Chiu Keng Guan

In this Chinese name, the family name is Chiu.
Chiu Keng Guan
周青元
Born1973 (age 51–52)
Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia
Other names青元; Chiu; Chiu导 ("Chiudao")
Alma materBeijing Film Academy
OccupationFilm director
Years active2010 - present
Notable workWooHoo! (2010)
Great Day (2011)
The Journey (2014)
Ola Bola (2016)
On Your Mark (film) (2021)

Chiu Keng Guan (/ˌtʃuː kɛŋ ɡwʌn/; Chinese: 周青元; Jyutping: Zau1 Ceng1 Jyun4; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Chiu Chheng-goân; pinyin: Zhōu Qīng Yuán) is a Malaysian film director.[1]

Career

Born and raised in Batu Pahat, Johor,[2] Chiu initially studied graphic design and then fine arts,[3][4] and worked on ceramic and sculpture production before joining HVD Film Production, doing quality assurance.[3]

Chiu then attended the Beijing Film Academy[3][4][5][6] - which in recent times produced Zhang Yimou and Chen Kaige. Since then, he did TV dramas, commercials, corporate videos, and also worked as an assistant director and cameraman. He was also part of the pioneering group that helped set up 8TV, and freelanced for Astro.[3][4]

Chiu emerged in the local movie scene with Astro and its movie production arm, Astro Shaw, in directing his acclaimed family-oriented Lunar New Year Trilogy of WooHoo! (2010), Great Day (2011) and The Journey (2014), and has been in close working relationship with them since. He is well known to have a preference for amateurs and non-actors, unlike most local commercial filmmakers, who would usually cast professional and famous actors.[3][7] The cast of Woohoo! and Great Day consists mostly of non-actor celebrities from Astro's popular radio and TV channels, while major roles are given to amateurs in The Journey and Ola Bola. Frankie Lee Sai Peng, the lead actor for The Journey who won the 27th Malaysia Film Festival award for Best Actor, is one such example. Lee is the first recipient of Chinese descent and the eldest since its inauguration at 75 years old.[8][9]

Chiu's work is known for its emotional charge, and has earned him numerous critical and commercial success, especially within Malaysia. In addition to breaking box office records in Malaysia,[3][10] he is decorated with notable award wins and nominations, including the Golden Wau Awards[11][12] and the Malaysia Film Festival awards.[8][13] His international breakthrough came through On Your Mark (film), a film that was nominated for various international awards and was a box office hit.

Filmography

Feature Films

Year Film Box Office
2010 大日子 WooHoo![14] MYR 4.2 million[3]
2011 天天好天 Great Day[15] MYR 6.5 million[3]
2014 一路有你 The Journey[16] MYR 17 million[10][17]
2016 Ola Bola[18][19] MYR 16 million[10][20]
2018 大大哒 Think Big Big[21][22] MYR 5 million[23]
2021 了不起的老爸 On Your Mark[24] CNY 105 million[25] (~MYR 67 million)
2023 真爱好妈 Ma, I Love You[26] MYR 3.1 million[27]

Short Film

  • 2019 "Gift of Time"[28]

Television Series

  • 2019 "Never Stand Still"[29]

Accolades

Award Year Category Title Result
Osaka Asian Film Festival 2011[30] Grand Prix WooHoo! Nominated
San Diego Asian Film Festival 2011[31] Screening Great Day Nominated
Seoul International Youth Film Festival 2011 Audience Favorite Award Great Day Won
Golden Wau Awards 2013[32] Best Movie WooHoo! Nominated
Great Day Nominated
Best Director WooHoo! Nominated
Great Day Won
2015[33] Best Movie The Journey Nominated
Malaysia Film Festival 2015[8][13][34] Box-Office Film Award The Journey Won
Best Non-Malay Language Film Won
Best Cinematography Won
Best Original Screenplay Nominated
Best Art Direction Nominated
2016[35][36] Best Film Ola Bola Nominated
Best Director Nominated
Best Original Story Nominated
Special Jury Award - National Unity Won
Silk Road International Film Festival 2016 Best Feature Ola Bola Nominated
Shanghai International Film Festival

(Golden Goblet Awards)

2021[37] Best Film On Your Mark Nominated
Best Actor Nominated
Best Screenplay Nominated
Hengdian Film Festival of China 2021[37] Best Actor On Your Mark Nominated

