Four feature films from Taiwan were screened - and subsequently awarded - by international film festival WorldFest in Houston.
"Hang in There, Kids! (只要我長大),” a coming-of-age film directed by Laha Mebow (陳潔瑤), received a Special Jury Remi Award. Produced by the first female Taiwanese film director of indigenous ancestry, the film follows a trios' journey from a secluded tribal village to the nation's capital with the mission of delivering their invalid teacher's singing audition tape.
"Dolphin (海豬仔)” by director Huang Chun-hua (黃建樺) held its US premiere in Houston and received a Gold Remi Award in the foreign film category. The titular cetacean refers to the nickname of the ocean-loving male lead, who seeks to build a new life on Green Island after release from prison.
"A Package from Daddy (心靈時鐘)” by director Tsai Yin-chuan (蔡銀娟) received a Gold Remi Award in the family drama category. The tale begins when a nine-year-old boy finds his father dead at home, only to receive a strange-shaped clock somehow connected to the event.
"Barkley (小貓巴克里)” featuring a lovable feline protagonist received a Gold Remi Award in the animation film category. Director Chiu Li-wei (邱立偉) is at the helm of this adventure where the orange ball of fur and his animal pals find themselves trapped in a city governed by a fraudulent magician.
Louis Huang (黃敏境), director-general of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston, attended the awards ceremony on April 30 to congratulate the four Taiwanese directors.
A total of 4,300 films from 74 countries were submitted for competition at WorldFest this year, of which 87 features and 109 shorts were shortlisted for the Remi Awards.
From left to right: Director Chiu Li-wei (邱立偉), director Tsai Yin-chuan (蔡銀娟), director Laha Mebow (陳潔瑤), Director-General Louis Huang (黃敏境) and wife, and director Huang Chun-hua (黃建樺).