Sylvia Chang (born 21 July 1953) is a Taiwanese actress, singer, director, screenwriter, and producer.

Sylvia Chang
張艾嘉
Chang at the 37th Tokyo International Film Festival in October 2024
Born (1953-07-21) 21 July 1953 (age 72)
Other nameZhang Aijia
OccupationsActress, writer, director, singer, producer
Years active1973–present
Spouses
Bob Liu
(m. 1978; div. 1984)
[1]
Billy Wang
(m. 1991)
Children1
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese張艾嘉
Simplified Chinese张艾嘉
Hanyu PinyinZhāng Àijiā
JyutpingZoeng1 Ngaai6gaa1

Early life

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Chang was born in Chiayi, Taiwan. She dropped out of school when she was 16 and started her career as a radio DJ.[2] When she was 18 years old she acted in her first film.[3]

Career

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Chang acted in her first film, The Tattooed Dragon (龍虎金剛) (1973), at the age of 18.[4] Chang often attempted to do her own stunts in the four-part film series Aces Go Places.[5]

She stated in an interview with film editor Clarence Tsui, "I still think Hong Kong's film industry is male-dominated".[6] She also believes that "There aren't many male filmmakers who would write scripts for women".[6] She helped write the script for Run Papa Run,[7] based on the novel by Benny Li Shuan Yan,[8] that follows a man who belongs to the Triad and the relationships he has with his mother, wife, and daughter.[4] Chang said, "I thought why don't I explore the gentler side of men".

Chang first began performing in theatre productions more than 30 years ago. She returned to the stage in the production of Design For Living (華麗上班族之生活與生存) that premiered in November 2008 and went on into 2009.[9] Chang stated in an interview, "The reason for me to take on a stage play again after 20 years is because I was lured by the director, he has invited handsome guys like Zheng Yuan Chang [sic] and David Huang into the play".[9] Critics have remarked on the versatility in her roles along with her willingness to always try for something new.[10]

Chang is also a singer and her music has become popular in karaoke,[2] where her song "The Cost of Love" is commonly sung.[2]

In the 1980s, the second film Chang directed, Passion, which she wrote and also starred in, won the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actress.[2] She has stated, "I never went to any school as a director or a filmmaker, so all my film education actually was from the set".[11]

For a time, Chang was the head producer of New Cinema City in Taiwan, but she left a few years after joining.[11] For 20 30 40, she not only played the 40-year-old woman protagonist but also wrote and directed it.[7]

In 1992, she served as a jury member at the 42nd Berlin International Film Festival.[12]

In August 2010, Chang joined the board of the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society as its vice-chair.[13]

In June 2018, she was invited to become a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.[14] In the same year, she served as a jury member at the 75th Venice International Film Festival.[15]

Critical reception

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Chang once said of her films that "I've always felt that animation or special effects shouldn't just be limited to science-fiction films and their ilk. Dramas can also play around with them".[4] One critic wrote of her: "In an industry that kisses young actresses with celebrity, then swallows them and spits them out, Chang has a sequoia's longevity. She is the only Hong Kong actress of her generation -— the early '70s —-to keep starring in movies".[3]

Chang's films have been selected to screen at the BFI London Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival, Busan International Film Festival, and Tokyo Filmex. She has served as a jury member at the Berlin International Film Festival,[12] as well as the Venice Film Festival.[15] She also holds the record for the most nominations for the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actress, with ten nominations and two wins.[16]

At the 49th Toronto International Film Festival, Chang received an honourable mention from the Platform Prize jury for her performance in the film Daughter's Daughter—the first time in the history of the award that the Platform jury has recognized an individual performer.[17][18] The film also earned Chang a nomination for Best Leading Actress at the 61st Golden Horse Awards.[19]

Personal life

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Chang married Hong Kong-based journalist Bob Liu in 1979. They divorced in 1984. Chang married Taiwanese businessman Billy Wang Jing-xiong in 1991, and they have one son, Oscar. She also has two stepsons.[1]

In July 2000, Chang's nine-year-old son Oscar was kidnapped and held for a ransom of HK $15 million.[1] The police found him after a few days, safe, and arrested the kidnappers.[20] Chang stated, "With your life, you have to move on, there's no other choice; so, out of no choice, then, it's a matter of your attitude".[11]

Philanthropy

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Chang is an advocate and a "life-long volunteer" for World Vision International,[21] the humanitarian aid, development, and advocacy organization. She created an advertisement, sponsored by World Vision, to promote the company World Vision Advertisement on YouTube. She is a member of and advocate for the World Vision-sponsored "30 Hour Famine."

