Cao Yu

Cao Yu, born on August 15, 1974, in Beijing. His family background is rooted in the entertainment industry; his father is a screenwriter at Beijing Film Studio, and his mother is a journalist at the People's Daily, specializing in television drama reviews. From a young age, he developed a strong interest in film sets, often watching filming at Beijing Film Studio, displaying both awe and curiosity toward the work of cinematographers. At age 12, he received a Seagull camera, which sparked his interest in photography.

In 1988, the film "The Last Emperor" was released. Cao Yu's on-site exploration of the Forbidden City scenes in the film garnered attention and further fueled his passion for studying the photography industry. In 1993, he was admitted to Beijing Film Academy, majoring in feature film cinematography. During his school years, he received multiple scholarships, achieved excellent academic results, and served as class monitor. His graduation project, "Awaiting Shelter," won the Young Cinema Fund Award at the 54th Cannes Film Festival. After graduation, Cao Yu joined Beijing Film Studio, initially working as a third-level assistant, gradually accumulating practical experience.

Cao Yu’s professional career began in 2001 when he served as the cinematographer for the film "Flying Like Chicken Feathers," which received a Special Jury Award at the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland. That same year, he started working in advertising photography, and his work was nominated for the New York Advertising Festival Photography Award. In 2004, he was the director of photography for director Lu Chuan’s film "Kekexili," employing a sombre tone to depict the natural scenery of the plateau, and was nominated for Best Cinematography at the 41st Taiwan Golden Horse Awards. In 2009, the historical film "Nanjing! Nanjing!" which Cao Yu collaborated on with Lu Chuan, received numerous awards at international and domestic film festivals, including the Best Cinematography award at the 57th San Sebastián International Film Festival.

During the 2010s, Cao Yu continued to serve as director of photography on many films, including "Love in Top" (2010), "Gravity" (2011), and "Pig Husband" (2012). In 2015, he was the cinematographer for Lu Chuan’s "The Nine-Tailed Fox," which used CGI for realistic scenery restoration in post-production. In 2017, he was nominated for Best Cinematography at the Hong Kong Film Awards for "The Wasted Times." In 2018, he was the director of photography for "Lecturing Sky," earning multiple international nominations.

In recent years, Cao Yu has received numerous awards, including Best Cinematography at the 32nd Golden Rooster Awards (2019), Best Cinematography at the first Golden Panda Awards (2023), and nominations and wins at international film festivals. In 2020, he was awarded China's first IMAX Resident Artist title. In 2021, he served as the director of photography for "The 800," earning a nomination for Best Cinematography at the 12th Macau International Film Festival. In 2022, he was the producer and director of photography for "Umbilical Cord," which was nominated at the Tokyo and Bangkok film festivals and won the technical award.

Cao Yu is also a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Oscar China) and participates in international film exchange and judging activities. His style is characterized by a "poetic realism," emphasizing audiovisual experiences and natural elements in filming, with a focus on understanding the script and integrating technical skills. In his personal life, Cao Yu married actress Yao Chen in 2012, and they have two children.