Cai Shangjun was born in Beijing and graduated from the Literature Department of the Central Academy of Drama in 1992. Afterwards he focused on writing screenplays for such films as SPICY LOVE SOUP (1997) and SHOWER (1999). In 2006, he made his directorial debut with THE RED AWN, which received the Golden Alexander Award for Best Film at the 48th Thessaloniki International Film Festival, as well as the FIPRESCI Award at the 2007 Busan International Film Festival. In 2011, his sophomore feature PEOPLE MOUNTAIN PEOPLE SEA premiered as the "surprise film" at the 68th Venice International Film Festival, the fourth Chinese-language film to play there under such billing; in a subsequent upset, the film won the festival's Silver Lion for Best Direction.