National Palace Museum won 14 awards at the 53rd WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival, one of the oldest independent film events in the U.S., according to the Taipei City-based institution May 20.
Triumphing over more than 4,570 submissions from 74 countries and territories, NPM entries bagged five platinum awards, five gold, three silver and one bronze in the categories of New Media, TV Commercials and Public Service Announcements, and Film and Video Production.
Among the platinum winners is the webpage of an exhibit titled “Betwixt Reality and Illusion,” honored in the website subcategory under New Media for its engaging content and distinctive design. The page is dedicated to the museum’s prized collection of jade pieces dating from 475 B.C. to A.D. 220.
The museum’s introduction video “Come Across Future” and maps showcased in the multimedia exhibition “Wandering in Ancient Sazum: A Journey Through Historical GIS from Qing Dynasty Documents” achieved the highest awards in TV commercials and the high-definition new technologies subcategory under New Media, respectively.
Topping in subcategories recognizing excellence in interactivity are the exhibitions “Friends Through Culture,” for utilizing fifth-generation augmented reality guides, and “Eco-Rethink,” for interweaving art and ecological educational elements.
Other awards went to the NPM 3D Action Theater as well as to videos, websites, interactive technologies of exhibitions titled “The Epitome of Aesthetics,” “Marvels Within the Sea,” “New Horizons—New Media Art Exhibition,” “Reflections Along the River” and “The Tibetan Dragon Sutra.”
According to the NPM, the recognized works help raise Taiwan’s museum profile on the global stage. The institution will continue sparing no efforts in combining arts and technology to bring more profound experiences for visitors going forward, it added.
Founded in 1961, the WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival is one of the three largest international film festivals in North America, ranking with San Francisco Independent Film Festival and New York Film Festival. Other categories in this year’s edition include independent experimental films and videos, independent theatrical features, screenplays and music videos. (YCH-E)
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