With the support and sponsorship from the Ministry of Culture as well as the Taipei Representative Office in Germany, the 4th Taiwanese Film Festival in Berlin willl take place, organized by Impression Taiwan and co- organized by Taiwan Docs and Taiwan Cinema Toolkit from Taiwan Film and Audiovisual Institute. Last year, they received extremely positive feedback on their digital format due to the COVID-19 situation, therefore, they decided to carry it on this year. From August 20 to 29, 16 films of 4 different themes will be screened, which is the largest amount they have ever brought to you since the establishment of the festival! Their aim is for you to relax at home while taking in the most dynamic atmosphere of moving pictures.
Taiwan Film Festival Berlin is the largest Taiwanese cultural event in Europe. Organized by Impression Taiwan since 2017, the curatorial team is preparing its 4th festival.The theme throughout this year’s festival is Portraits of Taiwanese Diversity. Through various portraits and reflections of ordinary Taiwanese individuals, we intend to present the fullest range of cultural backgrounds and the multiplicity of memories and emotions attached to the land. As curator Jaye Lin concludes, ‘this year we are looking straight into the future and hope to explore and perceive different aspects of the events and people on the Taiwan island, along with our audiences from all over Germany. Through the interrelation among our four sub-themes this year, we will be outlining the uniquely Taiwanese philosophical thoughts and self-reflections upon our position between mountains and sea.’
Jhy-wey Shieh, Representative of Taiwan in Germany also sends his congratulations and high hopes: ‘I sincerely wish the 4th film festival the greatest success. It was founded by several ambitious and determined young Taiwanese people who gradually took the festival to the next professional level: its curation, film selection and events all have the potential to become a shining beacon for all other independent film festivals in Germany. I hope audiences will be able to experience the diverse society of Taiwan and thus become a window through which Taiwan and Germany see each other.’
The opening film for the festival is “Whale Island”, which takes the audience on a journey to the sea with maritime author Huang Chia-chun and underwater whale photographer Ray Chin. On the other hand, the closing film – “Searching for Taromak: Land of Warriors” by Liao Shih-han- shows an authentic record of tribal lives while highlighting the intimate connections among the land, the woods, people as well as crops. The film brings out the rawest and most vibrant sides of aboriginal culture in Taiwan.
Both films reveal and discuss the deep connection between nature and people, i.e. the sea, the mountains, and the islanders. By presenting a philosophical and self-reflecting discourse on how Taiwanese people are placed within nature, the two documentaries offer a unique insight into the thematic and stylistic diversity of Taiwanese films. It is worth noting that the opening film “Whale Island” will be screened only once at the grand opening on August 20; while the closing film “Taromak: Land of Warriors” will be screened along with “Taromak Ecology and Milletology”, brought to you by Seed Design. Be sure you do not miss these screenings!
