Anthony Chen

Anthony Chen (Chinese: 陳哲藝; born April 18, 1984) is a Singaporean film director and film producer. He found success with his debut feature film, Ilo Ilo (2013), which won the prestigious Camera d'Or at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival. He also won the illustrious 50th Golden Horse Award for best Feature Film and Best New Director.

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Anthony Chen was born April 18, 1984, to Bernard and his spouse Joan (née Tai). Interested in film from a young age, he attended Nan Hua Primary School, The Chinese High School (now Hwa Chong Institution), and Ngee Ann Polytechnic. Whilst in polytechnic in 2005 he made G-23, his first short film. The film was well-received an earned Chen numerous awards in various countries.

In 2007 and 2008, Chen went on to direct and produce Ah Ma and Haze respectively. Both attracted favourable criticism.

Following his mandatory conscription in the Army, Chen was admitted into the National Film and Television School in Britain. Graduating in 2010, two of his films, Distance and Lighthouse, were released that year. These were followed up with Karang Guni (2012) and Homesick (2013). Chen is signed under the Britain-based talent company United Agents.

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Ilo Ilo, Chen's first feature film effort, will be released on August 29, 2013 in Singaporean theatres. Chen served as director, producer, and writer. After being showcased at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival, the film received a fifteen-minute long "standing ovation" and earned Chen the coveted Camera d'Or. Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong noted Chen's achievement, congratulating him and the film's cast on Facebook.

Ilo Ilo was inspired by a real life maid who worked for Chen's family when he was a child.

On 19 October 2013, Ilo Ilo won the Sutherland Prize for the Best First Film at the London Film Festival, on the same night that one of Chen's tutors at NFTS, Pawel Pawlikowski, won the Best Film Award for Ida.

With Ilo Ilo, Anthony Chen also make history by becoming the first Singaporean to win Best New Director at the 50th Golden Horse Awards in Taipei. In addition to Best New Director, Chen also won Best Original Screenplay while Yeo Yann Yann wins Best Supporting Actress for Ilo Ilo.

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Chen is married to Rachel (née Yan) whom he met while staying in London in 2007. He married her in 2009.

[ Wikipedia ]