Dayyan Eng
Encyclopedia
Dayyan Eng, known as Wu Shixian in China (Born in Taiwan
in 1975), is a Chinese-American filmmaker. He studied film arts at the University of Washington
and transferred to the Beijing Film Academy
, where he finished his undergraduate studies in directing.
In 2001, he wrote and directed Bus 44
starring Chinese film star Gong Beibi
. The film premiered and won awards at the 2001 Venice Film Festival
and 2002 Sundance Film Festival
, and was invited to 2002 Cannes Film Festival
"Directors' Fortnight
" - becoming the first Chinese short film to be invited in all three festivals' history. The film was covered extensively in the Chinese media and was critically acclaimed in both China and Europe and gained TV and theatrical distribution in territories worldwide.
In 2005, Dayyan wrote and directed a Chinese independent feature film
Waiting Alone
, starring an ensemble cast of Chinese stars including Xia Yu
, Gong Beibi
, Li Bingbing
, and featuring cameos from some of Asia's most well-known actors including Chow Yun-fat
. The film has been called one of 2005 "best films" by over 50 media. Waiting Alone became a hit after its September 2005 domestic China wide-release, and went on to receive 3 nominations (including Best Picture) at the Chinese academy awards (Golden Rooster Awards
) -- the first ever in the history of the awards by a foreign director.
Eng recently wrote and directed Inseparable
starring Kevin Spacey
, Daniel Wu
, Gong Beibi
, Yan Ni, and Peter Stormare
. The dramedy is due out in 2011.
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
in 1975), is a Chinese-American filmmaker. He studied film arts at the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
and transferred to the Beijing Film Academy
Beijing Film Academy
Beijing Film Academy is a coeducational state-run higher education institution in Beijing, China. The film school is the largest institution specialised in the tertiary education for film and television production in Asia...
, where he finished his undergraduate studies in directing.
In 2001, he wrote and directed Bus 44
Bus 44
Bus 44 written & directed by Chinese-American filmmaker Dayyan Eng in 2001, the short film stars Chinese actress Gong Beibi and Wu Chao. The film won awards at Venice Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival, and was invited to Cannes Film Festival; the first time a Chinese short film won in all...
starring Chinese film star Gong Beibi
Gong Beibi
Gong Beibi is a Chinese film actress. Beginning her career as a child actress, she later graduated from the prestigious Central Academy of Drama where she gained fame and popularity among young audiences in China after starring in several popular TV series and feature films in both China and Hong...
. The film premiered and won awards at the 2001 Venice Film Festival
Venice Film Festival
The Venice International Film Festival is the oldest international film festival in the world. Founded by Count Giuseppe Volpi in 1932 as the "Esposizione Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica", the festival has since taken place every year in late August or early September on the island of the...
and 2002 Sundance Film Festival
Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
, and was invited to 2002 Cannes Film Festival
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
"Directors' Fortnight
Directors' Fortnight
Directors' Fortnight is an independent section held in parallel to the Cannes Film Festival. The section was created in 1969 after the events of May 1968, in which the Cannes festival was canceled in solidarity with striking workers....
" - becoming the first Chinese short film to be invited in all three festivals' history. The film was covered extensively in the Chinese media and was critically acclaimed in both China and Europe and gained TV and theatrical distribution in territories worldwide.
In 2005, Dayyan wrote and directed a Chinese independent feature film
Feature film
In the film industry, a feature film is a film production made for initial distribution in theaters and being the main attraction of the screening, rather than a short film screened before it; a full length movie...
Waiting Alone
Waiting Alone
Waiting Alone is a 2005 Chinese romantic comedy film written & directed by Chinese-American filmmaker Dayyan Eng , depicting the lives of a group of hip, affluent, twenty-something Beijing residents. The film features Chinese movie stars Xia Yu, Gong Beibi and Li Bingbing...
, starring an ensemble cast of Chinese stars including Xia Yu
Xia Yu
Xia Yu is a Chinese actor.-Biography:He was born in Qingdao, Shandong Province. He was initially discovered by Jiang Wen during his semi-autobiographical film In the Heat of the Sun . Xia was chosen partly because of facial resemblance to a young Jiang...
, Gong Beibi
Gong Beibi
Gong Beibi is a Chinese film actress. Beginning her career as a child actress, she later graduated from the prestigious Central Academy of Drama where she gained fame and popularity among young audiences in China after starring in several popular TV series and feature films in both China and Hong...