Filmography

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Sylvia Chang at the 2011 Hong Kong International Film Festival

As actress

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As filmmaker

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Year Title Role Notes
1981Once Upon a TimeCo-director, co-writer
1986PassionDirector, writer
1987Yellow StoryDirector
1989All About Ah-LongCo-writer (story)
1991Sisters of the World UniteDirector, co-writer, producer
1992Mary from BeijingDirector, writer
1992Three SummersCo-writer, producer
1994In BetweenDirector, writer, producer
  • also known as Conjugal Affairs or The New Age of Living Together
  • segment "Unwed Mother"
1995Siao YuDirector, co-writer
1995I Want to Go on LivingCo-writer
1996Tonight Nobody Goes HomeDirector, co-writer
1998BishonenExecutive producer
1999Tempting HeartDirector, co-writer
2002Princess DDirector, co-writer, producer
200420 30 40Director, co-writer
2008Run Papa RunDirector, co-writer
2007Happy BirthdayCo-writer
201110+10Writersegment "The Dusk of the Gods"
2012My WayExecutive producerDocumentary
2015Murmur of the HeartsDirector, co-writer
2015OfficeWriter
2017Love EducationDirector, co-writer
2021HeroDirectorsegment "Hong Kong"

Discography

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Kolin Records (歌林)
  • 1973 Never Say Goodbye 別說再見
  • 1974 Tearfully Say to You 含淚向你說
  • 1977 Farewell (惜別)
  • 1980 Maybe / We Were Young (也许 / 我們曾經年輕)
Rock Records
  • 1981 Childhood (童年)
  • 1985 Busy and Blind (忙與盲)
  • 1986 Do You Love Me? (你愛我嗎)
  • 1987 Xi shuo (細說), lit. "clarify" or "elaborate"
  • 1992 The Price of Love (愛的代價)

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Nominated work Result
197613th Golden Horse AwardsBest Supporting ActressPosterity and PerplexityWon
198017th Golden Horse AwardsBest ActressWhite JasmineNominated
198118th Golden Horse AwardsBest ActressMy GrandfatherWon
19832nd Hong Kong Film AwardsBest ActressAces Go PlacesNominated
19854th Hong Kong Film AwardsBest ActressShanghai BluesNominated
198623rd Golden Horse AwardsBest Feature Film PassionNominated
Best DirectorNominated
Best ActressWon
Best Original ScreenplayNominated
19876th Hong Kong Film AwardsBest ActressWon
198926th Golden Horse AwardsBest ActressFull Moon in New YorkNominated
19909th Hong Kong Film AwardsBest ActressEight Taels of GoldNominated
All About Ah-LongNominated
199110th Hong Kong Film AwardsBest ActressQueen of Temple StreetNominated
199532nd Golden Horse AwardsBest Feature FilmSiao YuNominated
Best Adapted ScreenplayNominated
Asia-Pacific Film FestivalBest FilmWon
Best ScreenplayWon
199633rd Golden Horse AwardsBest Feature FilmTonight Nobody Goes HomeNominated
Best Original ScreenplayNominated
Asia-Pacific Film FestivalBest ScreenplayWon
19991st Jutra AwardsBest ActressThe Red ViolinNominated
36th Golden Horse AwardsBest Feature FilmTempting HeartNominated
200019th Hong Kong Film AwardsBest DirectorNominated
Best ScreenplayWon
200138th Golden Horse AwardsBest ActressForever and EverNominated
20027th Golden Bauhinia AwardsBest ActressWon
21st Hong Kong Film AwardsBest ActressWon
2nd Chinese Film Media AwardsBest ActressNominated
Asian Film Critics Association AwardsBest ActressWon
200441st Golden Horse AwardsBest ActressRice RhapsodyNominated
54th Berlin International Film FestivalGolden Bear20 30 40Nominated
200524th Hong Kong Film AwardsBest ActressNominated
5th Chinese Film Media AwardsBest FilmNominated
Best DirectorNominated
Best ActressNominated
Asian Film Critics Association AwardsBest ActressWon
Newport Beach Film FestivalBest ActressRice RhapsodyWon
200625th Hong Kong Film AwardsBest ActressNominated
200726th Hong Kong Film AwardsBest ScreenplayHappy BirthdayNominated
200845th Golden Horse AwardsBest DirectorRun Papa RunNominated
200928th Hong Kong Film AwardsBest ScreenplayNominated
Hong Kong Film Critics Society AwardsBest ScreenplayNominated
201047th Golden Horse AwardsBest ActressBuddha MountainNominated
201212th Chinese Film Media AwardsBest Supporting ActressNominated
201552nd Golden Horse AwardsBest ActressOfficeNominated
Best Adapted ScreenplayNominated
201635th Hong Kong Film AwardsBest ActressNominated
Hong Kong Film Critics Society AwardsBest DirectorMurmur of the HeartsNominated
Best ScreenplayWon
Best ActressOfficeNominated
16th Chinese Film Media AwardsBest Supporting ActressMountains May DepartNominated
201754th Golden Horse AwardsBest Feature FilmLove EducationNominated
Best DirectorNominated
Best Leading ActressNominated
Best Original ScreenplayNominated
201812th Asian Film Awards[23]Best DirectorNominated
Best ActressWon
Best ScreenplayNominated
Lifetime Achievement AwardN/aHonored
37th Hong Kong Film Awards Best Director Love Education Nominated
Best Actress Nominated
Best Screenplay Won
9th China Film Director's Guild Awards[24] Best Actress Nominated
Best Screenwriter Won
Best Hong Kong / Taiwan Director Won
23rd Huading Awards Best Director Nominated
Best Actress Nominated
29th Hong Kong Film Directors' Guild Awards Best Director Won
18th Chinese Film Media Awards Best Actress Nominated
Best Screenplay Nominated
Best Director Nominated
25th Beijing College Student Film Festival Best Screenplay Won
25th Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards Best Screenplay Nominated
Best Director Won
202259th Golden Horse Awards[25]Best Leading ActressA Light Never Goes OutWon
202329th Hong Kong Film Critics Society AwardsBest ActressNominated
41st Hong Kong Film Awards[26]Best ActressNominated
2024 49th Toronto International Film Festival Platform Award – Honourable Mention[18] Daughter's Daughter Won
61st Golden Horse Awards[19] Best Leading Actress Nominated
2025 18th Asian Film Awards[27] Best Actress Nominated
27th Taipei Film Awards[28] Best Actress Pending
30th Busan International Film Festival[29] Camellia Award Women in film industry Honoured

