From Nov. 5 to 11, selected Taiwanese films will be screened at cinemas in San Diego, US under the program "Taiwan Film Showcase (臺灣電影櫥窗)," as part of the 23rd San Diego Asian Film Festival (SDAFF), which kicked off on Nov. 3.
This year's lineup encompasses five films and a section consisting of three short films, covering a wide array of film genres such as drama, classic restoration film and documentary, showcasing Taiwan’s rich and diverse creative perspectives to American audiences.
The screenings span different eras, covering topics such as love, social issues, gender, and identity. The titles include director Laha Mebow's (陳潔瑤) "Gaga (哈勇家)," a drama-comedy film that presents conflicts between indigenous traditions and contemporary society and was nominated for six Golden Horse Awards this year; director Hung Chun-hsiu's (洪淳修) "Remember Me (金門留念)," a documentary that witnesses the subtle political changes in Taiwan and China over the past few decades; and others. Taiwanese director Arvin Chen (陳駿霖) of "Mama Boy (初戀慢半拍)" will partake in a post-screening talk after the screening in person.
The lineup of shorts includes "Good Day (詠晴)" by Zhang Zhi-teng (張誌騰), "The Making of Crime Scenes (事件現場製造)" by Hsu Che-yu (許哲瑜), and "The Moon and The Tree" by Tsai Ming-liang (蔡明亮). The organizer also launched a new restoration film section, featuring "Girl's School (女子學校)" and "A Confucian Confusion (獨立時代)."
Established in 2000, the San Diego Asian Film Festival will present more than 130 films from over 30 countries this year. Since 2012, the Taiwan Academy Los Angeles has collaborated with the University of California - San Diego’s Taiwan Studies Lecture Series (臺灣研究講座) and Chuan Lyu Endowed Chair in Taiwan Studies (川流臺灣研究講座) to launch the “Taiwan Film Showcase,” becoming an important screening platform for Taiwanese films in the Western United States.