Born and raised in Taiwan

Completed the Republic of China's mandatory military service

At age 23, moved to US to attend college

First film job, an assistant cameraman on Spike Lee's student thesis film at NYU, "Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads"

Filmed the short film, "Shades of the Lake"; won the Best Drama Award in Short Film in Taiwan

His thesis film, "Fine Line," won Best Film and Best Director at NYU's film festival

Directed first full-length feature, "Pushing Hands"; first collaboration with Good Machine (Ted Hope and James Schamus)

Directed breakthrough film, "The Wedding Banquet"; first film from Taiwan to earn a Best Foreign-Language Film Academy Award nomination

Helmed the critically acclaimed, "Eat Drink Man Woman"; earned Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations for Best Foreign Language Film

Directed first English-language film, "Sense and Sensibility"; written by and starring Emma Thompson; film received seven Academy Award nominations including Best Picture

Earned widespread critical acclaim for "The Ice Storm"

Helmed the post-Civil War-era epic, "Ride With the Devil"

Garnered international acclaim with the martial arts film, "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"; also produced; film earned Academy Awards nominations for Best Picture, Best Foreign Language Film and Best Director

Directed "Chosen," one of five short film advertisements for BMW shown over the Internet at bmwfilms.com

Helmed the feature adaptation of "The Incredible Hulk"

Directed the Academy Award nominated film, "Brokeback Mountain," a powerful love story of two young men, which spans over 30 years

Helmed "Lust, Caution," a thriller set in WWII-era Shanghai

Directed "Taking Woodstock," a film about the Woodstock Festival of 1969