Feature Film (Årets utenlandske spillefilm):Winner
- 1991Bronze HorseNominated
- 1991Golden Spike - Best Film:Nominated
- 1991Silver LionWinner
- 1991Golden LionNominated
- 1991FIPRESCI Prize - Competition:Winner
- 1991Elvira Notari PrizeWinner
- 1992Silver Condor - Best Foreign Film (Mejor Película Extranjera):Winner
- 1992David - Best Foreign Film (Miglior Film Straniero):Winner
- 1992Huabiao Film Award - Special Jury Award:Winner
- 1992Silver Ribbon - Best Foreign Director (Regista del Miglior Film Straniero):Nominated
- 1992LAFCA Award - Best Foreign Film:Nominated
- 1992Most Popular FilmWinner
- 1992OCIC Award - Honorable MentionWinner
- 1992UNICEF AwardWinner
- 1992Golden LionWinner
- 1993Academy Film Award - Best Film:Winner
- 1993Academy Film Award - Best Director:Winner
- 1993Silver Condor - Best Foreign Film (Mejor Película Extranjera):Winner
- 1993Best Foreign Film AwardNominated
- 1993BAFTA Film Award - Best Film not in the English Language:Winner
- 1993Independent Spirit Award - Best Foreign Film:Nominated
- 1993Critics Award - Best Foreign Film:Winner
- 1993Golden Rooster - Best Director:Nominated
- 1993Golden Rooster - Best Film:Winner
- 1993Hundred Flowers Award - Best Film:Winner
- 1993Hundred Flowers Award - Best Film:Nominated
- 1993Hundred Flowers Award - Best Film:Winner
- 1993Kinema Junpo Award - Best Foreign Language Film:Nominated
- 1993Readers' Choice Award - Best Foreign Language Film:Nominated
- 1993Golden Aphrodite - Best Film:Nominated
- 1993Critics Award - Best Foreign Film (Melhor Filme Estrangeiro):Winner
- 1993Turia Award - Best Foreign Film:Winner
- 1994Grand Prize of the JuryWinner
- 1994Prize of the Ecumenical JuryWinner
- 1994Palme d'OrNominated
- 1994Independent Spirit Award - Best Foreign Film:Nominated
- 1995BAFTA Film Award - Best Film not in the English Language:Winner
- 1995Palme d'OrNominated
- 1997Grand Jury PrizeNominated
- 1997Golden LionNominated
- 1998Hundred Flowers Award - Best Film:Nominated
- 1999Screen International AwardNominated
- 1999Golden Rooster - Best Director:Winner
- 1999Golden Rooster - Best Film:Nominated
- 1999Huabiao Film Award - Outstanding Director:Winner
- 1999Huabiao Film Award - Outstanding Film:Winner
- 1999Hundred Flowers Award - Best Film:Winner
- 1999Shanghai Film Critics Award - Best Director:Winner
- 1999Audience Award - Best Feature:Winner
- 1999Sergio Trasatti AwardWinner
- 1999UNICEF AwardWinner
- 1999Laterna Magica PrizeWinner
- 1999Golden LionWinner
- 2000NETPAC Award - Best Director:Winner
- 2000NETPAC Award - Best Picture:Nominated
- 2000Silver Berlin Bear - Jury Grand Prix:Winner
- 2000Prize of the Ecumenical Jury - Competition:Winner
- 2000Golden Berlin BearNominated
- 2000Golden Rooster - Best Director:Winner
- 2000Golden Rooster - Best Film:Winner
- 2000Huabiao Film Award - Outstanding Film:Winner
- 2000Hundred Flowers Award - Best Film:Winner
- 2000Audience AwardWinner
- 2001Bodil - Best Non-American Film (Bedste ikke amerikanske film):Nominated
- 2001Crystal Simorgh - International Competition - Best Film:Winner
- 2001Audience Award - Best International Feature Film:Winner
- 2001Golden Butterfly - Best Film:Winner
- 2001Kinema Junpo Award - Best Foreign Language Film:Nominated
- 2001Readers' Choice Award - Best Foreign Language Film:Nominated
- 2001Kinema Junpo Award - Best Foreign Language Film:Nominated
- 2001Kinema Junpo Award - Best Foreign Language Film Director:Winner
- 2001Premio Guarani - Best Foreign Film:Nominated
- 2001Audience Award - World Cinema:Winner
- 2002Readers' Choice Award - Best Director:Winner
- 2002Readers' Choice Award - Best Foreign Language Film:Winner
- 2002Premio Guarani - Best Foreign Film:Nominated
- 2002Silver Spike - Best Film:Winner
- 2002Golden Spike - Best Film:Nominated
- 2002FIPRESCI PrizeWinner
- 2002Youth Jury Award - Official Section:Winner
- 2003NETPAC Award - Best Screenplay:Nominated
- 2003NETPAC Award - Best Director:Winner
- 2003NETPAC Award - Best Picture:Nominated
- 2003Alfred Bauer AwardWinner
- 2003Golden Berlin BearNominated
- 2003Grand PrixNominated
- 2003Golden Bauhinia - Best Director:Nominated
- 2003Golden Rooster - Best Co-production Film:Winner
- 2003Golden Rooster - Best Director:Winner
- 2003Hong Kong Film Award - Best Screenplay:Nominated
