The Taiwan Film Institute has teamed up with DokuFest to hold the largest retrospective on an Asian nation ever to greet Kosovan audiences ― the 23-film-strong "Birth of a Nation: Focus on Taiwan @ Dokufest."
Curated by Wood Lin (林木材), director of the Taiwan International Documentary Festival, "Birth of a Nation" is a showcase of Taiwanese filmmaking that spans almost a full century of Taiwan history, from Japanese colonial rule to the student-led Sunflower Movement in 2014. It includes films by world-acclaimed masters as well as recent works by up-and-coming young directors.
The retrospective's provocative title reflects DokuFest's mission to encourage discussions on national independence, sovereignty, human rights, and social movements. As questions of nationhood and international recognition are crucial issues in both countries, films on Taiwan's recent history and political developments are expected to be of great interest for Kosovan festivalgoers.
Birth of a Nation: Focus on Taiwan@DokuFest 2018
From documentary and experimental video to fiction, this retrospective program is divided into 4 sections reflecting Taiwanese history, politics, identity, people's power, and daily life.
#1 Portrait of a Nation (5 films)
“The Mountain” (Digital Restoration) by Richard Yao-chi CHEN
Taiwan, B&W, 1966, 19min
“Liu Pi-Chia” (Digital Restoration) by Richard Yao-chi CHEN
Taiwan, Color, 1967, 27min
“How Deep Is the Ocean” by TANG Shiang-chu
Taiwan, Color, 2000, 60min
“Spring: The Story of Hsu Chin-Yu” by TSENG Wen-Chen
Taiwan, B&W, Color, 2002, 80min
“62 Years and 6,500 Miles Between” by Anita Wen-Shin CHANG
Taiwan, Color, 2005, 52min
#2 Memory of a Nation (7 films)
“A Time To Live, A Time To Die” by HOU Hsiao-hsien
Taiwan, Color, 1985, 138min
“Super Citizen Ko” by WAN Jen
Taiwan, Color, 1995, 121min
“The Falling Kite” by HSIAO Mei-ling
Taiwan, Color, 1999, 42min
“Pusu Qhuni” by TANG Shiang-chu
Taiwan, Color, 2013, 154min
“Letter #69” by LIN Hsin-i
Taiwan, Color, 2016, 19min
“Return” by HUANG Pang-chuan
Taiwan, B&W, 2017, 19min
“The War that Never Was” by CHANG Chien-Chi
Taiwan, Color, 2017, 16min
#3 Paradox of a Nation (7 films)
“The 20th May Incident” by Green Team
Taiwan, Color, 1989, 69min
Chinese Television News Clips
“The 20th May Incident: Farmers’ Demonstration” by Chinese Television System Inc.
Taiwan, Color, 1989, 3min
“The 20th May Incident: The Truck Driver” by Chinese Television System Inc.
Taiwan, Color, 1989, 3min
“The 20th May Incident: Situation in Ximen from Nighttime to Early Morning” by Chinese Television System Inc.
Taiwan, Color, 1989, 3min
“Verdict Announced Today for the 20th May Incident” by Chinese Television System Inc.
Taiwan, Color, 1989, 2min
“I Love (080)” by YANG Li-chou
Taiwan, Color, 1999, 58min
“Resampling the Past” by Marco WILMS
Taiwan, B&W, 2010, 16min
“The 561st Hour of Occupation” by YUAN Goang-ming
Taiwan, Color, 2014, 7min
“Terra Nullius or: How to Be A Nationalist” by James T. Hong
Taiwan, Color, 2015, 78min
“Home Abroad” by Boan WANG
Taiwan, Color, 2017, 10min
#4 Time(s) of a Nation (4 films)
“Yi Yi (A One and a Two)” by Edward YANG
Taiwan, Color, 2000, 173min
“The Best Of Times” by CHANG Tso-chi
Taiwan, Color, 2002, 112min
“Hand in Hand” by YEN Lan-chuan & CHUANG Yi-tseng
Taiwan, Color, 2010, 140min
“Le Moulin” by HUANG Ya-li
Taiwan, Color, 2015, 162min