Somewhere in Time, River and Stone

I am happy to make this film for you. These two girls, Shoushan and stalactite, monkeys and spiers, rain and sun and darkness. Because of love.

Before winning the Short Film Palme d’Or at Cannes for All the Crows in the World, Tang Yi made Black Goat, a coming-of-age fantasy that confronts menstrual taboos. The film features real Buddhist nuns from Nepal and received a Special Mention at AFI Fest.

Wild Child

Conventional interactions between people mask our true instincts and qualities that only emanate when we return to the basics.

The Art of Lesbian Visibility

Taiwan became the first place in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage, and LGBTQ+ identities seem to have become increasingly visible in everyday life. Yet when we turn to Taiwan's mainstream media and cinema, where are the stories of lesbian women? On this island, do the loves left unspoken, the relationships that defy definition, and the intimacies that blur the lines between friendship and romance still remain outside the frame? And when lesbian women do appear on screen, how often are their stories truly told from their own perspectives? Through a selection of Taiwanese films, we summon those who have always been here, yet have rarely been seen. “I summon you by this name. Reveal yourself.”

2022 金鐘獎｜電視電影獎

Do Not Go Gentle in Taipei

Kinda Loser-ish, But Kinda Nice

“Lu-se” (魯蛇, Taiwanese internet slang borrowed from the English word “loser”) seems to have become a dead word. You rarely hear anyone say it anymore, and I’m not sure why. I don’t think the term can be understood simply as the English “loser.” In the way it’s used in Taiwan, it seems to carry a touch of self-deprecating humor, and that’s a quality I really love. The films above are the ones that, to me, have that feeling.

My Dear Enemy

The World of Kanako

The Birth of a Cinematic Language

Before they became masters, they all had a first film. And in those early works, the seeds of their signature styles were often already there. Satoshi Kon’s Perfect Blue plunges the relationship between idols and fans into a psychological labyrinth where reality and illusion blur, influencing countless filmmakers who followed. Christopher Nolan’s Following, which he wrote, directed, edited, and shot himself, already hints at the narrative sensibilities that would later shape Memento and Inception. Sofia Coppola’s The Virgin Suicides wraps the mystery surrounding five sisters in a dreamlike haze, laying the groundwork for her distinctive style. Meanwhile, Take Out, co-directed by Sean Baker and Shih-Ching Tsou, captures the realities beneath the American Dream of Chinese immigrant delivery workers. Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s graduation film from Tokyo University of the Arts, Passion, already reveals the tension and depth of dialogue that he would continue to explore in Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy and Drive My Car.

《奧德賽》金獎名導諾蘭首部劇情長片

Following

Kaohsiung Film Festival Retrospective

#KaohsiungFilmFestival returns on October 9! Before this year’s festival kicks off, revisit some of the standout films from recent editions and get into festival mode from home. As Taiwan’s largest international short film festival, the Kaohsiung Film Festival has long provided a platform for emerging filmmakers to be discovered, while turning the port city into an annual autumn gathering for film lovers. We’ve selected seven films from the festival’s 2022–2024 lineups, led by the newly added Cat and Chicken. From Meinong and Kaohsiung to Malaysia, and from festival regulars to rising filmmakers, this selection brings together some of the most memorable works from recent editions of KFF.

Somewhere in Time, River and Stone

Shambhala Story

Black Goat

Wild Child

Somewhere in Time, River and Stone

Somewhere in Time, River and Stone

Who’ll Stop the Rain

Who’ll Stop the Rain

Girls' School

Girls' School

One Summer's Day

One Summer's Day

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