- 2003Hong Kong Film Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2003Hong Kong Film Award - Best Picture:Nominated
- 2003Huabiao Film Award - Honorary Award For Co-Production:Winner
- 2003Huabiao Film Award - Special Jury Award:Winner
- 2003Huabiao Film Award - Outstanding Co-Production Film:Winner
- 2003Hundred Flowers Award - Best Film:Winner
- 2003INOCA - Best Non-English Language Film:Nominated
- 2003Readers' Choice Award - Best Foreign Language Film:Nominated
- 2004BSFC Award - Best Director:Winner
- 2004Robert - Best Non-American Film (Årets ikke-amerikanske film):Nominated
- 2004Screen International AwardNominated
- 2004Golden Rooster - Best Director:Nominated
- 2004Golden Rooster - Best Film:Nominated
- 2004Kinema Junpo Award - Best Foreign Language Film:Nominated
- 2004LAFCA Award - Best Foreign Film:Winner
- 2004NYFCC Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2005Saturn Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2005NETPAC Award - Best Picture:Nominated
- 2005NETPAC Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2005BAFTA Film Award - Best Film not in the English Language:Nominated
- 2005China Film Directors' Guild Award - Best Box Office Director:Winner
- 2005Hong Kong Film Award - Best Asian Film:Nominated
- 2005Huabiao Film Award - Outstanding Film:Nominated
- 2005INOCA - Best Non-English Language Film:Nominated
- 2005ALFS Award - Director of the Year:Nominated
- 2005NSFC Award - Best Director:Winner
- 2005OFCS Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2005Shanghai Film Critics Award - Top 22 Film of Chinese Cinema:Winner
- 2005Shanghai Film Critics Award - Top 22 Film of Chinese Cinema:Winner
- 2006NETPAC Award - Best Screenplay:Nominated
- 2006NETPAC Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2006NETPAC Award - Best Picture:Winner
- 2006China Film Media Award - Best Screenplay:Nominated
- 2006Golden Eagle - Best Foreign Film:Nominated
- 2006Hundred Flowers Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2006Premio Guarani - Best Foreign Film:Nominated
- 2007NETPAC Award - Best Director:Winner
- 2007NETPAC Award - Best Picture:Winner
- 2007Hong Kong Film Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2007Hong Kong Film Award - Best Asian Film:Winner
- 2007Hong Kong Film Award - Best Picture:Nominated
- 2007Huabiao Film Award - Outstanding Film:Winner
- 2007Weibo Award - Film of the Year:Winner
- 2010Golden Berlin BearNominated
- 2010Weibo Award - Director of the Year:Nominated
- 2011NETPAC Award - Best Picture:Nominated
- 2011NETPAC Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2011Crystal Bear - Generation 14plus - Best Feature Film:Nominated
- 2011Hong Kong Film Award - Best Asian Film:Nominated
- 2011Huabiao Film Award - Outstanding Film:Winner
- 2011Silver Mirror Award - Best Feature:Nominated
- 2011Audience AwardNominated
- 2011Golden Spike - Best Film:Nominated
- 2012Felix - Best Foreign Language Film:Nominated
- 2012Asian Film Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2012NETPAC Award - Best Director:Winner
- 2012NETPAC Award - Best Picture:Winner
- 2012Golden Angel Award - Outstanding Film:Winner
- 2012Hong Kong Film Award - Best Chinese Language Film from the Two Coasts:Nominated
- 2012Audience Award - Best Narrative Feature:Nominated
- 2013CEC Award - Best Foreign Film (Mejor Película Extranjera):Nominated
- 2013Huabiao Film Award - Outstanding Film:Winner
- 2013Huabiao Film Award - Outstanding Director:Nominated
- 2014Golden Deer - Best Director:Nominated
- 2014Audience Award - Best Director:Winner
- 2014Audience Award - Best Film:Nominated
- 2014Golden Lotus Awards - Best Picture:Winner
- 2014Film of Merit - Top Ten Films:Winner
- 2014Golden Spike - Best Film:Nominated
- 2015NETPAC Award - Best Picture:Winner
- 2015NETPAC Award - Best Director:Winner
- 2015Jury Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2015China Film Directors' Guild Award - Best Picture:Nominated
- 2015China Film Directors' Guild Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2015CCF Award - Outstanding Film:Winner
- 2015Hong Kong Film Award - Best Chinese Language Film from the Two Coasts:Winner
- 2015Huading Award - Best Directing for a Motion Picture:Nominated
- 2016Cinema Bloggers Award - Best Asian Film:Nominated
