Asian Directors

Click on the pictures to check out the best directors from each country.

Other countries will be added as we add director’s profiles of that nationality.

A Brief History of Asian Cinema

The history of cinema in Asia is as diverse and rich as the continent itself, encompassing a wide range of cultures, languages, and cinematic styles. The journey began in the early 20th century with the emergence of film industries in countries like Japan, India, and China.

Japanese Cinema

In Japan, cinema was greatly influenced by traditional art forms like Kabuki and Noh theatre, leading to the development of unique narrative styles. Directors like Yasujiro Ozu and Akira Kurosawa gained international recognition for their distinct storytelling techniques and aesthetic sensibilities. Kurosawa’s “Seven Samurai” and Ozu’s “Tokyo Story” are still hailed as masterpieces and some of the best films ever made.

Indian Cinema

In India, the cinema industry took off with Dadasaheb Phalke’s “Raja Harishchandra”, the first Indian feature film. The Indian film industry, particularly Bollywood, has since become one of the largest centres of film production in the world. Legendary directors like Satyajit Ray, whose “Apu Trilogy” (1955-1959) brought Indian cinema to global acclaim, and Ritwik Ghatak, with his powerful social dramas, played pivotal roles in shaping the artistic landscape of Indian cinema.

Chinese Cinema

Chinese cinema, with its early beginnings in Shanghai, saw a golden age in the 1930s and 1940s with directors like Sun Yu and Wu Yonggang. However, the industry faced challenges during the political upheavals in the mid-20th century. The post-Cultural Revolution era, however, saw the rise of the Fifth Generation filmmakers like Zhang Yimou and Chen Kaige, whose films like “Red Sorghum” and “Farewell My Concubine” won international acclaim.

Modern Asian Cinema

The latter half of the 20th century also saw significant developments in other Asian countries. South Korea, for instance, experienced a cinematic renaissance in the late 1990s and early 2000s, with directors like Park Chan-wook and Bong Joon-ho who have created globally acclaimed films like “Oldboy” and “Parasite”. Similarly, the Iranian film industry gained prominence through the works of auteurs like Abbas Kiarostami and Asghar Farhadi, known for their neorealist style and deeply humanistic storytelling.

The turn of the century marked a new era for Asian cinema, with advancements in technology and globalisation leading to more diverse storytelling and international collaborations. This period saw the rise of new talents and the consolidation of regional industries, like the thriving Filipino, Thai, and Indonesian cinemas, each contributing unique perspectives and styles.

Modern directors like Hirokazu Koreeda, Apichatpong Weerasethakul, and Anurag Kashyap, among others, continue to create films that resonate with audiences worldwide, reflecting both the rich history and dynamic future of Asian cinema.