Following Li Xuejian and Malcolm Clarke, the BJIFF Workshop & Masterclass welcomes another major guest—Derek Yee, screenwriter, director and producer from Hong Kong, China.

　　Born in a film and television family in Hong Kong, China, Derek Yee grew up in a world of films. He made his film debut in 1977 in director Chung Sun’s work. He was then promoted by director Yuen Chor as a leading role in the Death Duel and began to get popular and rise to stardom in Hong Kong’s film and television community.

　　From 1985 on, Derek Yee started working behind the scenes as screenwriter, director and producer. He’s been good at each role with outstanding works. He directed his first feature film The Lunatics in 1986, and it was nominated for the 6th Hong Kong Film Awards for Best Film, Best Director and Best Screenplay. His film C'est la vie, mon chéri (1993) won the 13th Hong Kong Film Awards for Best Film, Best Director and Best Screenplay.

　　

　　Derek Yee

　　Derek Yee is also an excellent producer with well-rated films such as Double Tap directed by Chi-Leung Law, and July Rhapsody directed by Ann Hui. 

　　Derek Yee has perfectly transformed his filmmaking identity from actor to behind-the scenes roles. Geographically, he seized the opportunity and expanded the Chinese mainland market with his rich experience gained in the booming era of Hong Kong films. From Triple Tap and The Great Magician that combined efforts from talents and teams in Hong Kong and Chinese mainland, to I Am Somebody about grassroots figures and In Search of Lost Time shortlisted for the Competition Section of the 12th BJIFF “Tiantan Award”, he never stops experimenting with new ways of creation, and cooperation with new teams. 

　　

　　

　　Film In Search of Lost Time

　　As the Workshop & Masterclass, Derek Yee and director Li Yuhe, Wang Xuebo and Zhao Ye will have an in-depth conversation based on the theme of “Versatile Creators with Multiple Identities” and discuss Derek Yee’s transformation of roles. Curator Yang Yang will serve as the guest moderator. 

　　Li Yuhe, director and screenwriter. He graduated from directing major at Beijing Film Academy, and School of Arts and Communication, Beijing Normal University. In 2017, his debut film Absurd Accident, directed and written by him, was nominated for the 19th Shanghai International Film Festival Asian New Talent Award for Best Screenplay, screened in the Focus on China section of the 73rd Venice International Film Festival, and named the winner of Special Recommendation Award at the Workshop for Promotion and Distribution of Films by Newcomer Directors in China and Overseas of the Facing China event of the 70th Festival de Cannes. The web crime suspense series The Obsession directed by him in 2020 will be released soon.

　　

　　Li Yuhe

　　Wang Xuebo, director and producer. His directorial film Knife in the Clear Water won the New Currents Award at the 21st Busan International Film Festival, and the NETPAC Award and Special Jury Mention for Cinematography at the 36th Hawaii International Film Festival; his production Tharlo was selected for the Horizons section at the 72nd Venice International Film Festival, and Free and Easy won the World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Cinematic Vision at the 33rd Sundance Film Festival

　　

　　Wang Xuebo

　　Zhao Ye, director graduated from Beijing Film Academy. His directorial work Jalainur (2008) won the FIPRESCI Award at the 13th Busan International Film Festival, and the 12th Shanghai International Film Festival Asian New Talent Award for Best Director. His directorial film Last Chestnuts (2010) served as the opening film for the Nara International Film Festival, Japan. The Crosscurrent (2016), in which he worked on production design, won the Silver Bear for Outstanding Artistic Contribution at the 66th Berlin International Film Festival.

　　

　　Zhao Ye

　　Yang Yang graduated from Peking University with a bachelor's degree in French Language and Literature, and from Free University of Brussels, Belgium with a master degree in Art Management. In 2012, she served as a jury member for the “Teddy Award” at the 62nd Berlin International Film Festival. Since 2013, she has served as the program and promotion manager and deputy director of Broadway Cinematheque MOMA. During this period, she has planned and hosted dozens of screening activities for domestic and foreign films and participated in the initiation and foundation of the Nationwide Alliance of Arthouse Cinemas (NAAC) and the screening planning and exchanges of the BJIFF.

　　

　　Yang Yang