Cinespot : Taiwan Cinefest London 2010

Taiwan Cinefest London 2010

The Taiwan Cinefest is back again in 2010. Cinefest Productions presents the 2nd Taiwan Cinefest at Riverside Studios, Hammersmith, March 17th - March 21st 2010 and Glasgow Film Theatre, 23rd March 23rd - March 31st 2010.

The Taiwan Cinefest claims to be Europe's largest Taiwanese film festival showcasing a variety of new and award-winning Taiwanese features, documentaries and short films by established and new filmmakers.

The 2010 edition includes 4 UK feature film premieres: Ian Lou's visually stunning “A Place Of One's Own”, “Sorry, I Love You” by well-known young talent Yu-Hsien Lin, the comedy romp “Step By Step” and “How Are You Dad”, a brave and moving series of stories surrounding father/son relationships by director, Chang Tso-Chi. The festival also includes the critically acclaimed “Yang Yang” by Ang Lee mentored, Cheng Yu-Chieh and Chen Huai-en's “Island Etude”, Taiwan's official nomination to the 2008 Academy awards for best foreign language picture.

Audiences will also have the opportunity to join in a special Q & A on opening night with Yu-Hsien Lin, director of “Sorry, I Love You” and Taiwan's most successful documentary ever, “Jump Boys!”.

On Friday March 19th, the festival will be staging the annual New Talent Showcase at Goldsmiths College (University of London), screening eight short films by young Taiwanese filmmakers from around the world and with Yu-Hsien Lin also in attendance to take part in a film-makers workshop.

The Taiwan Cinefest is organised by Cinefest Productions, a not-for-profit cultural organisation dedicated to promoting and distributing East Asian cinema through its own festival platforms in the UK and USA.

Steven Flynn, Festival Director of the Taiwan Cinefest commented “I am very proud with all the hard work our team, partners and sponsors have put in to help bring this fantastic and eclectic mix of Taiwanese films to the UK. This event really helps Taiwanese filmmakers reach and connect with a wider international audience. I am also especially indebted to the Taipei Representative Office UK who has been instrumental in bringing over our guest Director, Yu-Hsien Lin and their ongoing assistance in support of our cultural objectives."

Opening Night Screening

Sorry, I Love You
Taiwan 2009. Dir Yu-Hsien Lin. 93 min. Colour. English Subtitles

Chie Tanaka comes to Taiwan to study Chinese but is unexpectedly cast as the leading actress in a movie. Wu Huai-Jhong wants to be a filmmaker but he can only find a part-time projectionist job. Chie runs away from her acting work in Taipei to a southern city Kaohsiung. As soon as she begins her one-day excursion, she finds her purse is lost. Huai-Jhong helps her by offering her five hundred Taiwan dollars. She refuses first. Huai-Jhong believes their encounter is pre-destined. But how can he convince Chie that their fates are really crossed? It will take his wits, humors and most importantly his heart to do the magic.

Other Films

Feature Film: Island Etude
Director: En Chen
Cast: Ming-hsiang Tung, Saya, Li-Yin Yang
Running Time: 108 mins

In this beautiful homage to the island’s people, its sights, and the sport of bicycling, a hearing-impaired college student decides to take a bicycle trip around Taiwan. Starting from the southern city of Kaohsiung with a pack and guitar on his back, he follows the coastline, encountering both friendship and hardship on his seven-day trip. From a film crew to a lost foreign biker to a woman off to see her grandmother, he meets many interesting people on the road, opening his eyes to himself and the island he calls home.

Feature Film: A Place of One’s Own
Director: Lou Yi-an
Cast: Mo Tzu-Yi, Jack Kao, Lu Yi-Jing, Lu Jia-Xin
Running Time: 123 mins

Set against the cold competitive landscape of Taipei City, “A Place of One’s Own” is a dark comedy, richly emotional and visually stunning from Writer/Director Ian Lou and Producer Singing Chen (Director “God Man Dog”). “Place” is a multilayered tale of struggling musician, Mozi (Mo Zi Yi “The Most Distant Course”) once famous – now forgotten, and an origami artist, (Jack Kao “Shinjuku Incident”) and his family, who work frantically to earn the money he needs for a lifesaving operation. As unexpected events bring their lives together they are both forced to question their most closely held beliefs that, quite literally, will mean the difference between life or death.

Feature Film: Step By Step
Director: Chen-ti Kuo
Cast: Shu-zhen Tsai, Hsiao-chuan Chang
Running Time: 93 mins

At an old people’s home in a small Taiwan town, Xiao Liu, a dashing male nurse who does things his own way, has his hands full taking charge of a group of quirky old folks. Until, a gorgeous but reserved woman, Ru Ping – the new dance teacher, arrives in town. The old people want to learn Tango from Ru Ping and enter a dance contest. Only problem is the home is being shut down. But that won’t stop this colorful crew of young and old!

Feature Film: Yang Yang
Director: Cheng Yu-Chieh
Cast: Sandrine Pinna, Bryant Chang, Huang Chien-Wei, He Si-Hui, Shelly Yu, Zhu Lu-Hao
Running Time: 114 mins

“Do you speak French?” Eurasian adolescent Yang-Yang cannot bear to hear that question anymore. Having a French father whom she never met, she is an outsider in Taiwan, always considered to be different, often envied for her beauty and exoticism. Yang Yang is searching for love, identity and a real family. There is hope since her mother remarries. But things get complicated and Yang Yang decides to leave the family and her struggle for love and acceptance continues in the superficial world of commercials. But still there is hope…

Feature Film: How are you dad?
Director: Chang Tso-Chi
Cast: Jack Kao, Fan Chin-wei
Running Time: 107 mins

How Are You, Dad? Is composed of more than 10 short stories, each lasting around 5 to 10 minutes.The project is Chang’s present as a son to his father, and a gift to everyone who can relate to these stories, either as a child or a parent. From drunken fathers who are comforted by their six-year-old sons, to fathers who fake medical emergencies in order to get his daughter’s attention, to fathers who learn how to tango after retiring from army life and living alone, these ten stories tell the hopes and joys of fathers nurturing their children, the loneliness and yearning of fathers who would like to do more, and the memories and relationships ultimately shared by fathers and their children.

Short Film: When the Rain is Over
Director:Yu-Hsien Lin
Running Time: 27 mins

Yu-Hsien Lin (Jump Boys!, Exit No 6 & Sorry, I Love You) will be in attendance to share his very own short When the Rain is Over & hosting an audience Q & A after the screening of documentary mega-hit Jump Boys!

Feature Film: Jump Boys!
Director: Yu-Hsien Lin
Running Time: 84 mins

For more information of Taiwan Cinefest London 2010, do check out their official website here.

information provided by: Taiwan Cinefest London (03/10)