Chinese filmmakers' connection to the Venice International Film Festival dates back to 1989, when Taiwan director Hou Hsiao-hsien won the Golden Lion for A City of Sadness, a sweeping epic about a dark chapter in Taiwan's modern history.

In 1992, Zhang Yimou won the Golden Lion for The Story of Qiuju and his leading actress Gong Li won Best Actress. Zhang won the top honor again in 1999 for Not One Less.

He also led the jury in 2007, when Ang Lee's Lust, Caution won the Golden Lion. Lee won his first Golden Lion for Brokeback Mountain in 2005.