Chiu Keng Guan (; Chinese: 周青元; ; pinyin: Zhōu Qīng Yuán) is a Malaysian film director.
Career Born and raised in Batu Pahat, Johor, Chiu initially studied graphic design and fine arts, and worked in ceramic and sculpture production before joining HVD Film Production in a quality-assurance role. The Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival states that he studied at Kuala Lumpur College of Art and graduated from the directing programme of the Beijing Film Academy in 1998.
After graduating, Chiu worked on television dramas, commercials and corporate videos, and also worked as an assistant director and cameraman. He was part of the group that helped establish 8TV and later freelanced for Astro.
Working with Astro and its film arm Astro Shaw, Chiu directed the Lunar New Year films WooHoo! (2010), Great Day (2011) and The Journey (2014). He became known for casting amateurs and non-professional actors in prominent roles. The Journey grossed about RM16.9 million and became one of Malaysia's highest-grossing local films at the time. At the 27th Malaysia Film Festival, it won the Box-Office Film Award, Best Non-Malay Language Film and Best Cinematography, while lead actor Frankie Lee Sai Peng won Best Actor.
Chiu followed it with the football drama Ola Bola (2016), which drew on the history of the Malaysia national football team. The film was a major domestic box-office success and later received the Special Jury Award for National Unity at the Malaysia Film Festival. In 2018, Chiu served as one of the second-round jurors who selected the nominees for the 55th Golden Horse Awards, and was subsequently listed among the final-round jury members.
Chiu made his directorial debut in China with On Your Mark (2021), released in China as Liao Bu Qi de Lao Ba. The film opened on June 18, 2021, and topped the Chinese box office on its first day with RMB13.65 million in ticket sales.
In 2022, Chiu's proposed feature No Where was selected for the Golden Horse Film Project Promotion. The Golden Horse programme described the project as exploring a mother-daughter relationship. He returned to Malaysian Lunar New Year cinema with Ma, I Love You (2023), a family drama centred on a mother and daughter and his first Malaysian feature since Think Big Big (2018).
In September 2025, Astro Shaw announced Terbang, a rally-racing film directed by Chiu and inspired by the career of Malaysian rally driver Karamjit Singh. Chiu said the film was not intended as a direct biopic but was inspired by real events. Terbang was released in Malaysian cinemas on September 17, 2026.
Filmography
Feature films YearFilmBox office2010大日子 WooHoo!MYR 4.2 million2011天天好天 Great DayMYR 6.5 million2014一路有你 The JourneyMYR 17 million2016Ola BolaMYR 16 million2018大大哒 Think Big BigMYR 5 million2021了不起的老爸 On Your MarkCNY 105 million (~MYR 67 million)2023真爱好妈 Ma, I Love YouMYR 3.1 million2026Terbang—
Development project
2022 – No Where — selected for the 2022 Golden Horse Film Project Promotion.
Short film
2019 "Gift of Time"
Television series
2019 "Never Stand Still"
Accolades AwardYearCategoryTitleResultOsaka Asian Film Festival2011Grand PrixWooHoo!San Diego Asian Film Festival2011ScreeningGreat DaySeoul International Youth Film Festival2011Audience Favorite AwardGreat DayGolden Wau Awards2013Best MovieWooHoo! Great Day Best DirectorWooHoo! Great Day 2015Best MovieThe Journey Malaysia Film Festival2015Box-Office Film AwardThe Journey Best Non-Malay Language Film Best Cinematography Best Original Screenplay Best Art Direction 2016Best Film Ola BolaBest DirectorBest Original StorySpecial Jury Award - National Unity Silk Road International Film Festival2016Best FeatureOla BolaShanghai International Film Festival (Golden Goblet Awards)2021Best FilmOn Your MarkBest ActorBest ScreenplayHengdian Film Festival of China2021Best ActorOn Your Mark
References
External links
https://www.facebook.com/GWA2013/timeline?ref=page_internal https://www.facebook.com/CFAM2013/