Zhang Yimou
Awards & Honours
15
Awards Won
6
Honours
2
Rankings
3
Covers
2
Records
Zhang Yimou is one of the most decorated filmmakers in Chinese cinema. He is the only director to have won both the Golden Bear and two Golden Lions, and his films have earned major prizes at all three top European film festivals. His 2008 Olympics ceremony is widely regarded as a landmark in live event production. In 2010, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Asia Pacific Screen Awards. He holds honorary doctorates from Yale and Boston University. His ability to move between art-house acclaim and commercial success is rare, and his influence on Chinese cinema is profound.
Awards
Honours & Distinctions
Distinguished Professor
Appointed as a distinguished professor at his alma mater.
Honorary Doctor of Humanities
Awarded an honorary doctorate for his contributions to film and culture.
Honorary Doctorate
Received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters.
Honorary Doctorate
Awarded an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Recognized for his enduring contribution to world cinema.
Asia Game Changer Award
Honored as a transformative figure in Asian culture.
Rankings & Lists
World's 100 Most Influential People
Asia Game Changers
Magazine Covers
TIME
2008-08-04
Zhang Yimou: The Man Behind the Olympics
Variety
2002-08-26
Zhang Yimou: Hero's Journey
The Hollywood Reporter
2011-12-16
Zhang Yimou on Flowers of War and Chinese Cinema
Records & Feats
First person to direct both Summer and Winter Olympics opening ceremonies
Zhang directed the 2008 Summer Olympics and 2022 Winter Olympics opening and closing ceremonies, a unique achievement.
Highest-grossing Chinese film of 2023
Full River Red grossed over $600 million in China, becoming Zhang's most commercially successful film and the seventh highest-grossing film in China.