Three Taiwanese films are screening at the 28th edition of the One World Festival underway through March 19 in Prague, underscoring the two sides’ shared commitment to human rights and democratic values.
The festival opened March 11 in the Czech capital, the Culture Division of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Prague said, adding that this marks Taiwan’s fourth time participating in the event.
The films being shown are two documentaries, “SPI” and “Slave Island,” and the feature film “Yen and Ai-Lee,” according to the Ministry of Culture.
“SPI,” directed by Sayun Simung, depicts the emotional twists and turns faced by members of an Atayal family following the death of an elder, presenting aspects of Taiwan’s Indigenous culture and spirituality. Tomáš Poštulka, the festival’s head of program, recommended the work as one of the event’s must-see films, the ministry said.
“Slave Island” is a co-production by Belgium, Estonia, Italy and Taiwan that explores the complex relationship between tradition, power and human rights. The film has been shortlisted in the Right to Know competition category and will compete for the Václav Havel Jury Award.
“Yen and Ai-Lee,” directed by Thomas Shu-yu Lin, examines issues of family relationships and self-identity, the ministry added.
During the festival, Sayun Simung and Lin are also joining post-screening discussions to exchange views with European audiences and filmmakers.
Founded in 1999, One World is one of the major international human rights film festivals and is organized by People in Need, a nongovernmental organization in Czechia. After the Prague event concludes, the films will also be screened in more than 60 Czech cities through April 24, the ministry said. (POC-E)
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