Zhang Yimou
© AFP/File Peter KramerROME (AFP) - "Zhang is the only director in the world to have won all the most important prizes at the Mostra of Venice in less than 10 years," the Biennale di Venezia said in a communique.
"As with the festival's 50th anniversary in 1982 when the jury was headed by Bernardo Bertolucci, for the Mostra's 75th the jurors will all be directors without exception," it said.
Zhang's "Raise the Red Lantern" starring Gong Li won a raft of awards in the early 1990s, including a Silver Lion at the Venice festival, known as La Mostra. His "The Story of Qiu Ju" won Venice's coveted Golden Lion in 1992, as did "Not One Less" (1999).
"Venice is the festival I've most taken part in. It has been there that I have received the most recognition and felt the strongest emotions," Zhang wrote to Marco Muller, director of the event, in a letter released to the media. "It's a blessed land."
The 64th edition of the prestigious moviefest is set for August 29-September 8 in the lagoon city.
The Venice film festival, launched in 1932, was not staged during World War II and several festivals were held without films in competition.
Born in China on November 14, 1951, Zhang left school during the Cultural Revolution and worked for three years on a farm, followed by a seven-year stint at a textile mill.
In 1978, he entered the Beijing Central Film Academy after a long struggle to be admitted because he was overage.
He won early acclaim as an actor for his role in "Old Well" (1987), which garnered him the best actor award at the Tokyo film festival.
The first work he directed, "Red Sorghum" (1987) starring Gong, won Berlin's Golden Bear among other awards. Other notable works would follow, including "To Live" which won in Cannes in 1994, and "Hero" (2003).
©AFP