Chen Yu-hsun, a highly acclaimed Taiwanese commercial director and filmmaker, made his entrance into the world on June 21, 1962, in the vibrant city of Taipei, Taiwan. With a remarkable career spanning multiple decades, he has etched his name in the annals of Taiwanese cinema as the first director to have claimed the coveted trifecta of top film awards in Taiwan. This impressive feat was achieved in 2020, when Chen Yu-hsun's cinematic masterpiece, My Missing Valentine, swept the Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards, the Taipei Film Awards, and the Taiwan Film Critics Society Awards, solidifying his position as a leading figure in the Taiwanese film industry.
Chen's remarkable educational odyssey commenced with his enrollment in the esteemed "Junior Fourth Class", a specialized institution catering to students who had not achieved academic success in their junior year and were seeking a second chance to excel in high school. Following a grade retention, Chen secured admission to Cheng Kung High School, where he continued to hone his academic skills.
However, his academic journey was not without its setbacks. Chen's initial attempt to pass the university entrance exam was met with disappointment, and he was forced to re-evaluate his options. Undeterred by this temporary setback, Chen decided to enlist in the military, where he gained valuable life skills and a newfound sense of purpose.
Two years later, at the age of 22, Chen retook the university entrance exam, this time emerging victorious. His perseverance and determination finally paid off, as he secured admission to the prestigious Department of Educational Media and Library Sciences at Tamkang University. Chen's academic tenure at Tamkang University culminated in his graduation in 1989, marking a significant milestone in his journey towards personal and professional growth.
As Chen navigated the pivotal early years of his life, a profound affinity for painting and heavy metal music began to take hold, setting the stage for the unfolding of his creative journey.
It wasn't until his senior year, however, that Chen was afforded the opportunity to serve as a studio assistant in the esteemed Department of Mass Communication at the university, an experience that would ultimately prove to be a transformative turning point in his life.
This formative experience, in turn, led to a coveted internship with the renowned director Wang Shaudi, a mentor who would not only hone Chen's skills but also instill within him a deep-seated passion for crafting captivating narratives through the medium of visual storytelling.
Chen's professional journey began in 1989 as a script supervisor on the comedy drama, Happy Motor Shop, directed by the renowned filmmaker Tsai Ming-Liang.
Subsequently, after numerous years of accumulating experience in the television industry, Chen seized the opportunity to helm his first feature-length film, Tropical Fish, in 1994.
This cinematic masterpiece garnered significant commercial success and was met with widespread critical acclaim, thereby cementing its status as one of the most outstanding comedies in the annals of Taiwan's cinematic history.
After a 13-year hiatus from the film industry, Chen made the bold decision to leave behind the world of cinematic storytelling, citing his deep-seated dissatisfaction with the filmmaking environment and a string of box office failures that had plagued the Taiwanese film scene.
Despite this setback, Chen did not allow his creative spark to fade, instead choosing to channel his energies into a new and exciting venture - the world of humorous commercial advertisement projects. And it was here that he found a new sense of purpose, crafting advertisements that would go on to captivate the hearts and minds of television audiences across the land.
Chen's unwavering commitment and relentless pursuit of excellence ultimately culminated in a triumphant outcome in 2020, as his cinematic masterpiece, "My Missing Valentine", garnered a plethora of accolades at the prestigious 57th Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards, claiming an impressive five awards, including the coveted Best Narrative Feature, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Visual Effects, and Best Film Editing.
