Jacob Cheung Chi-leung

Biography

Jacob Cheung Chi-leung is a Hong Kong film director, screenwriter and actor, born on 6 September 1959. He received his primary education at Da Heng Dong Christian School and later at Xin Wu Secondary School, graduating in 1973. In 1982 he graduated from the tenth session of TVB's artist training programme, beginning his career as an assistant director behind the scenes, then working as assistant supervisor on the film "Young Mr. Wei Wei" at Cineasia. He served as producer on "Help from Heaven" and, recommended by Eric Tsang, joined Gar Ho to work as planner on "Mr. Vampire". In 1988 he directed his first film "The Last Eunuch of China" and later founded DreamWorks Film Production Company as producer and director. Cheung's works are mostly non-mainstream films known as literary films. He achieved major success with "Beyond the Sunset" in 1989, winning Best Film and Best Screenplay at the 9th Hong Kong Film Awards. In 1992 he accomplished an extraordinary feat with "Cage People", winning three awards at the 12th Hong Kong Film Awards: Best Film, Best Director and Best Screenplay. In 2006 he directed the China-Japan-Korea co-produced ancient war film "A Battle of Wits", which received significant critical acclaim and won Best Film at the Hong Kong Golden Bauhinia Awards, while also receiving seven nominations at the 26th Hong Kong Film Awards including Best Director. In 2013 he directed the 3D version of "The White Haired Witch of Lunar Kingdom", released in 2014.