This year, the Festival will be presenting the zealous program to four cities, including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Canberra, with more than 30 sessions and 20 Australian Premieres. The Festival acknowledges this year’s presenting partners; Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce in Australia, Melbourne Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce, and the Australian Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce (QLD).
For the first time, the Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA) will be co-presenting the festival and bringing an exciting new panel discussion.
Industry Circle: International Co-Production on the 30th of July at 12:30PM at Event Cinemas George St, with networking drinks afterwards. Filmmakers and producers are welcome to join us for an insightful discussion.
This year’s program boasts an incredible slate of the latest features, hybrid documentaries, classic retrospectives, and thrilling shorts from Asia. Opening the festival is the creative and stylish masterpiece GODDAMNED ASURA (2021), from the writers of GOD MAN DOG (2007), Lou Yi-An and Singing Chen team up once again to question and reshape the karma effect of the decisions made in our everyday lives.
Elegantly shot with an unorthodox dark comedy script, A LEG (2020) by award-winning novelist Chang Yao-Sheng, making his directorial debut, team up with Chung Mong-Hong (THE FALLS, 2021) as co-writer and producer. Starring Gwei Lun-Mei (GF & BF, 2012) and Yo Yang (The VILLAGE OF NO RETURN, 2017), A LEG depicts the story of a waltz dance instructor who passes away from the complication of a leg amputation surgery. While in a state of regret and grief, his wife tries to retrieve the amputated leg to find closure.
Other award-winning authors in the program include Gidden Ko’s latest film, TILL WE MEET AGAIN (2021), a magical tale of heartfelt romance filled with traditional folktale and gripping fighting sequences. The documentary I REMEMBER (2022) features the acclaimed screenwriter Chu Tien-Wen (GROWING UP, 1983; MILLENNIUM MAMBO, 2001) and author Chu Tien-Hsin’s intimate literacy creativity process.
CINEPHILES FAVORITES
Hybrid documentaries in this year’s program, including FAR AWAY EYES (2021) directed by Wang Chun-Hong, capture the enigmatic atmosphere of Taipei in black and white with superb artistic visual and poetic storytelling; filmed over four years by director Huang Yin-Yu, GREEN JAIL (2021) is a riveting experimental and observational documentary following Grandma Hashima Yoshiko who faced isolation and alienation on the Iriomote island.
Accomplished cinematographer turned director, Chienn Hsiang’s sophomore feature, INCREASING ECHO (2021), provides a glimpse of a married couple living in an unparalleled world, presented with extraordinary cinematography, the film captures the desolation of drifting souls; Selected for 2021 Toronto International Film Festival, TERRORIZERS (2021) by the award-winning director Ho Wi-Ding (CITIES OF LAST THINGS, 2018), a master of depicting human loneliness unique to the metropolis.
DOCUMENTARIES WITH COMPELLING STORYTELLING
Powerful impact documentaries that create a platform to raise voices and awareness on social issues, including the award-winning director Lin Cheng-Shen’s latest work AMONG US (2021), captures an independent institution specializing in teaching children with Autism and learning disabilities; DEEPEST UPRISING (2022) by the pioneer of Taiwanese independent filmmaker Huang Ming-Chuan. 16 female poets across multiple regions in Asia, use poetry to enunciate their concerns on issues including gender inequality, discrimination, misogynistic crimes and political suppression.
QUEER STORIES FROM TAIWAN
Co-presenting with Taiwan International Queer Film Festival, showcasing a wide range of queer stories from Taiwan, including short films THE GLAMOROUS BOYS OF TANG (2018), selected for Rotterdam and Frameline, director Su Hui-Yu reimagines the Taiwanese cult classic of the same-titled from 1985 that was an epic homoerotic fantasy ahead of its time; ADJU (2021), director Lu A-Liang follows Mo-Fu’s musical journey, who identifies as Adju, a word that derived from the Taiwanese indigenous tribe Paiwan language, which is to express trans identity.
