With the aim of providing a shared platform for Taiwanese and Malaysian media professionals, "Making Waves: Riding the Tides of New Media in the 4th Industrial Revolution" took place in Sungai Long, Malaysia on July 17 and 18 and attracted more than 1,000 veteran media workers and local students.
As the second installment of the "Spotlight Taiwan" series in Malaysia, the two-day event was held by Malaysia's Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Malaysia, and Taiwan's Ministry of Culture.
During this informative and comprehensive event, professionals exchanged opinions and elaborated on "new media" as a current heated trend, sparking curiosity and passionate feedback from audience members. "Making Waves" promoted both Taiwanese and Malaysian cultures, expanded mutual understanding, and strengthened the interconnection between the two countries.
In addition to displays, lectures, and workshops, there were also movie screenings to inspire and motivate young participants. The selection included "100th Birthday Wish (小孩不在家)" by Taiwanese director Lien Chien-hung (練建宏) and "Firefly (螢火蟲)" by Malaysian director Lau Kek-huat (廖克發).
Invited speakers included academics, digital experts, independent filmmakers, and social media managers, including director Lien and associate dean Chien Mei-ling (簡美玲) of National Chiao Tung University from Taiwan; directors Lau, SHIO (郭修篆), James Lee (李添興), and Chong Keat-aun (張吉安), playwright Lai Chang-ming (賴昌銘), and producer Lin Na (林娜) from Malaysia.
Vice President Lee Sze-wei (李仕偉) of UTAR also came onto the stage and paid tribute to the success of the event. Peggy Chou (周蓓姬), director of the TECO's Cultural Division, added that it was an honor to collaborate with UTAR once again via the "Spotlight Taiwan" initiative.
The two-day "Making Waves: Riding the Tides of New Media in the 4th Industrial Revolution" has promoted remarkable cross-cultural exchanges in hope of establishing long-term partnerships with more foreign universities and consolidating global understanding and appreciation of Taiwanese culture.