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TaiwanPlus Docs and Sundance: 5 Acclaimed Taiwanese Short Films to Watch

Couldn't attend this year's Taiwan-based Asia? TaiwanPlus and Sundance have collaborated to bring you the shortlisted films from this year's short film competition to global audiences. Judged by a talented international panel of experts, this year's competition gave Taiwanese directors a chance to bring their genre-breaking creations to the global stage. See the winning film, shortlisted selections, and interviews with directors for free on the TaiwanPlus Docs YouTube channel until December 31st, 2023.  

  1. Winner: Tuo Tuo by   

This somber short film explores the relationship between Hai and an unusual costar — the family deer. During his weekend leave from the military, Hai comes home to help with his family's deer farm. Only then does he find out that the deer who had once cured his childhood illness was sent away. With the smell of grass and blood fresh in the air, Hai looks back on his memories.  

  1. Unexpected Passenger by   

This short film is full of scares and surprising turns as viewers follow a taxi driver on a heartfelt journey. In the dead of the night, the driver encounters a mysterious passenger who gives a strange location and says no more — hinting at a hidden and ominous secret. 

 
  1. Burning by   

This coming-of-age story follows Ming-kai and Ah-jie, two friends trying to find their place in a world that wasn't made for them. Childhood wanders into a tale of fear and loss, and the two boys find themselves occupying an empty rooftop and building their world around their curiosities, dreams, and memories.  

  
  1. Afterlife by and  

This short film follows Jintaro, a man who designed tombs for 60 years. In this beautifully shot and engaging tale of craftsmanship, you learn that despite all his work, he wasn't buried with his wife after he died. 

 
  1. The Train of Memories by  

This visually captivating film tells a relatable story, where the frames of negativity spin rapidly like the passing scenery outside a moving train. It skillfully weaves through fragmented memories, offering a hopeful narrative of finding relief from suffering, set against the backdrop of beautiful moments at birth.  

   

About the Author: 

TaiwanPlus is the premier global provider of English-language news and infotainment from Taiwan — offering trustworthy news coverage, informative perspectives on cross-strait relations, plus inspiring lifestyle content focusing on food, travel and entertainment. Proud to be based in one of Asia's most vibrant democracies, our diverse team of journalists and producers is committed to delivering independent news and stories that inform, enlighten and inspire audiences worldwide. Get a global perspective backed by a Taiwanese point of view on our website, mobile app, TV channel and various social media channels.    

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About the author

Panos Kotzathanasis

My name is Panos Kotzathanasis and I am Greek. Being a fan of Asian cinema and especially of Chinese kung fu and Japanese samurai movies since I was a little kid, I cultivated that love during my adolescence, to extend to the whole of SE Asia.

Starting from my own blog in Greek, I then moved on to write for some of the major publications in Greece, and in a number of websites dealing with (Asian) cinema, such as Taste of Cinema, Hancinema, EasternKicks, Chinese Policy Institute, and of course, Asian Movie Pulse. in which I still continue to contribute.

In the beginning of 2017, I launched my own website, Asian Film Vault, which I merged in 2018 with Asian Movie Pulse, creating the most complete website about the Asian movie industry, as it deals with almost every country from East and South Asia, and definitely all genres.

You can follow me on Facebook and Twitter.

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