Hsiao Ya-Chuan

Taiwanese filmmaker and screenwriter Hsiao Ya-Chuan has been active in Taiwan’s independent film scene since the 2000s. In his early years, he delved into video art creation while studying at the National Academy of Arts (now Taipei National University of the Arts). In 1990, he won the Non-commercial First Prize at the Zhongshi Film Awards with About Sunlight, About Water, About Decay, and then gained recognition at the Golden Seed Awards with Two and a Half Hours and Countdown Contract. These experimental works not only showcased his deep interest in visual art but also laid the foundation for his later career in cinema. In 1996, his creation Stuck There explored the social atmosphere during the Taiwan Strait Crisis, demonstrating his keen insight and expressive ability on contemporary issues, earning him the Golden Harvest Awards for Best Experimental Video.

Hsiao Ya-Chuan’s works are known for their delicate style, often using subtle methods to express emotions, with a narrative approach that has literary qualities, allowing his films to stand out in the film industry. He continues to develop in advertising, commercial short films and various forms of visual media.

In 2000, he released his first feature film, Mirror Image, which won the Best New Director Award at the Taipei Film Festival and was selected for the Directors’ Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival. The film’s unconventional style earned international recognition from critics. In 2010, his second feature film, Taipei Exchanges, explored urban life and destiny, winning the Audience Choice Award at the Taipei Film Festival. His third feature film, Father to Son (2018), depicted the story of a father and son, outlining Taiwan’s socio-economic changes, and was nominated for the Rotterdam Film Festival, winning Best Director at the Taipei Film Festival. In 2023, he won the Best Director Award at the 60th Golden Horse Awards with Old Fox.

December 20, 1967