Foreword from the Festival President
A Metamorphosis, A Film Spectacular
E
v e r y y e a r, w h e n t h e h o t
This year, the festival's iconic Taipei Film Awards and International New
s u m m e r b re e ze h i ts , Ta i p e i
Talent Competition received 359 and 610 submissions respectively, both
Film Festival will invariably bring
record highs. These numbers don't just symbolise the recognition and
spectacular audiovisual work from
affirmation that cutting-edge Taiwanese filmmakers have for the Taipei
around the world to the audiences
Film Awards— they also proudly represent Taipei Film Festival's status and
of Taiwan. This year is no different.
influence in international film circles. We are delighted and honoured.
The 21st Taipei Film Festival is still conversing with audiences through screening selections that reflect Taiwan's outstanding contemporary
From start to finish, the creation of an outstanding audiovisual work relies on the talents and efforts of creative professionals from various fields in front of and behind the camera. Apart from continuing to discover and encourage
Taipei Film Festival is Taiwan's only
This year, we are introducing the "Film Marketing Awards" side event to
film festival with a main competition
recognise the film marketing personnel often overlooked by film festivals and
dedicated to Taiwanese films. We
competitions. It is our hope that the Taipei Film Awards can be the first to
are determined to accentuate and
award workers across all facets of the film industry. Among the smorgasbord
s t re n g t h e n t h i s c h a r a c te r i s t i c .
of planned events, we have also organised in-depth talks headed by
The changes we have made
renowned acting stars and agents, who will lead audiences in appreciating
t o t h e Ta i p e i F i l m Aw a r d s w i l l
the charisma of actors and the challenges they face.
workers, from both in front and behind the camera, and enable more of them to participate in the festival. Moreover, it will further bring together the aspirations of Taiwanese filmmakers by helping them find a sense of identity and belonging. This is the goal and direction we are doing everything we can to work towards.
extend its impact to multiple facets of the professional filmmaking industry.
This year's Taipei Film Festival is rolling out many new ideas and features to our audiences. Experimentation, innovation, hard work and persistence on the one hand, this describes the spirit Taiwan cinema has showcased in a difficult environment; on the other, it is the very message that Taipei Film Festival has sought to convey throughout the years. We may have undergone a transformation, but our selected films remain as spectacular as ever. We sincerely invite cineastes both in front and behind the camera to come along and join the audience at the 21st Taipei Film Festival in 2019.
Mark LEE Ping-bing President of Taipei Film Festival
FOREWORD FROM THE FESTIVAL PRESIDENT
cutting-edge filmmakers, the core spirit of Taipei Film Festival also aims to 主席序
filmmakers.
encourage more film industry
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