JIA Zhangke: Filmmaking Across Cultures

The second masterclass, co-presented by Rolex and AFAA, was hosted by Carlo Chatrian, Director of the National Museum of Cinema in Turin, Italy. Supported by Rolex as part of its Perpetual Arts Initiative, the session featured internationally renowned Chinese director and Rolex Testimonee Jia Zhangke, who reflected on his creative journey and his approach to the art of cinema.

Reflecting on his long-standing collaboration with actress ZHAO Tao, JIA began with a laugh: “Maybe I can share something personal.”. He recalled searching for the lead actress for Platform and struggling to find the right candidate, until he attended a dance class at a university in Shanxi and noticed the teacher leading the class — ZHAO Tao.

JIA also shared a memorable moment from the production: “The costume team intentionally made the clothes look very old — even a little dirty — to reflect the period. But ZHAO said, ‘Clothes can look old, but they shouldn’t look dirty. People in every era have dignity.’”. The remark deeply moved him and prompted him to rethink how characters and historical details are portrayed. ZHAO has since become a key collaborator across many of his films.

Speaking about international collaborations, JIA noted that working with film crews in France and elsewhere became an important learning experience. “In the past I was the kind of person who acted first and figured things out later. But in a more mature production system, you must learn to work with planning and structure.”. He also recalled working with French cinematographer Eric GAUTIER. “My English wasn’t very good, so I even hired a translator. But later I realised we only needed about ten words to communicate.”. For JIA, filmmakers across cultures share a universal language — the language of cinema.

When asked about the rapid rise of AI technology, JIA revealed that he has already begun experimenting with AI-generated imagery, producing several AI short films in recent years. “There’s no need to rush to protest it or reject it. When a new technology appears, we should first try to understand it rather than immediately define it.”. His remarks reflected a creative mindset open to change — echoing the spirit that has long defined his films, which closely observe the transformations of contemporary society.