- 2016Huabiao Film Award - Outstanding Film:Nominated
- 2016Readers' Choice Award - Best Foreign Language Film:Nominated
- 2017Golden Angel Award - Outstanding Films:Winner
- 2018Best Film - Official Competition:Nominated
- 2018Festival Award - Best Film:Winner
- 2018China Film Critics Award - Top Ten Films:Winner
- 2018Golden Angel Award - Outstanding Films:Winner
- 2018Golden Horse Award - Best Director:Winner
- 2018Golden Horse Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Nominated
- 2018Huabiao Film Award - Outstanding Film:Nominated
- 2018Jury Award - Best Promotional Film:Winner
- 2018Weibo Movie Award - Most Influential Director:Winner
- 2018Weibo Movie Award - Anticipated Movie of the Year:Winner
- 2019Saturn Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2019NETPAC Award - Best Picture:Nominated
- 2019NETPAC Award - Best Screenplay:Nominated
- 2019NETPAC Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2019AACTA Award - Best Asian Film:Nominated
- 2019Jury Award - Best Art Exploration:Nominated
- 2019Jury Award - Best Visual Effect:Winner
- 2019Golden Berlin Bear - Best Film:Nominated
- 2019China Film Directors' Guild Award - Best Picture:Nominated
- 2019China Film Directors' Guild Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2019Chinese Film Competition - Best Screenplay:Nominated
- 2019Chinese Film Competition - Best Director:Winner
- 2019Chinese Film Competition - Best Film:Nominated
- 2019Students' Choice Award - Favorite Screenplay:Nominated
- 2019Students' Choice Award - Favorite Action Film:Winner
- 2019Huading Award - Best Directing for a Motion Picture:Nominated
- 2019Huading Award - Best Picture:Nominated
- 2019ICP Award - Best Foreign Language Film:Nominated
- 2019Halfway Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Nominated
- 2019Knight Competition Grand Jury Prize - Best Film:Nominated
- 2019Weibo Award - Director of the Year:Winner
- 2020M Ranking - Director of the Year:Winner
- 2020Chlotrudis Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2020Golden Kite - Best Director:Winner
- 2020Hong Kong Film Award - Best Asian Chinese Language Film:Nominated
- 2020IFeng Award - Best Directing for a Motion Picture:Winner
- 2020IFeng Award - Best Picture:Nominated
- 2020Zhihu Award - Best Directing for a Motion Picture:Winner
- 2020Zhihu Award - Best Writing for a Motion Picture:Winner
- 2021Golden Elm Award - Best Film:Winner
- 2021Asian Film Award - Best Director:Winner
- 2021Golden Deer - Best Film:Nominated
- 2021Golden Deer - Best Director:Nominated
- 2021China Film Critics Award - Top Ten Films:Winner
- 2021China Film Critics Award - Film of the Year:Nominated
- 2021China Film Critics Award - Screenwriter of the Year:Nominated
- 2021China Film Critics Award - Director of the Year:Nominated
- 2021China Film Directors' Guild Award - Best Screenplay:Nominated
- 2021China Film Directors' Guild Award - Best Picture:Nominated
- 2021China Film Directors' Guild Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2021M Ranking - Director of the Year:Winner
- 2021NETPAC Award for Best Asian FilmNominated
- 2021Official Jury Prize - Best Director:Winner
- 2021Chinese Film Competition - Best Director:Nominated
- 2021Chinese Film Competition - Best Film:Nominated
- 2021Chinese Film Competition - Best Adapted Screenplay:Nominated
- 2021Golden Crane Award - Best Film:Winner
- 2021Golden Rooster - Best Film:Nominated
- 2021Golden Rooster - Best Director:Winner
- 2021Film Unit - Best Screenplay:Winner
- 2021Students' Choice Award - Favorite Director:Nominated
- 2021Students' Choice Award - Best Film:Nominated
- 2021Students' Choice Award - Favorite Screenplay:Nominated
- 2021WenRong TV Award - Best Film:Nominated
- 2021Huading Award - Best Picture:Nominated
- 2021Huading Award - Best Directing for a Motion Picture:Nominated
- 2021Huading Award - Best Writing for a Motion Picture:Winner
- 2021Golden Lotus Awards - Best Feature Film:Nominated
- 2021Golden Lotus Awards - Best Director:Nominated
- 2021BNL People's Choice Award - Best Film:Nominated
- 2021Golden Seashell - Best Film:Nominated
- 2021Official Fantàstic Competition - Best Motion Picture:Nominated
- 2021Weibo Movie Award - Word of Mouth Film of the Year:Winner
