The three winners of this year's National Cultural Award, the highest artistic honor organized by the Republic of China government, were announced on Jan. 4:
Filmmaker Li Hsing (李行)
Heritage preservationist Li Chien-lang (李乾朗)
Hakka novelist Chung Chao-cheng (鍾肇政)
Known as the Father of Taiwanese Cinema, the revered filmmaker Li Hsing made his mark with 'wholesome realism' that highlighted the bright side and positive attitude in the lives of working-class people in Taiwan.Seven of his works won the prominent Golden Horse Award for Best Feature Film, and he was named Golden Horse Best Director thrice for "Beautiful Duckling (養鴨人家),” "The Execution in Autumn (秋決),” and "He Never Gives Up (汪洋中的一條船).”
Li Chien-lang isone of the most influential heritage preservationists in Taiwan.Fascinated by the history told by architectural remnants from previous eras, he is on a lifelong quest to research and record each individual story housed by such buildings. Affiliated restoration projectsinclude Dihua Street (迪化街), National Taiwan Museum (台博館), Fort Provintia (赤崁樓), Fort Zeelandia (安平古堡), and the Lin Family Mansion and Garden.
Chung Chao-cheng is the first National Cultural Award winner of Hakka ancestry and the first roman-fleuve writer in Taiwan who has helped the formation of Taiwanese modern literature. His best-known works are"The Dull Ice Flower (魯冰花),”"Muddy Water Trilogy (濁流三部曲),” and"Taiwanese Trilogy (台灣人三部曲).”
The awards ceremony will take place on March 24.