Chen was born 18 April 1984, to Bernard and Joan Tai. Interested in film from a young age, Chen attended Nan Hua Primary School, The Chinese High School, and Ngee Ann Polytechnic. His graduating film from Ngee Ann Polytechnic, G-23, was screened in various international film festivals and won awards in France, Korea and Belgium.
Career
Short films
In 2007 and 2008, Chen went on to direct Ah Ma and Haze respectively. Both attracted favourable criticism. Ah Ma was awarded a Special Mention in the short film competition at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, making it the first Singaporean film to win an award at the festival. Following his mandatory conscription in the army, Chen was admitted to the National Film and Television School in the United Kingdom. Graduating in 2010, two of his short films, Distance and Lighthouse, were released that year. These were followed up with Karang Guni and Homesick.
Feature films
Ilo Ilo, Chen's first feature film, was released on August 29, 2013 in Singaporean theatres. Chen served as director, producer, and writer. According to Chen, the film was inspired by a real life maid who worked for Chen's family when he was a child. After its world debut at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival, Ilo Ilo received a fifteen-minute long "standing ovation" and earned Chen the coveted Camera d'Or. Prime Minister of SingaporeLee Hsien Loong noted Chen's achievement, congratulating him and the film's cast on Facebook. On 19 October 2013, Ilo Ilo went on to win the Sutherland Trophy for the Best First Film at the London Film Festival.. With Ilo Ilo, Anthony Chen also made history by becoming the first Singaporean to win Best Film and Best New Director at the 50th Golden Horse Awards. Chen also won Best Original Screenplay, while Yeo Yann Yann won Best Supporting Actress for her role in the film. For Ilo Ilo, Chen was named as one of Variety magazine's annual "10 Directors to Watch". In September 2015, it was announced that Distance, an "omnibus film" for which Chen served as executive producer and writer, will open the 2015 Golden Horse Film Festival in Taiwan. Distance consists of segments by the three directors Xin Yukun, Tan Shijie and Sivaroj Kongsakul, from China, Singapore and Thailand respectively. In spring 2018, Chen began production on his second feature film, Wet Season, which reunites him with Ilo Ilo stars Yeo Yann Yann and Koh Jia Ler.
Personal life
In 2009, Chen married Rachel Yan, whom he met while staying in London in 2007. Their son was born in August 2018.