- 2021Youth Film Manual Award - Outstanding Film:Nominated
- 2021Youth Film Manual Award - Grand Jury Prize:Winner
- 2021Youth Film Manual Award - Best Screenplay:Nominated
- 2021Youth Film Manual Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2022Academy Film Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2022Academy Film Award - Best Film:Winner
- 2022Golden Elm Award - Best Director:Winner
- 2022Jury Award - Best Screenplay:Winner
- 2022Golden Deer - Best Film:Nominated
- 2022China Film Critics Award - Director of the Year:Nominated
- 2022China Film Critics Award - Film of the Year:Nominated
- 2022China Film Directors' Guild Award - Best Screenplay:Nominated
- 2022China Film Directors' Guild Award - Best Picture:Nominated
- 2022China Film Directors' Guild Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2022China Movie Channel Award - Most Popular Director:Nominated
- 2022Chinese Film Competition - Best Director:Nominated
- 2022Chinese Film Competition - Best Adapted Screenplay:Nominated
- 2022Golden Rooster - Best Director:Nominated
- 2022Golden Rooster - Best Film:Nominated
- 2022Film Unit - Best Adapted Screenplay:Winner
- 2022Huading Award - Best Writing for a Motion Picture:Nominated
- 2022Jin Li hua Award - Best Screenplay for a Motion Picture:Nominated
- 2022Jin Li hua Award - Best Director for a Motion Picture:Winner
- 2022Golden Lotus Awards - Best Feature Film:Nominated
- 2022Golden Lotus Awards - Best Director:Nominated
- 2022Rene Rodriguez Critics AwardWinner
- 2022WGC Award - Outstanding Screenplay:Winner
- 2023Jury Award - Best Director:Winner
- 2023Jury Award - Best Film:Nominated
- 2023Golden Deer - Best Director:Nominated
- 2023China Film Critics Award - Top Ten Films:Winner
- 2023China Movie Channel Award - Most Popular Film:Nominated
- 2023M Ranking - Film of the Year:Winner
- 2023China Movie Channel Award - Most Popular Director:Nominated
- 2023M Ranking - Director of the Year:Winner
- 2023Chinese Film Competition - Best Director:Nominated
- 2023Film Unit - Best Original Screenplay:Nominated
- 2023Jin Li hua Award - Best Screenplay for a Motion Picture:Nominated
- 2023Huading Award - Best Directing for a Motion Picture:Nominated
- 2023Golden Silk Road Award - Best Director:Winner
- 2023Golden Silk Road Award - Best Film:Nominated
- 2023Weibo Award - Most Influential Director:Winner
- 2023Weibo Award - Film of the Year:Winner
- 2023WGC Award - Outstanding Screenplay:Winner
- 2024Top Grossing Asian Film AwardWinner
- 2024Jury Award - Best Film:Nominated
- 2024Golden Deer - Best Director:Winner
- 2024China Movie Channel Award - Most Popular Director:Nominated
- 2024Golden Rooster - Best Film:Winner
- 2024Golden Rooster - Best Screenplay:Nominated
- 2024Film Unit - Best Original Screenplay:Winner
- 2024Film Unit - Best Original Screenplay:Nominated
- 2024Students' Choice Award - Best Film:Nominated
- 2024Students' Choice Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2024Students' Choice Award - Best Screenplay:Nominated
- 2024Hong Kong Film Award - Best Asian Chinese Language Film:Nominated
- 2024Hundred Flowers Award - Best Director:Winner
- 2024Hundred Flowers Award - Best Screenplay:Nominated
- 2024Golden Lotus Awards - Best Feature Film:Winner
- 2024Golden Lotus Awards - Best Director:Nominated
- 2024Golden Lotus Awards - Best Screenplay:Nominated
- 2024Film of Merit - Top Ten Films:Winner
- 2024WGC Award - Outstanding Screenplay:Winner
- 2025China Film Directors' Guild Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2025China Film Directors' Guild Award - Best Picture:Nominated
- 2025China Film Directors' Guild Award - Best Screenplay:Nominated
- 2025China Film Directors' Guild Award - Special Jury Award:Winner
- 2025Chunyan Award - Best Film:Winner
- 2025Chunyan Award - Best Director:Winner
- 2025Hong Kong Film Award - Best Asian Chinese Language Film:Nominated
- 2025Huabiao Film Award - Outstanding Film:Winner
- 2025China Movie & TV Night Award - Best Screenplay for Film of the Year:Winner
- 2025WGC Award - Outstanding Screenplay:Winner
- 2026Jury Award - Best Film:Nominated
- 2026Hundred Flowers Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2026Hundred Flowers Award - Best Screenplay:Nominated
- 2026Hundred Flowers Award - Outstanding Film:Winner