A series of events featuring Taiwanese films will be hosted by the Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF) in collaboration with the Taiwan Academy in Los Angeles this November.
The HIFF also organizes the Halekulani Golden Orchid Award, in which two Taiwan films - "The Tenants Downstairs (樓下的房客)” by Adam Tsuei (崔鎮東) and "Foret Debussy (德布西森林)” by Kuo Cheng-chui (郭承衢) - are part of the official competition.
From Nov. 3 through 13, the 36th edition of HIFF will showcase Taiwanese films of different genres through three sections titled "Spotlight on Taiwan,” "Fantastic Asia,” and "Love in Small Corner.”
In addition to the two shortlisted films, "At Café 6 (六弄咖啡館)” by Neal Wu (吳子雲), "The Laundryman (青田街一號)” by Chung Lee (李中), "The Tamaki Family (海的彼端)” by Huang Yin-yu (黃胤毓), "Coin Boy (銅板少年)” by Li Chuan-yang (李權洋), "Log in Dinner (登入晚餐)” by Cheong Chi-wai (張志威), and "Wonderland” by Tiffanie Hsu will be screened.
The HIFF section "Filmmaker in Focus” will also feature the late martial arts director King Hu (胡金銓) and showcase two of his most celebrated wuxia films - "Dragon Inn (龍門客棧)” and "A Touch of Zen (俠女).”
Based on a novel by writer Giddens Ko (九把刀), "The Tenants Downstairs” tells the story of a landlord who uses hidden cameras to secretly watch his 7 tenants - a geeky college student, a gay couple, a mysterious woman, a single father with a young daughter, and a gymnastics teacher with a history of violence.
"Foret Debussy,” director Kuo's debut feature, tells the story of a mother and a daughter living in solitude after the daughter lost her husband and son. The film revolves around their spiritual journey of finding solace and handling grief by living in the mountains.
Directors of the two nominated films will join the film festival in Hawaii. Actress Li Xing (李杏) from "The Tenants Downstairs” will also join the opening party of the Spotlight on Taiwan section. For more information, please visit http://program.hiff.org/films/country/taiwan.
"The Tenants Downstairs (樓下的房客)”
"Foret Debussy (德布西森林)”