The Longest-Running Ever! The Taiwan Film Festival in Australia is Back for its 7th Edition, Traveling to Six Cities from July to September 2024!
The 7th Taiwan Film Festival in Australia will take place from July 25th to September 14th, spanning six cities: Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane, Hobart, Melbourne, and, for the first time, Adelaide. With over 50 sessions and 20 Australian premieres, the festival features additional events, including a Pitching Competition, Taiwanese Bookshelves, and the most iconic Short Film Competition.
“I’m really excited about the diverse programs this year, ranging from beautiful arthouse cinema to blockbuster comedy. For the first time, we expanded the programming team and dedicated a section to Taiwanese Indigenous works. This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase Taiwanese Indigenous cultures and highlight their values and voices, which are crucial to Taiwanese identity,” said Benson Wu, the Festival Director.
The festival is excited to announce that director Hsiao Ya-Chuan will join the festival in Sydney for the Australian premiere of his film Old Fox, serving as the Opening Night event, and an additional behind-the-scenes book talk event at Kinokuniya Sydney on 26 July, as part of this year’s Taiwanese Bookshelf event.
Set in 1980s Taiwan, Old Fox depicts the idyllic nostalgia of the economic optimism during the era and the ambitious dreams of the working class. The film won four Golden Horse Awards, including Best Director, Best Original Film Score, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Makeup & Costume Design. Executive produced by the honoured Taiwanese filmmaker, Hou Hsiao-Hsien, Osaka Fumiko (Seediq Bale), and Elisa Y.H. Lin (Little Big Women), the film delicately explores the multi-generational quest for success and happiness, pondering the elusive nature of dreams shaped by the hands of others.
The International Co-Production Projects prove varied this year, with the stylish neo-noir drama Love Is A Gun, a co-production between Taiwan and Hong Kong; Snow In Midsummer, a co-production between Malaysia, Taiwan and Singapore that delves into the tumultuous events of Malaysian history; 18×2 Beyond Youthful Days, a poignant and romantic journey capturing the essence of youthful passion and longing, weaving a story that resonates deeply with the heart, a co-production between Japan and Taiwan; and Salli, an international co-production blending Taiwan’s serene mountains with the allure of Paris.
The Starstruck Section and the First Nations & Documentary Section will screen such titles as Breaking and Re-Entering, a riotous, action-packed comedy, brimming with absurd ideas and quirky humour from start to finish, Fish Memories, a creative and poetic masterpiece from the director of The Last Painting that redefines the essence of Taiwanese cinema and storytelling, and The Woman Carrying the Prey, a documentary that follows Heydi Mijung, a Truku woman who is the only female hunter in her tribe, as she upholds the ancestral tradition of Gaya and practices traditional hunting skills.
For the first time, the Taiwan Film Festival in Australia is hosting a pitching competition. This unique opportunity aims to promote translated Taiwanese literary works by adapting them into screenplays, providing emerging filmmakers with an entry into international co-productions. Whether you are an established filmmaker or fresh out of school, we encourage you to seize this rare opportunity. Participate for a chance to win a $5000 cash prize to kickstart the production of the short film. The pitching competition juries include director Colin Cairnes (Late Night With The Devil), producer Kylie de Fresne (Goalpost Production), author Benjamin Law (Netflix’s Wellmania), Bobby Romain (Screen Australia – Head of Development) and Su Shu-Kuan (Taiwan Creative Content Agency – Assistant Director).
The festival is presented by the Taiwan Film Festival in Australia, and the Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce in Australia, and is co-presented by the Taiwan Creative Contents Agency (TAAICA), Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Sydney, and Spotlight Taiwan as the touring supporter.
For more information on what’s playing, further titles, and ticket and session times, head to the official site here.
Sydney 25 – 14 Sep: Event Cinemas George St
Canberra 2 – 4 August: NFSA
Brisbane 10 – 11 August: Event Cinemas Brisbane City
Hobart 23 – 25 August: State Cinema
Adelaide 30 Aug- 1 Sep: The Picaddily
Melbourne 5 – 12 September: Village Cinemas The Jam Factory
