Chang Tso-Chi was born in Jiayi, Taiwan, in 1961. He first majored in electrical engineering and went on to study film and drama at the Chinese Culture University, graduating in 1987. He first worked as a camera assistant and quickly became assistant director to Yu Kan-Pi, Yim Ho and Tsui Hark respectively. He was also Hou Hsiao-Hsien’s first assistant director on A City of Sadness (1988). Chang’s debut film, Ah Chung (1996), used a non-professional cast to demonstrate a special Taiwanese ceremony, Ba Jia Jiang (Eight Generals). This film won the Special Jury Prize at the Asia-Pacific Film Festival and the New Currents Award at the Pusan International Film Festival, winning also the Best Director Award at the Thessalonika International Film Festival, and Grand Prix du Jury and Best Photography at Zhuhai Film Festival, China. Chang’s second feature, Darkness and Light (1999) won the Grand Prix, Tokyo Gold Prize and the Asian Film Award at the Tokyo International Film Festival for Best… read more
