Camera
Liao Ni
**Liao Ni** is a Chinese cinematographer whose visual storytelling has shaped some of the most acclaimed films in contemporary Chinese cinema. A graduate of the Filming Department at the Beijing Film Academy (2005), Liao quickly established a reputation for his atmospheric, emotionally resonant camera work.
His career breakthrough came through a long-standing collaboration with director Diao Yinan. Liao’s cinematography for *Black Coal, Thin Ice* (2014) won the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival, earning him the Golden Horse Award for Best Cinematography. He continued this streak with *The Wild Goose Lake* (2019), which premiered in competition at Cannes, praised for its neon-noir visual language.
Beyond Diao Yinan, Liao has worked on diverse projects, including the wuxia epic *The Assassin* (2015) and the crime thriller *The Shadow Play* (2018). His ability to blend gritty realism with painterly composition has made him one of the most sought-after cinematographers in the industry. Liao’s work remains a masterclass in using light and shadow to heighten narrative tension, solidifying his place as a key figure in modern Chinese filmmaking.
Filmography