Contemporary European Visions | European Film Awards Special

The Golden Horse collaborative screening series is themed “European Film Awards: Battle for the Best Actor and Actress,” featuring films that competed for Best Actor and Best Actress at the European Film Awards. In response to this program, Giloo has also curated titles from its platform that were nominated at the European Film Awards, extending the selection to include other works by the nominated directors. Beyond focusing on human performers, the program also highlights Flow (a film dubbed by small animals) nominated for Best Film, and EO, nominated for Best Director. In addition, it includes works by directors who have previously received European Film Award nominations: Thelma by Joachim Trier, the director of the beloved “Oslo Trilogy”; the short film Tuesday Afternoon by Charlotte Wells, director of Aftersun; and The Apprentice, in which Ali Abbasi—director of Holy Spider—reimagines the rise of Donald Trump. These films vary widely in style and are not necessarily set in Europe, yet all have been recognized and celebrated at major international film festivals.

Kaohsiung Shorts (2024)

The “Kaohsiung Shorts” Film Program is an annual initiative that selects emerging creators through an open call, encouraging diverse themes and creative expressions in short film production. To date, the program has supported over 100 works. In 2024, 6 short films present a rich diversity of perspectives and cinematic styles, showcasing a range of themes from familial conflict and reconciliation to loneliness and interpersonal entanglements.

In the play of city lights and shadows, we watch—and search for ourselves.

林森

Perhaps it’s because I grew up in a crowded, complex city that I’ve always been drawn to films set in urban landscapes. The dense weave of skyscrapers and winding streets has a certain allure, holding countless souls and stories within. I like to quietly observe these passing lives—moments of movement, waiting, and everyday fragments. It’s not just about seeing the world, but about finding, within these intersecting paths, a version of myself I once knew.

Straight to the Point: Finite Frames, Infinite Impact

古本森

“As the saying goes, in martial arts, speed is everything.” To me, short animation is more than a space for experimentation and self-training—it’s where ideas are rapidly tested within limited duration, using refined visuals and sound to cut straight to the essence of storytelling. One night, I watched several shorts in a row—dreamlike and surreal, blending the absurd with realism, tenderness, and wit. Though brief and diverse in style, they leave a lasting emotional and intellectual resonance. They convinced me that short animation is a contemporary craft of speed, precision, and impact—striking straight to the core.