Zhang Yimou, one of Beijing's most famous directors, is at the forefront of the powerful and expanding Chinese film industry. Yimou has directed several top-grossing films including Raise the Red Lantern (1991), Hero (2002), House of Flying Daggers (2004), and the 'Flowers of War' (2011).

Yimou’s most recent film, the Flowers of War, was one of the first high budget Chinese films to star an Academy-Award winning Western actor (Christian Bale). Yimou hopes that the use of a Western actor such as Bale, will launch Chinese film into the mainstream. The presence of one of Hollywood’s biggest stars in Yimou's latest film is also indicative of the close ties that have developed between the Beijing film industry and Hollywood.