5th Generation Project

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Created by thoughtrepellent.

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All films I have seen in my exploration of the 5th Generation, the most influential cohort of mainland Chinese filmmakers.

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1 - Directors from Beijing Film Academy Class of 1982
1a. Director course (1-151)
Chen Kaige (20), Tian Zhuangzhuang (15), Zhang Jianya* (15), Wu Ziniu (12), Peng Xiaolian (11), Xia Gang (11), Li Shaohong (11), Zhang Junzhao (9), Liu Miaomiao (8), Hu Mei (8), Jin Tao (7), Jiang Haiyang (5), Wang Ziyin (4), Jiang Weihe* (4), Xie Xiaojing* (4), Cui Xiaoqin* (4), Bai Hong (3), Li Ziyu (3), Li Xiaojun* (2), Zhou Wei (2), Ying Qi (1), Li Shaoxu (1), Zhao Jin (1)

1b. Cinematographer course (152-227)
Zhang Yimou (28), Lu Yue (7), Xiao Feng (7), Gu Changwei (7), Mu Deyuan (5), Zhang Li (4), Hou Yong (4), Xing Shumin (3), Wang Xiaolie (3), Liang Ming* (2), Sun Cheng (2), Wang Lianping (1), Zheng Ming (1), Shen Xinghao (1), Zhi Lei (1), Zhao Fei (1)

1c. Art department course (228-277)
Huo Jianqi (13), Feng Xiaoning (11), He Qun (8), Yin Li (6), Zhang Bingjian (2), Ma Huiwu (2), Shi Jiandu (2), Han Gang (1), Liu Yichuan (1), Li Jingsong (1), Hao Bing (1), Jiang Xiaozhen (1), Wang Honghai (1)

1d. Sound design course (278-288)
Ning Ying (11)

1e. Acting course (289-302)
Chen Guoxing* (13), Zhang Tielin (1), Jia Dongshuo (1)

1f. Animation course (303-330)
Ai Weiwei (14), Liu Zuofeng (8), Hu Yihong (3), Chen Sanwei (1), Li Geng (1), Zhang Xiaoan (1)

2 - Other Directors
2a. Associated figures who directed a feature in the 1980s (331-448)
Huang Jianxin (16), Zhou Xiaowen (12), Sun Zhou (11), Xu Geng (9), Mai Lisi & Sai Fu (9), He Ping (8), Zhang Zeming (5), Wang Jixing (5) , Song Jiangbo (5), Yu Xiaoyang (5), Dai Sijie (4), Zhao Weiheng (4), Ye Daying (4), Yang Fengliang* (4), Han Sanping** (2), Chen Lizhou (2), Xie Hong (2), Chen Guojun (2), Zheng Hua (2), Kang Jianning (2), Cheng Ke (2), Shi Chenfeng* (2) , Guo Fangfang** (2), Pan Peicheng (1), Weng Luming (1), Li Xiaolong (1), Fan Yuan (1), Yan Xiaozhui (1), Chen Lu** (1)

2b. Associated figures who didn’t direct a feature until after the 1980s (449-508)
Feng Xiaogang (18), Yang Yazhou* (9), Jiang Wen (6), Lei Xianhe* (4), Chen Peisi (3), Qi Jian (3), Gu Rong (2), Wang Xingjun (2), Lu Xiaowei (2), Zheng Xiaolong (2), Dong Zhenye (2), Liu Baolin** (2), Song Zhao (1), Zhang Xiaomin (1), Li Xian (1), Guo Lin (1), Wang Xinsheng (1), Lu Wei (1), Wang Shuo (1), Zeng Nianping (1), Zhu Shimao (1), Zhang Rui (1), Yi Huhewula (1), Jiang Hao** (1)

3 - One-off films related to the movement
3a. Related narrative films (509-510)
- The Last Emperor (1987, Bernardo Bertolucci)
- Buddha’s Lock (1987, Yim Ho)

3b. Documentaries about the Fifth Generation movement or specific Fifth Generation films (511-516)
- New Chinese Cinema (1989, Tony Rayns)
- Arena: Zhang Yimou (1993, Christopher Bruce)
- Zhang Yimou's "Shadow" (2018, Wang Peng)
- A New Appreciation of Chinese Cinema: Tony Rayns on Red Sorghum (2018, Gu Pengyuan)
- The Movie For The Next Century: Tony Rayns on The Horse Thief (2019, Gu Pengyuan)
- An Innovative Feature Film Debut: Tony Rayns on The Black Cannon Incident (2019, Gu Pengyuan)

4. Television series / adjacent filmmakers working only in television (517-529)
- Zhen San (1986, Lin Danqing, 10 episodes)
- The Temptation of Tibet (1988, Liu Lang, feature)
- A Native of Beijing in New York (1993, Feng Xiaogang & Zheng Xiaolong, 21 episodes)
- Haier Brothers (1995, Liu Zuofeng, 212 episodes)
- Yongzheng Dynasty (1999, Hu Mei, 44 episodes)
- Palace of Desire (2000, Li Shaohong, 40 episodes)
- Towards the Republic (2001, Zhang Li, 60 episodes)
- The Emperor in Han Dynasty (2005, Hu Mei, 58 episodes)
- Ming Dynasty 1566 (2007, Zhang Li, 46 episodes)
- Golden Wedding (2007, Zheng Xiaolong, 50 episodes)
- Empresses in the Palace (2011, Zheng Xiaolong, 76 episodes)
- Red Sorghum (2014, Zheng Xiaolong, 60 episodes)
- Palace of Devotion (2021, Li Shaohong, 61 episodes)

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* at least one film in this list from this director appears in another section due to having multiple 5th gen directors
** all films shown in this list are co-directed by another list director, so this director doesn’t have their own section

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Information on this list about directors is more trustworthy than the info on IMDb. If you’re wondering why a director is absent, it’s likely because they are actually a fourth generation director.

Missing at present:
Lugu Lake (1993, Kang Jianning)

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Last updated on Jan 16, 2024;