The winners of the New Southbound Policy short film competition were honored at an award ceremony Dec. 4 in Taipei City.
Organized by the Cabinet-level Office of Trade Negotiations, the inaugural contest was open to local and foreign filmmakers and recognized works promoting the NSP and spotlighting people-to-people exchanges with target nations.
First place and prize money of NT$200,000 (US$6,490) went to the Malaysia Volunteer Team from National Tsing Hua University in northern Taiwan’s Hsinchu City. The students documented their volunteer project to revitalize a library and host reading sessions for local schoolchildren in Kuala Sepetang, a small fishing town in the Southeast Asian country’s Perak state.
The runner-up award and NT$80,000 were presented to a film showcasing the lives and personal interests of migrant workers and new residents in Taiwan from Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam. A rap music video highlighting the food, people and culture of the Siniawan community in Sarawak, Malaysia, claimed third spot and NT$50,000.
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister without Portfolio Deng Chen-chung, who also heads the OTN, praised the creativity of participating filmmakers, stating that their imaginative works have helped deepen understanding of the goals and impacts of the NSP.
Going forward, the government will work to expand use of new media tools and bolster cooperation with the public in strengthening awareness of the many mutually beneficial projects under the policy, he added.
According to the OTN, 14 finalists were selected from 81 submissions to the competition. The shortlisted works can be viewed on the Executive Yuan website and YouTube channel.
A key plank in the government’s national development strategy, the NSP is enhancing the nation’s agricultural, business, cultural, education, tourism and trade ties with the 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states, six South Asian countries, Australia and New Zealand. (KWS-E)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw