TCT features 70 Taiwan-made films spanning nine themes such as city life, cultural conflict, and gender and literature, MOC Minister Lung Ying-tai said. It can play an invaluable role in further promoting the depth of local culture to the international community, she added.
According to Lung, cinema is the best calling card for Taiwan to present to the world. TCT films are national icons and available for screenings organized by Taiwan Academy and ROC representative offices abroad, she said.
TCT will feature more Taiwan films every year as the ministry ramps up promotional efforts, Lung said, adding that the MOC will soon launch three additional cultural toolkits for Taiwan’s fine arts, literature and traditional arts.
The MOC’s film promotion initiative also drew praise from members of the diplomatic corps based in Taiwan.
Philippe Wieber, acting director of the French representative office in Taipei, believes that the TCT could further enhance Taiwan-France ties since local directors such as Edward Yang and Hou Hsiao-hsien are familiar to culture aficionados in the Gallic nation.
Echoing Wieber’s remarks, Lung said TCT reflects an array of genres and directorial styles, with offerings such as Hou’s “Dust in the Wind” sure to please foreign movie enthusiasts since they were carefully selected by critics, directors and film festival organizers. (DF-JSM)
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