Peter Chan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Peter Chan
Chan in 2011
Born	(1962-11-28) 28 November 1962 (age 62) British Hong Kong
Partner(s)	Sandra Ng
Children	Jilian Chan (daughter)
Awards	Hong Kong Film Awards – Best Director 1997 Comrades, Almost A Love Story 2008 The Warlords Best Film 1997 Comrades, Almost A Love Story 2008 The Warlords 2010 Bodyguards and Assassins Golden Bauhinia Awards – Best Director 1996 Comrades, Almost A Love Story Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards – Best Director 1996 Comrades, Almost A Love Story 2002 Three Golden Horse Awards – Best Director 1996 Comrades, Almost A Love Story 2005 Perhaps Love 2008 The Warlords
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	陳可辛
Simplified Chinese	陈可辛
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Chén Kěxīn Yue: Cantonese Jyutping can4 ho2 san1

Peter Ho-sun Chan (born November 28, 1962), also known as Peter Chan, is a famous filmmaker from Hong Kong. He is known for directing many different types of movies. These include funny romantic films, musical dramas, and big historical movies.

Peter Chan is one of the most important directors in Chinese cinema. He was the first director to win top awards at the Hong Kong Film Awards, the Golden Horse Awards, and the China Golden Rooster Awards.

He started his film journey in the 1980s. He worked as an assistant director and producer for big names like John Woo and Jackie Chan. His first movie as a director was Alan and Eric: Between Hello and Goodbye (1991). Some of his well-known films are He's a Woman, She's a Man (1994), Comrades: Almost a Love Story (1996), Perhaps Love (2005), and The Warlords (2007). Other popular movies include WuXia (2011), American Dreams in China (2013), Dearest (2014), and Leap (2020).

Besides directing, Peter Chan has also done a lot as a producer and business owner. In 2000, he helped start Applause Pictures. This company made great movies for people in Asia and around the world. In 2009, he started another company called WE Pictures. This company focuses on sharing Chinese stories with a global audience. Some movies he produced include The Eye Series, Protégé (2007), Bodyguards and Assassins (2009), and Soul Mate (2016).

Early Life and Education

Peter Chan was born in British Hong Kong. His parents were Chinese. His father, Chan Tung Man, was a writer and director. When Peter was 11, his family moved to Thailand. He grew up in Bangkok and learned to speak Thai very well.

Later, he studied film at the UCLA. In 1983, he came back to Hong Kong for a summer job in the film industry. This was the start of his amazing career in movies.

Film Career Highlights

Starting Out in Film (1980s-1990s)

Peter Chan began his film career in the 1980s. He worked as an assistant director and translator. He also produced Heroes Shed No Tears (1986). He was a location manager for three Jackie Chan movies shot overseas. These were Wheels on Meals (1984), The Protector (1985), and Armour of God (1986). In 1989, he joined Impact Films as a producer. He helped make movies like Curry and Pepper (1990).

In 1991, Chan directed his first movie, Alan and Eric: Between Hello and Goodbye. This film won Best Film at the Hong Kong Film Directors' Guild. It also won Best Actor for Eric Tsang at the Hong Kong Film Awards. In the early 1990s, he helped create the United Filmmakers Organization (UFO). This group made many popular movies. These included He Ain't Heavy, He's My Father (1993) and He's a Woman, She's a Man (1994).

His film Comrades, Almost a Love Story (1997) was a huge success. It starred Maggie Cheung and Leon Lai. Many people consider it one of the best Chinese-language films ever. This movie made Peter Chan famous around the world. It also showed his dedication to the Chinese film industry.

Working Globally (Late 1990s-2000s)

In the late 1990s, Peter Chan directed a Hollywood movie called The Love Letter. It starred Kate Capshaw and Tom Selleck. In 2000, he co-founded Applause Pictures. This company aimed to make films for audiences across Asia. They made successful movies like Jan Dara from Thailand and One Fine Spring Day from South Korea. They also produced The Eye and its sequels. This led to working with directors like Park Chan-wook.

Since the mid-2000s, Chan has worked mostly in mainland China. The film industry there was growing very fast. His 2005 musical film Perhaps Love was a co-production between Hong Kong and mainland China. It was shown at the Venice Film Festival. It was also Hong Kong's entry for the Academy Awards' Best Foreign Film. Perhaps Love became one of the highest-earning films that year in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. It won a record 29 awards!

Chan also directed The Warlords (2007). He produced Derek Yee's Protégé (2007). Both were the highest-earning Hong Kong-China co-productions of that year. The Warlords won 8 Hong Kong Film Awards and 3 Golden Horse Awards. These included Best Director and Best Feature Film.

Recent Work and Influence (2010s-Present)

In 2009, Chan started WE Pictures. This company helps produce and share films from Chinese artists. That same year, he produced Bodyguards and Assassins, which won 8 Hong Kong Film Awards. In 2010, a survey named him "the most valuable filmmaker" in Hong Kong.

His 2011 martial arts film Wu Xia was shown at the Cannes Film Festival. It was the only Chinese-language film selected that year. Time Magazine called Wu Xia one of the top ten films of 2012. In 2020, his drama Leap was about the Chinese women's volleyball Olympic team. This movie showed his skill in directing different kinds of films.

In 2022, Chan launched a new company called Changin' Pictures. It will create content for streaming services. His new film, She's Got No Name (2024), was also chosen for the Cannes Film Festival.

Working Across Asia

Peter Chan uses his background from Thailand to work on film projects all over Asia. He wants to work with filmmakers from South Asia and Southeast Asia. By teaming up with directors like Kabir Khan and Kiran Rao, he hopes to bring new ideas and growth to cinema across the continent.

Peter Chan is known for being able to direct many different types of movies. He has greatly impacted the Chinese-language film industry. His many awards show his amazing talent and important role in the world of movies.

Personal Life

Peter Chan has a daughter named Jilian Chan. She was born in 2006. Her mother is the Hong Kong actress Sandra Ng. Peter Chan and Sandra Ng are partners, but they do not plan to get married.

Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Peter Chan para niños