With the Cannes Film Festival returning for its 71st edition on May 8, Taiwan distribution firms will present a wide range of films and latest projects at the Cannes Film Market from May 8 through 17.
Among the 87 Taiwanese films to be introduced to the marketplace, "Father to Son (范保德)" by Hsiao Ya-chuan (蕭雅全) and "An Impossibly Small Object (小玩意)" by David Verbeek (王洪飛) have recently been selected for the Big Screen Competition by the International Film Festival Rotterdam.
Also, director Maren Hwang's (黃榮昇) "Xiao Mei (小美)" and Midi Z's (趙德胤) documentary "14 Apples (十四顆蘋果)" were selected by this year's Berlinale. "On Happiness Road (幸福路上)," an animated film by Sung Hsin-yin (宋欣穎), won the top prize at Tokyo Anime Award Festival earlier this year as well.
In addition, a virtual reality short film titled "Your Spiritual Temple Sucks (全能元神宮改造王)" by John Hsu (徐漢強) will be presented at the market's "Next – VR" section for international distributors and buyers to experience a Taoist ritual that followers use to communicate with deceased loved ones.
Held in conjunction with the Cannes Film Festival, which will run from May 8 through 19 this year, the Cannes Film Market is one of the major movie marketplaces in the world. This year, the market will offer more than 1,450 test screenings and expects to receive around 12,400 film producers, buyers, agents, and distributors from over 90 countries.
Up-and-coming director Liu Chia-hsin (劉家欣), who won the top prize at Taiwan's Women Make Waves Film Festival with short film "Fan Fan (凡凡)," will also join the Festival's Cinefondation Residence program to develop the coming-of-age story into a feature film.
With support from the Bureau of Audiovisual and Music Industry Development, the Taiwan Film Institute will booth the Taiwan Pavilion (25.01, Palais 01) and offer brochures with information on the aforementioned 87 Taiwanese films and twelve projects to promote Taiwanese cinema at Cannes.
A Taiwan Cinema Night will also be held on May 12 in Cannes to invite international buyers and film selectors to learn about Taiwanese films and prompt distribution and collaboration opportunities.