In an emotional coming-of-age MAKE A WISH (2020), two best friends are trying to burn a thousand origami stars on the night of Valentine’s day to fulfill a wish.
Based on his award-winning autobiography, one of the most iconic queer filmmakers and activist Mickey Chen’s final work TAIPEI DAD, NEW YORK MOM (UNFINISHED, 2019), documents the poignant moments of coming out and his relationships with his family. Sadly, Chen passed away from cardiogenic shock in 2018, leaving this ambitious work uncompleted. It was finally collected by his long-time friend, director Yang Li-Chou to create this emotional memorial piece that allows the audiences to enjoy Chen’s artistic creations one final time.
CLASSIC RETROSPECTIVE: EDWARD YANG
Taiwanese auteur Edward Yang’s second feature TAIPEI STORY (1985), presented in 4K restoration, is filled with stylish images, capturing souls as they wander through the metropolis. Starring acclaimed filmmaker Hou Hsiao-Hsien (THE ASSASSIN, 2015), Lon struggles to accommodate the expensive taste of his girlfriend (Tsai Chin) when they return to Taiwan. Can he fulfill his American dreams before his lies crumble?
YI YI: A ONE AND A TWO (2000) is undoubtedly one of the leading cinematic representations from the Taiwanese New Wave Cinema, with precise and inescapable camera movement and combined with the dynamic storytelling of an eight-year-boy Yang Yang as he observes everything, the mundane life, weddings, funerals and tightly kept family secrets.
TSAI MING LIANG SHORTS SELECTION
THE NIGHT (2021), selected for the Venice International Film Festival, captures the streets of Causeway Bay in Hong Kong in the aftermath of 2019. As Tsai hums during the filming, the song’s lyrics echo: “The beautiful night is slipping away, I hate to see you go.”
THE MOON AND THE TREE (2021) is a poetic observational documentary that captures the life of Lee Pei-Jing, a woman who has been paralysed for more than 40 years and Chang Feng, a well-known actor from the mid-90s; A CONVERSATION WITH GOD (2001) is one of Director Tsai’s earliest documentaries and was part of the Jeonju International Film Festival – Jeonju Digital Project in 2001, which invited directors to make a short story using DV cameras. Director Tsai captured a set of rituals conducted by a medium, Electric Flower Car, with strippers as they perform for the living and the dead.
SPECIAL SHORT FILMS SELECTION
Hilarious and heartwarming comedy, CAN YOU HEAR ME? (2021) following an elderly man whose soul and body have separate; KEYBOARD WARRIOR (2022), nominated for multiple awards at the Taipei Film Awards, including Best Short Film and Best New Talent, is a quirky action-comedy packed with hysterical Kung Fu fighting scenes; FORGIVENESS DAY (2021) by Melbourne-based director Derek Ho returns to his hometown in Singapore to document the journey of reconnecting with his brother Jeremiah; a stylish animation WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU, an indefatigable office worker with an overwhelming workload is downtrodden by the rejections from his boss engulfed with disappointment.
The Taiwan Film Festival in Australia is proudly supported by Screen NSW and City of Sydney; and would also like to acknowledge the generosity and support of its sponsors, including Taiwan Creative Content Agency, Spotlight Taiwan, Yeh’s Group, TECO, Australian Taiwanese Friendship Association, Ommi’s Food and Catering, and Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Sydney, as well as the individuals and volunteers who have made this festival possible.
SYDNEY | 28 July – 7 August @ Event Cinemas George St
MELBOURNE | 30 – 31 July @ Village Cinemas Jam Factory
BRISBANE | 6 – 7 August @ Event Cinemas City Myer Centre
CANBERRA | 13 August @ NFSA
Ticket Prices:
Adult Single Ticket $18
Concession Ticket $15
Seniors Card $12
Flexi 5 Pass 62.50
Book your tickets now at https://www.taiwanfilmfestival.org.au