Skip to main content

Bill passed to transform the Taiwan Film Institute into national entity

  • Date:2019-12-10
Bill passed to transform the Taiwan Film Institute into national entity

The Legislative Yuan passed a bill that will transform the Taiwan Film Institute (國家電影中心) from a public-endowed foundation into an administrative corporation on Dec. 10, granting it the status and capabilities of a national organization in a bid to better preserve Taiwan's audiovisual heritage.

With the passage of the Establishment Act of the National Center for Film and Audiovisual Heritage (國家電影及視聽文化中心設置條例), the institute's scope of collection and research will be expanded from movies to also include radio and television content, Minister of Culture Cheng Li-chiun explained.

As the Taiwan Film Institute's previous private nature placed a number of restrictions and limitations on its ability to fully perform its duties in collecting, restoring, and preserving audiovisual and cultural assets, the bill will provide the new organization with a more secured source of funds.

Moreover, transitioning into a public entity as the proposed National Center for Film and Audiovisual Heritage (國家電影及視聽文化中心) will bring it greater credibility in Taiwanese society and deliver an assurance of fairness, diversity, and thoroughness in the preservation of such audiovisual assets, Cheng said.

While the National Center for Film and Audiovisual Heritage is estimated to commence operations before June 2020, its new headquarters in New Taipei City's Xinzhuang District is already under construction and will be available by 2021, the Minister stated.

A new film archive is also in the works, she said, adding that the Ministry of Culture will assist with the physical infrastructure and professional personnel required by the proposed center as part of the government's efforts in cultivating Taiwan's culture at home and enhancing the nation's cultural influence on the international stage.

The Establishment Act of the National Center for Film and Audiovisual Heritage has a total of 33 articles covering the scope of responsibilities, funding sources, operational methods, and supervisory mechanisms.