, Li Bingbing
Li Bingbing
Li Bingbing is a Chinese actress and singer.-Life and career:Li had no intention of becoming an actress initially and enrolled specifically in a high school for prospective school teachers...
, and featuring cameos from some of Asia's most well-known actors including Chow Yun-fat
Chow Yun-Fat
Chow Yun-fat, SBS is an actor from Hong Kong. He is best known in Asia for his collaboration with filmmaker John Woo in heroic bloodshed genre films A Better Tomorrow, The Killer, and Hard Boiled; and to the West for his role as Li Mu-bai in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon...
. The film has been called one of 2005 "best films" by over 50 media. Waiting Alone became a hit after its September 2005 domestic China wide-release, and went on to receive 3 nominations (including Best Picture) at the Chinese academy awards (Golden Rooster Awards
Golden Rooster Awards
China Golden Rooster Film Festival also known as Golden Rooster Awards are the most prestigious awards in film given in mainland China, equivalent the China's Academy Awards. The awards are given annually, beginning in 1981. The name of the award came from the year of the Rooster in 1981...
) -- the first ever in the history of the awards by a foreign director.
Eng recently wrote and directed Inseparable
Inseparable (film)
Inseparable is an upcoming black comedy film written and directed by Dayyan Eng. The film stars two-time Oscar winner Kevin Spacey and Chinese stars Daniel Wu and Gong Beibi...
starring Kevin Spacey
Kevin Spacey
Kevin Spacey, CBE is an American actor, director, screenwriter, producer, and crooner. He grew up in California, and began his career as a stage actor during the 1980s, before being cast in supporting roles in film and television...
, Daniel Wu
Daniel Wu
Daniel Yin-Cho Wu is a Hong Kong actor, director and producer. Since his film debut in 1998, he has been featured in over 40 films. Wu has been called "the young Andy Lau," and is known as a "flexible and distinctive" leading actor in the Chinese-language film industry.-Early life:Wu was born in...
, Gong Beibi
Gong Beibi
Gong Beibi is a Chinese film actress. Beginning her career as a child actress, she later graduated from the prestigious Central Academy of Drama where she gained fame and popularity among young audiences in China after starring in several popular TV series and feature films in both China and Hong...
, Yan Ni, and Peter Stormare
Peter Stormare
is a Swedish film, stage, voice and television actor as well as a theatrical director, playwright and musician.- Early life :...
. The dramedy is due out in 2011.
Selected filmography
As Writer, Director, Producer:- InseparableInseparable (film)Inseparable is an upcoming black comedy film written and directed by Dayyan Eng. The film stars two-time Oscar winner Kevin Spacey and Chinese stars Daniel Wu and Gong Beibi...
(Chinese: 形影不离; Pinyin: Xing Ying Bu Li) (2011) - Waiting AloneWaiting AloneWaiting Alone is a 2005 Chinese romantic comedy film written & directed by Chinese-American filmmaker Dayyan Eng , depicting the lives of a group of hip, affluent, twenty-something Beijing residents. The film features Chinese movie stars Xia Yu, Gong Beibi and Li Bingbing...
(Chinese: 独自等待; Pinyin: Dú Zì Děng Dài) (2005) - Bus 44Bus 44Bus 44 written & directed by Chinese-American filmmaker Dayyan Eng in 2001, the short film stars Chinese actress Gong Beibi and Wu Chao. The film won awards at Venice Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival, and was invited to Cannes Film Festival; the first time a Chinese short film won in all...
(Chinese: 车四十四; Pinyin: Che Si Shi Si) (2001)
Awards
- 2005: Golden Rooster Award - Best Picture Nomination (Waiting Alone)
- 2005: Beijing Film Festival - Best First Feature Award (Waiting Alone)
- 2001: Venice Film FestivalVenice Film FestivalThe Venice International Film Festival is the oldest international film festival in the world. Founded by Count Giuseppe Volpi in 1932 as the "Esposizione Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica", the festival has since taken place every year in late August or early September on the island of the...
- Special Jury Award (Bus 44) - 2002: Sundance Film FestivalSundance Film FestivalThe Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
- Jury Honorable Mention (Bus 44) - 2002: Cannes Film FestivalCannes Film FestivalThe Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
- Directors' Fortnight (Bus 44) - 2002: Florida Film Festival - Grand Jury Award (Bus 44)