Preface by Artistic Director

2020 2028 96 63 Mariusz Wilczynski StopTrik Olga Bobrowska 2020 2D 3D VR hybrid

Artistic Director of Taichung International Animation Festival

Taichung International Animation Festival (TIAF) has come to the sixth edition this year. 2020 is such a special year to the whole world, with several significant film festivals being delayed, cancelled or held in other formats, online festivals for example. Thanks to all the anonymous heroes whose efforts making almost every activity and life form in Taiwan continue to go on under certain safety regulations. This year TIAF received 2068 films from 96 countries for the competition even under this serious condition. There are many great works among them and extremely difficult to choose upon. In the end, 63 impressive short films were selected for the competition category. These films will be decided who gets the grand prizes by professional international juries during the festival.

Due to the pandemic, a great number of films have been postponed both on production and distribution. Still, to remain the quality of festivals is the main core to the TIAF Team. Therefore, we have invited the Polish director, Mariusz Wilczynski, to screen Kill It and Leave This Town as our Opening Film. This is the latest work by Mr. Wilczynski, and it has won the Jury Distinction award at Annecy, also the Grand Prize for Feature Animation of OIAF this year. Besides the opening film, we also invite two digitally restored classic films, including Perfect Blue by Kon Satoshi, Akira by Katsuhiro Otomo, and the Closing Film Grandma and Her Ghosts by Taiwanese director Wang Shaudi. As a city festival, it’s important that TIAF continues to offer programs for family. We selected some great children's films in this edition and hoped to encourage more family animations to be produced. There are more award-winning feature animated films will be screening at 2020 TIAF. I sincerely invite everyone to participate in the festival!

Animation is consistent with 24 frames per second. Generally speaking, it contains the impression of a storyline or acting of character. However on the other hand, we could also define the animation in a broader sense that all works which are manipulating the elements of moving images that can be identified as animation. The technique can be abstract, or constructively a non-narrative storyline. Willing to try out various combinations of technique is one of the basics for experimental animation.

Therefore this year we choose the theme of “flipping animations“ for the special programs. We wish to offer audiences some different perspectives about animation. For this, we have invited four curators to select the thematic program to share various creative perspectives to every participant.

First of all, we have invited Program Director Olga Bobrowska from Stoptrik, a Slovenia festival which focuses on stop motion in Slovenia, to select films among their winning films for the audience in Taiwan. When looking back on the animation history from 2020, we cannot help but be amazed by the prosperity of hybrid techniques in the creation. Beginning with traditional hand-drawing and stop-motion, and then digital skills i.e. digital drawing, 3D CGI animation, and now Virtual Reality. We have come to a new generation with newdeveloped combinations of techniques. Accordingly, we invite Prof. Chang Yen Jung to curate a program, “Indescribable Techniques and Narration“.

Animation Artist Lin Ching-Hsuan selected films for the program of The Non-Fiction Animated Film, introducing animation that primarily consist of documentary context and format. And curator Hsiao Hung Lin not only selected films made by Taiwanese young directors, he will also host a forum to introduce those in-production Taiwanese feature animated films. The audience will be able to understand the hard work of producing feature films and to sneak-peak some never-seen clips. The directors will talk about the potential of Taiwan original animation as well as share their experiences..

Hopefully these programs may bring light and encouragement to both Taiwan audiences and artists. I would use this opportunity to give my personal gratitude towards the Taichung City Government, Taichung Film Development Foundation, the guest curators, juries and the TIAF executive team!