Jia Zhangke finds fame outside of China

Jia Zhangke's success at the Cannes Film Festival is further testimony that trends in Chinese film are changing. The director is one of a handful of Chinese directors who have found fame outside of China.

Jia's interest in film began in the early 90s when he was an art student at Shanxi University. On a whim he attended a screening of Chinese director Chen Kaige's masterpiece "Yellow Earth".

According to Jia, it was life-changing and inspired him to eventually pursue a career as a director.

Soon he began producing student films, but the film that eventually found him fame was "Xiao Wu". The story centres around a pickpocket who tries to seek respect from others. It has Jia's signature all over it, reflecting "authentic" Chinese life.

Some of his other films, including " The World", bring us a broad view of migrant workers living in the capital.

Jia said his own personal life experiences explain why his camera always points towards ordinary people.

Jia Zhangke said, "In 1993, I myself came to Beijing from Fenyang, a small town in western province, Shanxi, who left the soil to make a living in the big city we're called the drifting generation. The movie tells what the drifting generation are facing with the rapid economic development the problems, pressure, hope and pain."

As one of the leading figures of the "Sixth Generation" movement of Chinese cinema, Jia's works has been popular in major international film festivals. The most notable is "Still Life" which claimed the Venice Film Festival's top award, the Golden Lion, in 2006.

His other work, including "Unknown Pleasures" and "24 City", have also been screened at previous Cannes Film Festivals.

Jia Zhangke said, "We sixth generation of directors always choose a personal angle, a personal value to observe the society and observe the people. I think China needs personal experience and personal memories, which are very precious to art."

For Jia and other Chinese directors, showing true images that accurately reflect the country and its people is the best way of reviving Chinese cinema and keeping it in tune in with the rest of the world.