Sylvia Chang stood proud on stage in Udine, Italy, where she received a major honor. The 27th Far East Film Festival recognized her with the Golden Mulberry Award for Lifetime Achievement. Inside the Teatro Nuovo Giovanni da Udine, Chang accepted the award with grace and gratitude. She praised the magic of cinema, calling it a place where people can “believe the world is beautiful.”
Chang brought her latest work, Daughter’s Daughter, to the festival. In this film, she plays a mother balancing generational conflict between her own mother and daughters. She also co-produced the film, which was directed by Huang Xi. The project reflects Chang’s deep investment in 50 years of hard work in film. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and earned praise, including a Platform Prize jury mention for Chang.
Besides acting, she enjoys working with younger artists. Her recent Netflix variety show, Ai’s Kitchen, lets her mentor rising stars. She cooks and chats on screen with actors like Ko Chia-yen, Darren Wang, and Tony Yang. Chang says she gives advice, but never forces her views. Her goal is always to make the project stronger.
Her career began in the 1970s, and she quickly gained attention. Directors such as Edward Yang and Stanley Kwan cast her in major roles. In every project, she brought new ideas while learning from veteran artists. This blend of learning and giving became central to her 50 years of hard work in film.
Chang never shies away from challenges. In 2018, she acted in Bi Gan’s Long Day’s Journey Into Night. Filming took place in Guizhou, where she even learned a local dialect. She accepted constant rewrites and reshoots, trusting the director’s vision.
Chang believes technology is reshaping cinema. She admired Netflix’s Adolescence, especially its bold use of single-take episodes. She feels filmmakers must adapt without losing storytelling depth.
Looking back, she holds firm to one belief. If work feels too hard, it becomes harder. But if you love it, the struggle fades. This mindset has shaped her 50 years of hard work in film, and she promises to keep creating.
