Photo: Christopher Adams / CC BY 2.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Jia Zhangke is listed as a film director, film actor and screenwriter. Born on May 24, 1970, Jia Zhangke is from Fenyang, People's Republic of China. That works out to 56 years old in 2026. Awards on record include Prince Claus Award, L'Age d'Or (1998), Golden Lion (2006) and 3 more. Notable works include The World, Still Life and A Touch of Sin.
My Take
Jia is, for me, one of the most quietly essential filmmakers alive. Coming from the small city of Fenyang, he has spent his career documenting the people left behind by China's breakneck transformation, and films like Still Life and A Touch of Sin carry the texture of vanishing towns and ordinary lives. Rising from underground cinema to a Golden Lion at Venice without softening his vision is remarkable to me. What I admire most is his refusal to chase loud official history; instead he listens for small, unheard voices. That fidelity to the overlooked is exactly why I hold his work in lasting respect.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Jia Zhangke
- Name (Japanese)
- 賈樟柯
- Reading
- じゃ・じゃんくー
- Born
- May 24, 1970 (age 56)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Gemini / Dog
- Origin
- Fenyang, People's Republic of China
- Occupation
- film director / film actor / screenwriter / actor / film producer
2. Background
Awards & achievements
- Prince Claus Award
- 1998 L'Age d'Or
- 2006 Golden Lion
- 2013 Best Screenplay Award
- 2015 Carrosse d'or
- Asian Film Award for Best Director
3. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | The World | — | |
| Notable work | Still Life | — | |
| Notable work | A Touch of Sin | — |
4. Links
- Wikipedia (English)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jia%20Zhangke
- Wikipedia (Japanese)https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%B3%88%E6%A8%9F%E6%9F%AF
- Wikidatahttps://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q461079
5. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-21
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Jia Zhangke born?
Born May 24, 1970 (age 56).
Where is Jia Zhangke from?
Jia Zhangke is from Fenyang, People's Republic of China.
What does Jia Zhangke do?
Jia Zhangke works as film director, film actor, screenwriter, actor, film producer.
What is Jia Zhangke known for?
Notable works include The World, Still Life, A Touch of Sin.
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