References

  1. ^ "Keng Guan Chiu". IMDb. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  2. ^ Groves, Don (April 6, 2016). "Malaysia's Got Talent". Forbes Asia. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Seto Kit Yan (June 5, 2014). "The RM17mil man: 'The Journey' director Chiu Keng Guan on going the distance". The Star. Archived from the original on July 1, 2016. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  4. ^ a b c "The Journey". Winter Film Awards. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  5. ^ Krich, John. "The Journey to the Top of Malaysia's Box Office". WSJ. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  6. ^ Muthalib, Hassan A. "CHIU KENG GUAN'S THE JOURNEY: A MESSAGE FOR MALAYSIANS". www.academia.edu. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  7. ^ Yeoh, Angelin (January 28, 2016). "Chiu Keng Guan brings raw talent together for OlaBola". The Star. Archived from the original on April 22, 2016. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  8. ^ a b c "MFF27: The Journey wins 4 trophies including Best Director and Best Actor". Astro Awani. September 6, 2015. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  9. ^ Erny Suzira (September 7, 2015). "75-year-old Frankie Lee wins Best Actor at FFM 27". Cinema Online. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  10. ^ a b c "'Ola Bola' rakes in RM16 million at local box office". The Malay Mail. March 17, 2016. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  11. ^ Seto Kit Yan (October 8, 2013). "Malaysia's very first Chinese-language film awards". The Star. Archived from the original on January 15, 2017. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  12. ^ "Puppy Love wins big at Golden Wau Awards". www.filmbiz.asia. Archived from the original on March 9, 2016. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  13. ^ a b Yeoh, Angelin (September 6, 2015). "Lelaki Harapan Dunia, The Journey win big". The Star. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  14. ^ "大日子 Woohoo! | 电影官方网站". www.woohoo.my. Archived from the original on April 18, 2016. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  15. ^ "天天好天 (豆瓣)". movie.douban.com. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  16. ^ "一路有你 (豆瓣)". movie.douban.com. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  17. ^ "10 things about: Chiu Keng Guan, director of 'Ola Bola' and 'The Journey'". The Malay Mail. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  18. ^ "You will believe again, says 'Ola Bola' — Lee Yew Meng". www.themalaymailonline.com. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  19. ^ "OlaBola | Astro Shaw". www.astroshaw.com.my. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  20. ^ ""Ola Bola", "Polis Evo" lead FFM 28 nominations". Retrieved November 5, 2016.
  21. ^ "'Think Big Big' Is A 'Plate Of Rojak', Says Chiu Keng Guan | Star2.com". Star2.com. February 13, 2018. Archived from the original on April 16, 2018. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
  22. ^ "'Think Big Big': Chiu Keng Guan's Latest Film Is Big On Heart | Star2.com". Star2.com. February 17, 2018. Archived from the original on April 16, 2018. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
  23. ^ "【大马贺岁电影票房排行出炉！】这部电影是唯一破千万的中文贺岁片！". 88razzi. March 6, 2018. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  24. ^ Chiu, Keng Guan (June 18, 2021), Liao bu qi de lao ba (Comedy, Drama, Sport), Yanhui Wang, Youhao Zhang, Beibi Gong, Astro Shaw, Tianjin Maoyan Media, retrieved July 30, 2025
  25. ^ "周票房：《1921》点映夺冠 《了不起的老爸》破亿_第一院线 -爱电影！爱生活！". www.yuanxian1.com. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  26. ^ Chiu, Keng Guan (January 22, 2023), Ma, I Love You (Comedy, Drama, Family), Ai Leng Ong, Li Xuan Siow, Felina Cheah, Astro Shaw, Multimedia Entertainment, Woohoo Pictures, retrieved July 30, 2025
  27. ^ "恭喜！《真爱好妈》票房破310万 观众三刷大力支持". Xuan (in Chinese). February 7, 2023. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  28. ^ "配合马中建交45周年 《时间的礼物》微电影527首映 | 娱乐". 東方網 馬來西亞東方日報 (in Simplified Chinese). May 3, 2019. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  29. ^ "极限17：滑魂", 维基百科，自由的百科全书 (in Chinese), July 30, 2025, retrieved July 30, 2025
  30. ^ "Osaka Asian Film Festival (2011)". IMDb. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  31. ^ "SDAFF 2011 Program Guide | PDF | 4 G | Lte (Telecommunication)". Scribd. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  32. ^ Ma, Kevin (August 8, 2013). "Golden Wau nominations favour Aniu, Chiu, Teh". Film Business Asia. Archived from the original on June 1, 2016.
  33. ^ "2nd Golden Wau Awards - 2015 - Malaysia Chinese Movies". chinesemov.com. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  34. ^ Ect, Deric (August 4, 2015). "Here Are All The Nominees For The 27th Festival Filem Malaysia (a.k.a. "Malaysian Oscars")". The Daily Seni. Archived from the original on August 4, 2020. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  35. ^ "Ola Bola scores 14 noms at Malaysia Film Festival - Star2.com". Star2.com. August 4, 2016. Archived from the original on November 5, 2016. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
  36. ^ "Making history at this year's Malaysia Film Festival - Star2.com". Star2.com. September 6, 2016. Archived from the original on November 5, 2016. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
  37. ^ a b On Your Mark (2021) - Awards - IMDb. Retrieved July 30, 2025 – via www.imdb.com.
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