The Taipei Film Festival organizer announced its new director, curator and a promotional film directed by Hou Chi-ran at an April 8 news conference in Taipei City.
Liou Wei-gong, Taipei City Government’s Department of Cultural Affairs commissioner, introduced festival Director Jeane Huang and curator Kuo Ming-jung on behalf of TFF Chairperson Sylvia Chang.
The short promotional video for the festival, which is due to run from June 27 to July 19, features Taiwan-French actress Sandrine Pinna, star of “Yang Yang” and “Touch of the Light,” and local heartthrob Mo Tzu-yi.
Liou said that TFF will have a new image for its 16th incarnation under the direction of Huang, who previously served as the international marketing consultant for the Taiwan International Festival of Arts and one of the organizers of the Urban Nomad film festival.
“TFF is not just a cradle of the local film industry, but one of Taipei City’s top cultural brands. I hope TFF can extend beyond the city to places including campuses so as to establish film culture at grassroots level,” Huang said.
Kuo has been involved in the film industry for years, including the planning of the TFF for the past three years. As for the direction her curating will be taking this year, she said, “I want TFF to adopt an attitude and give people the spark of inspiration.”
Hou said that for him, watching a movie is a very private experience, which is what he hopes to convey in the promotional short for the festival. Hou said the NT$1 million (US$33,000) Grand Prix at Taipei International Film Festival in 2003 for his experimental short “Stardust 15749001” had helped him break into filmmaking.
TFF screenings will be held at the Taipei Zhongshan Hall, Shin Kong Cineplex and Huashan 1914 Creative Park’s Spot cinema.
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