The 2010 Taipei Film Festival, presenting 152 films from around the world June 25-July 15, opened amid much fanfare.
Out of the 152 films, 40 films will compete for awards in the feature film, short film, documentary and animation categories. A total of 18 prizes will be presented at a ceremony July 10.
Two Taiwan films have been selected to open and close the festival, now in its 12th year. “The Fourth Portrait” by Chung Mong-hong tells of a fatherless child who deals with predicaments in life, while “Fantome, ou est-tu?” by Wang Shau-di is a youth film tinged with supernaturalism.
“I expect the festival to be the ‘cradle of modern Taiwan cinema,’” Hou Hsiao-hsien, chairman of the festival, said. “I look forward to seeing more Taiwan films made and more local directors taking up important roles in the development of Chinese-language cinema.”
In addition to the competition division, the festival includes two special sections on modern Shanghai, the city hosting the 2010 World Expo, and Brazil, where the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympics will be held, as well as tributes to iconic Chinese actress Ruan Lingyu (1910~1935) and Japanese actress Kinuyo Tanaka, who starred in 258 movies.
The Brazilian section will feature three films each by directors Susana Amaral and Hector Babenco. Amaral’s first film, “Hour of the Star” (1985), brought her international prestige at the age of 57, while Babenco’s “Kiss of the Spider Woman” (1985) won critical acclaim at the Cannes Festival and Academy Awards.
Jose Wilker, famed Brazilian thespian and star of the classic “Bye Bye Brazil” (1980), will serve as a member of the jury for the Taipei Film Awards. “It has been difficult for me to make decisions among all these great films,” Wilker said. “The festival has indeed collected films of superior quality.” (TYH-THN)