Writing

Xu Haofeng

Born 1973-03-16 · Beijing, China

Xu Haofeng was born in Beijing and began to learn Xingyiquan, one of the major “internal” styles of Chinese martial arts, in 1987. After studying fine arts for five years, he went to the Department of Film Directing in Beijing Film Academy and graduated in 1997. Unlike his peers who were eager to make waves in the newly discovered film market, Xu returned home and studied Taoism and the history of martial arts from two eighty-year-old masters for eight years. In 2006, his publication "Shiqu de wulin" (In Search of the Lost Martial Arts World) aroused nationwide attention. He continued to write novels and non-fiction about the ecology of the martial arts sphere in the Republic of China. In 2011, his first film "The Sword Identity" had its world premiere at the 68th Venice Film Festival and this marked the reincarnation of the Chinese martial arts film. One year later, his sophomore film "Judge Archer" premiered at the 7th Rome Film Festival. Xu insists in presenting unusual values in traditional Chinese culture in an age celebrating outrageous slapstick comedies and restless performing monkeys, and he investigates whether people could live in an alternative way, other than following the conventional circle of life. 

Acting credits

Behind the camera

The Grandmaster poster
6.6

The fall of China's last dynasty, a time of chaos, division and war, is the golden age of Chinese martial arts. Legendary kung fu master Ip Man, who will eventually train Bruce Lee, finds his peaceful life interrupted by vengeance.

The Grandmaster

2013

The Final Master poster
6.9

Determined to pass down his art, the Final Master of Wing Chun is caught in a power struggle with malicious local officials and ultimately must choose between personal honor and his master’s dying wish.

The Final Master

2015

The Final Master poster
6.9

Determined to pass down his art, the Final Master of Wing Chun is caught in a power struggle with malicious local officials and ultimately must choose between personal honor and his master’s dying wish.

The Final Master

2015

100 Yards poster
6.2

Set in 1920s Tianjin, northern China, and centres on the rivalry between the son of a martial arts master and his most talented apprentice. When the old master dies, the two face off to take over his prominent martial arts academy. But rather than obey the rule of settling disputes behind closed doors, they take their fight to the street.

100 Yards

2024

100 Yards poster
6.2

Set in 1920s Tianjin, northern China, and centres on the rivalry between the son of a martial arts master and his most talented apprentice. When the old master dies, the two face off to take over his prominent martial arts academy. But rather than obey the rule of settling disputes behind closed doors, they take their fight to the street.

100 Yards

2024

Judge Archer poster
6.1

The spear signifies political power, the arrow personal ambition. What happens when the two collide?

Judge Archer

2014

Judge Archer poster
6.1

The spear signifies political power, the arrow personal ambition. What happens when the two collide?

Judge Archer

2014

The Sword Identity poster
5.2

During the Ming Dynasty one man will request a competition when his weapon is rejected. After a series of fights he is determined to prove his sword is invincible.

The Sword Identity

2012

The Sword Identity poster
5.2

During the Ming Dynasty one man will request a competition when his weapon is rejected. After a series of fights he is determined to prove his sword is invincible.

The Sword Identity

2012

Decent Things poster
NR

In 1931, a famous person borrowed an ancient painting to appreciate, but he refused to return it. The owner of the painting was embarrassed to ask for it, so he entrusted an elementary school martial arts teacher to contact the celebrity's bodyguard, Tie Backer, hoping to accommodate him. By means of painting, it shows the sophistication of martial arts practitioners.

Decent Things

The Hidden Sword poster
NR

The widow of a famed general teams up with an impostor posing as her late husband and schemes to steal the secrets of an elderly master swordsman. Their plans are complicated by the master's grandson, who is himself torn between his filial duty and the affections of his adopted sister.

The Hidden Sword

2017

The Hidden Sword poster
NR

The widow of a famed general teams up with an impostor posing as her late husband and schemes to steal the secrets of an elderly master swordsman. Their plans are complicated by the master's grandson, who is himself torn between his filial duty and the affections of his adopted sister.

The Hidden Sword

2017

The Weary Poet poster
NR

Another wuxia tale from Xu Haofeng, this one set against the backdrop of a rebellion during the Yuan Dynasty.

The Weary Poet

The Weary Poet poster
NR

Another wuxia tale from Xu Haofeng, this one set against the backdrop of a rebellion during the Yuan Dynasty.

The Weary Poet