In 1988, his film Red Sorghum was awarded the Golden Bear, the top prize of Berlin International Film Festival, as the first Chinese film winning the top prize from one of the three major European film festivals. It indicated that Chinese films started to enter the highest stage of the world to compete for awards and to seek exchange around the globe. Generations of outstanding Chinese filmmakers, led by Zhang Yimou, become known to the world with their outstanding works representing China, expressing China, demonstrating China, and interpreting China. 

In 2002, his film Hero indicated a milestone for the beginning of Chinese blockbusters, with box office of 250 million yuan of the market total of local films (less than 1 billion yuan), far surpassing the foreign blockbusters released at the same time. The film also had an amazing box office record of 900 million yuan out of China and topped the market of North America for two weeks straight, making it a “real hero” among Chinese films. With such amazing success, China’s film market started to see constant innovation from producers and creators in the research and development of new genres and further enhancement of commercial films, which contributed to continual successes in both creativity and box office.

In terms of artistic value, Zhang Yimou is definitely a master of craft. He repeatedly emphasized historical and realistic issues in his films to discuss the good and bad of human nature, criticize the history in breadth and depth and manifest the love for homeland. He has the ultimate pursuit for the presentation of visual effects in his films, and has made profound explorations and unremitting efforts in in coloring, editing, and cinematography for films.

Out of films, he also successfully directed the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic Games Beijing 2008 and Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, making him the only director in the world directing the opening and closing ceremonies of both winter and summer Olympics. The audience at home and abroad are amazed by his ability to present the marvelous traditional Chinese culture with a combination of modern technological concepts and imagination.

From Red Sorghum in 1988 to Full River Red in 2023, "red" has always been favored by Zhang Yimou. He used the dazzling and unique Chinese red to tell Chinese stories to the world. This year, he again brought “red” to the BJIFF that illuminated the Tiantan Award with his persistent pursuit of creativity and his sincerity for films. 

The competition section plays an important part in an international film festival as a benchmark of competence and a beacon of future of the art field. It is believed that under the leadership of Zhang Yimou, Jury President of Tiantan Award, the 13th BJIFF will deliver a great accomplishment to the satisfaction of filmmakers and fans.