Yale University Conferred Honorary Degree on Zhang Yimou

World famous Chinese film director Zhang Yimou has won another international credit this week at the Old Campus of Yale University in the US. Many know Zhang from his directing of the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games -- and along with thousands of graduates from various schools of the university, Zhang received the honorary degree for Doctor of Fine Arts. CRI's correspondent Shen Ting has more.

Reporter:

The small town of New Haven, Connecticut was crowded on Monday with excited graduate students, as well as their families and friends. The reason? The annual Commencement of Yale University. Chinese film director, Zhang Yimou, joined graduates this year as he picked up an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from the University. The director said he felt honored to receive the title.

"It's not so easy to get such recognition. The recipients every year are all elites in the world. As a Chinese, I feel so happy that I could have such an honor to receive it."

It's no wonder that he would feel proud and honored. Past recipents include Benjamin Franklin, John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr., Steven Spielberg and Hilary Clinton, who recieved the honorary degree last year.

59-year-old Zhang Yimou made his directorial debut in 1987 with the film Red Sorghum. Since then, Zhang has established his international reputation through exploration in a variety of genres in the art world.

He believes his directing of the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games helped him receive the honorary degree.

"I believe they chose me because of two things: one is my years of film making experience and the film works that I produced, and the other is the opening ceremony of 2008 Olympic Games. Both are very important."

Zhang Yimou says he now plans to turn his focus back to directing films. He says working in other artistic areas has always been secondary to his passion for films.

"To me, the filmmaking is my priority, because I am a film director. It seems that this is the most appropriate job for me. I would try my best to ensure the production of at least one brand new work every year."

The director says he will seek international cooperation in filmmaking, so long as he finds a good story and a good opportunity.

For CRI, this is Shen Ting in New Haven, Connetticut.