References

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  1. 1 2 3 Fraser, Niall (13 July 2000). "Star's kidnapped son locked in suitcase". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Sylvia Chang". English.cri.cn. Archived from the original on 6 March 2010.
  3. 1 2 "Sylvia Rising". TIME. 18 October 1999. Archived from the original on 27 December 2011.
  4. 1 2 3 "The Collaborator : An interview with Sylvia Chang". Far East Film Festival. 3 May 2014.
  5. "Q&A: Sylvia Chang". TIME. 18 October 1999. Archived from the original on 27 December 2011.
  6. 1 2 "Filmmaker Sylvia Chang defies gender rules". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021.
  7. 1 2 Sylvia Chang Archived 2 July 2017 at the Wayback Machine in the Internet Movie Database
  8. Run Papa Run, IMDB
  9. 1 2 "Starnews: Edward Lam is using Joe Cheng to 'lure' Sylvia Chang to appear on the stage play again". AsianFanaticFans. 20 October 2008. Archived from the original on 3 April 2010. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
  10. "Sylvia Chang: from Actress to Director". China Daily. 21 April 2004.
  11. 1 2 3 "Chinese actress/director Sylvia Chang interview Transcript". CNN. 27 October 2004.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  12. 1 2 "Juries". Berlinale. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  13. Frater, Patrick (26 August 2010). "Chang joins HKIFFS board". Film Business Asia. Archived from the original on 29 August 2010. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  14. "ACADEMY INVITES 928 TO MEMBERSHIP". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. 25 June 2018. Archived from the original on 1 August 2020. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  15. 1 2 "Biennale Cinema 2018 | The five Juries of the 75th Venice Film Festival". La Biennale di Venezia. 2 August 2018. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  16. "全才影后張艾嘉的八件事,出身名門,華語影壇的芭芭拉史翠珊,金馬獎提名紀錄保持人". Marie Claire 美麗佳人 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 17 April 2023. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  17. Pond, Steve (15 September 2024). "'The Life of Chuck' Wins Toronto Film Festival's People's Choice Award". TheWrap. Archived from the original on 15 September 2024. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  18. 1 2 "TIFF announces its 2024 award winners". TIFF. 15 September 2024. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  19. 1 2 Frater, Patrick (3 October 2024). "'Dead Talents Society' Heads Golden Horse Film Awards Nominations". Variety. Archived from the original on 3 October 2024. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  20. The Straits Times. "Sylvia Chang's son "beaten by abductors' - Worldnews.com". Article.wn.com. Archived from the original on 5 March 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
  21. "Joy of Sponsorship". Worldvision.org.hk. Archived from the original on 17 May 2012. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
  22. Vivarelli, Nick (20 July 2020). "Venice Film Festival to Honor Tilda Swinton, Ann Hui With Golden Lions for Career Achievement". variety.com. Archived from the original on 3 March 2021. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  23. "Asian Film Awards: 'Youth' Wins Top Prize From 'Demon Cat'". Variety. 17 March 2018. Archived from the original on 17 March 2018. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  24. "导演协会年度表彰《嘉年华》《芳华》 周冬雨影后". Sina (in Chinese). 22 April 2018. Archived from the original on 22 April 2018. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  25. "HK film wins four awards at Golden Horse". Taipei Times. 21 November 2022. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  26. "See All The Winners At The 2023 Hong Kong Film Awards". Vogue Hong Kong. Archived from the original on 8 February 2024. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  27. Choi, Jimin (11 January 2025). "'Exhuma', 'Twilight Of The Warriors' lead Asian Film Awards nominations 2025". ScreenDaily. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
  28. "第27屆台北電影獎完整入圍名單! 《鬼才之道》入圍14項大贏家". ETToday (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 15 May 2025.
  29. "Sylvia Chang to receive Camellia Award at Busan Film Festival". The Taipei Times. 27 August 2025. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
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