Jia Zhangke
Biography
Jia Zhangke is a Chinese film and television director, screenwriter, producer, actor, and writer. He was born on May 24, 1970, in Fenyang, Shanxi, China. Zhangke graduated from the Literature Department of Beijing Film Academy. He is considered a leading figure of the "Sixth Generation" movement of Chinese cinema, a group that includes Wang Xiaoshuai, Lou Ye, Wang Quan'an, and Zhang Yuan. Zhangke's early films were made outside of China's state-run film bureaucracy. He is the dean of the Shanxi Film Academy of Shanxi Media College and the dean of the Vancouver Film School of Shanghai University. Zhangke has directed at least 108 films and television shows.
Career overview
Jia Zhangke is a Chinese film and television director. He is generally regarded as a leading figure of the "Sixth Generation" movement of Chinese cinema. This group includes other notable figures such as Wang Xiaoshuai, Lou Ye, Wang Quan'an, and Zhang Yuan.
Jia's early films are based in his home province of Shanxi. These films were made outside of China's state-run film bureaucracy. This distinction is notable as it highlights Jia's approach to filmmaking. His work is often associated with the "Sixth Generation" movement, which emphasizes a more personal and independent approach to storytelling.
Jia Zhangke has directed a significant number of films and television shows. He has worked outside of the traditional state-run film system, allowing him to explore themes and stories that may not have been possible within the confines of official Chinese cinema. As a result, his work has been influential in shaping the direction of Chinese film and television.
Ask the Vault
Ask anything about Jia Zhangke.
Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
175 titles- Being Towards Death (2026) as Self
- Being Towards Death (2026) Thanks
- Torino Shadow (2026) Director
- Torino Shadow (2026) Writer
- Torino Shadow (2026) Executive Producer
- Filipiñana (2026) Executive Producer
- Jia Zhangke's Dance (2026) Producer
- Jia Zhangke's Dance (2026) Director
- Proudly Amateur (2026) Director
- Presi dall'onda - Conversazione con Jia Zhangke (2026) as Self - filmmaker
- The Sun Rises on Us All (2025) Thanks
- The Lychee Road (2025) as Zhong Shu Official
- Crossroads with Luo Yonghao (2025)
- Caught by the Tides (2025) Director
- Caught by the Tides (2025) Writer
- Caught by the Tides (2025) Executive Producer
- Heaven and Hell (2025) Executive Producer
- Art College 1994 (2025) as Gu Yongqing (voice)
- Mostly Sunny (2025) as Dr. Cai
- Black Dog (2024) as Uncle Yao
- Moonlight Madness (2024) as Guest in room 622
- Moonlight Madness (2024) Presenter
- Wheat Harvest (2024) Director
- A River Without Tears (2024) Executive Producer
- The Best is Yet to Come (2023) as Coal Mine Owner
- The Best is Yet to Come (2023) Producer
- The Best is Yet to Come (2023) Executive Producer
- Out of Jungle (2023) Director
- Jia's Talk (2022) as 自己
- Jia's Talk (2022) Creator
- 不要回答 (2022)
- Home (2022) Executive Producer
- Peacock, Peacock (2022) Director
- Tomorrow Will Be Fine (2021) Executive Producer
- White Building (2021) Co-Producer
- Memoria (2021) Co-Producer
- Swimming Out Till the Sea Turns Blue (2021) as Self
- Swimming Out Till the Sea Turns Blue (2021) Director
- Swimming Out Till the Sea Turns Blue (2021) Writer
- Tracing Her Shadow (2021) Executive Producer
- Close-Up (2021) Director
- The Great Director (2021)
- A Song for You (2020) Producer
- A Song for You (2020) Executive Producer
- Visit (2020)
- Visit (2020) Writer
- Visit (2020) Director
- Citizen Kitano (2020) as Self
- Keep Rolling (2020)
- The Calming (2020) Producer
- The Calming (2020) Executive Producer
- Neighbors (2019) Producer
- Number One (2019) Supervising Producer
- Number One (2019) Producer
- Half the Sky (2018) Executive Producer
- Ash Is Purest White (2018) Director
- Ash Is Purest White (2018) Executive Producer
- Ash Is Purest White (2018) Writer
- Dead Pigs (2018) Executive Producer
- Dead Pigs (2018) Producer
- Life After Life (2017) Executive Producer
- Life After Life (2017) Producer
- One Night on the Wharf (2017) Producer
- Still Born (2017) Producer
- Revive (2017) Director
- Revive (2017) Writer
- Where Has Time Gone? (2017) Director
- Where Has Time Gone? (2017) Writer
- Where Has Time Gone? (2017) Producer
- Thirteen Talks (2016)
- The Hedonists (2016)
