Biography
A core board member at one of the top film institutions in the world at Beijing Film Academy, Xiaomin Zhang has over 30 years experience studying, teaching and managing film schools in both China and Canada.
EXPERIENCE IN THE INDUSTRY
2017: Director of 5 feature films from Hollywood, Hong Kong and Mainland China.
1. A Hollywood and China cooperation, possibly the biggest investment in the history of the film: "D-Day Six" (also known as the Normandy landing)
2. China's two most famous TV groups and the Canada Media Group's cooperation on an Interpol TV series: "Citizen Thomas"
3. A 3D youth blockbuster "Drum God" and many more
2016: Directed Hollywood feature film "Hot St." by the invitation of Hollywood and Hong Kong investors.
2015: Established Canada CFTI Media Group (CCMG); President of CCMG; President of NAIMFS; Executive President of CIFTF; President of CFTI; leader of Beijing Film Academy International Training Centre; CEO of Canada Film Academy; Chairman of A-One Real Estate Group; Executive President of Oscar Film Foundation; Invited by Hollywood and Disney, to become a producer of the upcoming Disney animated movie "The Monkey King."
2014: Successfully held Vancouver's biggest film festival-the Canadian International Film and Television Festival (CIFTF); Awarded as one of ten most influential Chinese people in Canada; President of China-Canada Summit; Award for Great Contribution issued by senator Yang Xiaohui, a representative of Prime Minister Stephen Harper
2013: President of North American International Multicultural Filmmakers Society (NAIMFS); Awarded as Annal Most Influential Person of Canada
2012: Artistic Award issued by Prime Minister Stephen Harper
2010: Established the Canadian Film and Television Institute.
2007-2004: Studied finance in Canada, and established the Digital Model Finance Company
2001: Director, starring actress, and screenwriter for China Central Television Film and Television's program "Days"; won the CCTV6 Lily Award nomination
1997: Directed, starred in, and was the screenwriter for "Red Marry" with co-writer Zhang Xiaozhi; won the CCTV6 Taiwan TV movie best ratings in China first; won the CCTV6 special prize bonus of 100000 yuan
1992: Director and screenwriter of her debut film "Big Collision"; selected for the Tokyo International Film Festival for the best debut director award (retired due to special reasons)
1989: Acted as Kawashima Yoshiko in "Kawashima Yoshiko"; once again earned a nomination for Best Actress for the Hundred Flowers Award; acted in CCTV's "The Song Sisters" as Song Meiling
1988: Played the heroine Deng Yaogu in the TV series "Stagnant Waters" with Zhang Guoli and Deng Jie in the Sichuan Province; earned the first Golden Tomcat TV Festival Best Actress Award
1987: Lead actress in "Lady Thief"
1986: "Very Big President"; won the highest award awarded in the Chinese Film industry: the "Hundred Flowers Award"
NATIONAL AWARDS
In 1981, 17-year-old Xiaomin Zhang played the Tibetan girl in "Third Goddess" and boarded the world's highest peak at Mount Everest. When the crew reached 5000 meters elevation, many abandoned the task because of physical discomfort. However, due to her athletic experiences, Xiaomin Zhang continued and risked her life to climb 7200 meters high. Won the award issued by the country for Outstanding Young Person.
From 1986 to 1990, won three consecutive "Zhao Ziyue Young Actor Progress Award" and the Grand Prize and so on -
FROM PERFORMING ARTS WORKER TO MAGNIFICENT FILMMAKER - THE LIFE OF XIAOMIN ZHANG
At age 15, she broke the province's high jump record. At age 17, she starred in her first debut film as the leading actress. At age 24, she won the 10th annual "Popular Film Hundred Flowers Award" for Best Supporting Actress. Throughout the years, it seems that Demi is able to do anything she puts her heart to. Her warm, unrestrained, and forthright personality were rarities in the film industry at the time and has cultivated a new generation of passionate filmmakers today. Now, she has immigrated to Canada, and is continuing her film career. From famous actress to honourable educator and principal of the Canadian Film and Television Academy, her confidence and dedication still proves to be as charming as ever as she dedicates her hours between educating students and pursuing her passion of filmmaking.
BORN FOR FILM
Recognized as the youngest director and most outstanding actress of the 80s and 90s in China. Xiaomin Zhang was born to a military family. Growing up with an independent personality, she did not choose the same path as her siblings. After graduating from middle school, she joined the Qinghai athletic team. Refusing to waste any time, she quickly built a strong physique and developed a firm determination. She was recognized as the star of the team, successively breaking provincial high jump records and becoming the province's only pentathlon athlete. Despite her achievements, however, she realized that this was not what she was interested in.
Despite what many may think, at the age of 4, Demi was already determined to become an actress. Her original wish was to become a ballet actress. However, due to her athletic experiences, her physique did not meet the requirements. In 1979, she had the opportunity to audition as a theatrical actress. This would prove to be her setting stone in the world of performing arts. This was also where she met Ge You as they became great partners and the best of friends. They were known as the "match made by heaven" in the Chinese drama industry.
At that time, she still thought that being a film actress was only a luxury and distant dream. Her dream started coming true when a director approached her to be the leading actress in his upcoming film.
Though she already had more filming experiences than her peers, she was still unsatisfied. In 1982, to enrich her artistic accomplishments, she decided to enrol into Beijing Film Academy's Performing Arts department. Here, she, along with her classmates, finally began their real dream.
From the conversations with Demi, you can feel her appreciation and respect for the Beijing Film Academy. She possesses the spirit and pride of the world renown school itself.
After graduation from Beijing Film Academy, she starred in over ten film productions. Winning the 10th annual "Popular Film Hundred Flowers Award" for Best Supporting Actress, which was China's equivalent of the Golden Globe Awards, she was at the peak of her career. In 3 years, she had been featured on the "Popular Film" covers over 7 times.
Any would describe her career as successful, but she was still unsatisfied. Compared to her father, her achievements were only minimal. She also found that all the film which she starred in were not roles that she wanted to play. So after the filming of "The Song Sisters" concluded, she put her career as a film actress on hold. She began reading novels, in search of the film dream that she desired.
In the 1990s, Demi decided to become a director, shooting the films that she likes. From 1990 to 1993, after many hardships, her film "Punch" was finally released. This highly influential film broke three of Chinese's film records: the youngest female director (age 26), over 90% of the actors are not full-time actors, and is the most highly invested entertainment piece, at investment of $2 million RMB.
Afterwards, she directed another film, "Chi Jia," wining the Spain Ourense Film Festival's Best Film Award and other special recognition awards.