- The Hedonists (2016) Director
- The Hedonists (2016) Writer
- Everybody's Fine (2016) as (cameo)
- Beautiful 2016 (2016) Director
- Jia Zhangke, A Guy from Fenyang (2016) as Self
- Mountains May Depart (2015) Director
- Mountains May Depart (2015) Screenplay
- Mountains May Depart (2015) Executive Producer
- Smog Journeys (2015) Director
- Smog Journeys (2015) Writer
- Smog Journeys (2015) Producer
- About Cinema (2015) as Self
- Chen Ling (2015) Producer
- K (2015) Producer
- Our Time: A Decade of Daring (2015)
- Our Time: A Decade of Daring (2015) Director
- Black Coal, Thin Ice (2014) Thanks
- The Continent (2014) as Su Mi's Uncle
- Lao Pan's Day and Night (2014) Director
- Flowers of Taipei: Taiwan New Cinema (2014) as Self
- Great Heat (2014) Executive Producer
- Fidaï (2014) Producer
- A Touch of Sin (2013) as Distinguished Guest
- A Touch of Sin (2013) Director
- A Touch of Sin (2013) Writer
- A Touch of Sin (2013) Executive Producer
- Venice 70: Future Reloaded (2013) Director
- Boundless (2013) as Self
- Forgetting to Know You (2013) Producer
- Memories Look at Me (2012) Producer
- Mr. Tree (2011) Executive Producer
- Mr. Tree (2011) Producer
- Yulu (2011) Producer
- Yulu (2011) Director
- Yulu (2011) Executive Producer
- 3.11 A Sense of Home Films (2011) Director
- Pan Shiyi (2011) Director
- Cao Fei (2011) Director
- 3.11 A Sense of Home: Jia Zhang-ke (2011) Director
- I Wish I Knew (2010) Screenplay
- I Wish I Knew (2010) Director
- Plastic City (2009) Producer
- Perfect Life (2009) Co-Producer
- Black Breakfast (2008) Director
- Black Breakfast (2008) Editor
- Remembrance (2008) Director
- Remembrance (2008) Writer
- Useless (2008) Director
- Useless (2008) Director of Photography
- 24 City (2008) Director
- 24 City (2008) Writer
- 24 City (2008) Producer
- Stories on Human Rights (2008) Director
- Cry Me a River (2008) Director
- Cry Me a River (2008) Writer
- Our Ten Years (2007) Director
- Our Ten Years (2007) Writer
- Xiao Jia Going Home (2007) as Himself
- Dong (2006) Director
- Dong (2006) Writer
- Dong (2006) Director of Photography
- Still Life (2006) Director
- Still Life (2006) Screenplay
- Still Life (2006) Co-Producer
- Walking on the Wild Side (2006) Producer
- Karmic Mahjong (2006) as Mobster
- Made in China (2005) as Self
- This Moment (2005) Director
- The World (2004) Director
- The World (2004) Writer
- All Tomorrow's Parties (2003) Associate Producer
- All Tomorrow's Parties (2003) Producer
- Shiny Stars, Rusty Red (2003) as Himself
- My Camera Doesn’t Lie (2003) as Jia Zhangke
- Unknown Pleasures (2002) as Man singing in street (uncredited)
- Unknown Pleasures (2002) Director
- Unknown Pleasures (2002) Writer
- Overloaded Peking (2002) as Himself
- The Condition of Dogs (2001) Director
- The Condition of Dogs (2001) Director of Photography
- The Condition of Dogs (2001) Editor
- Platform (2001) Director
- Platform (2001) Writer
- In Public (2001) Director
- In Public (2001) Director of Photography
- In Public (2001) Editor
- In Public (2001) Writer
- Pickpocket (1997) Director
- Pickpocket (1997) Writer
- Pickpocket (1997) Producer
- Du Du (1996) Director
- Du Du (1996) Screenplay
- Xiao Shan Going Home (1995)
- Xiao Shan Going Home (1995) Director
- Xiao Shan Going Home (1995) Writer
- Xiao Shan Going Home (1995) Editor
- One Day in Beijing (1994) Director
- Golden Horse Awards (1962) as Self
- 在那里 Director
- Pseudo Idealist
- Mamma Dunhuang Director
- Mamma Dunhuang Writer
- In the Qing Dynasty Director
- In the Qing Dynasty Screenplay
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Jia Zhangke best known for?
Jia Zhangke is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Being Towards Death (2026), Being Towards Death (2026), Filipiñana (2026), The Sun Rises on Us All (2025).
When and where was Jia Zhangke born?
Jia Zhangke was born on May 24, 1970 in Fenyang, Shanxi, China.
How many credits does Jia Zhangke have?
Jia Zhangke has accumulated over 175 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1962 to 2026.
What is Jia Zhangke's background in cinema and television?
Jia Zhangke is a Chinese film and television director, screenwriter, producer, actor, and writer. He was born on May 24, 1970, in Fenyang, Shanxi, China. Zhangke graduated from the Literature Department of Beijing Film Academy. He is considered a leading figure of the "Sixth Generation" movement of Chinese cinema, a gr...