Four films independently or jointly produced by Taiwan entities are shortlisted for the XR Competition at the NewImages Festival in Paris, giving the country the largest representation in the category, according to the Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA) April 23.
Works vying for the top prize are “The Eye and I” by Huang Hsin-chien; “Over the Rainbow” by Riverbed Theatre; “Traversing the Mist” by Very Theatre; and “Mirror” by Wu De-chuen, Mandala Films and Longwell TV Production Inc. The films are competing with 11 other productions screening April 24-28, with the winner to be announced April 27.
Equally impressive is the Taiwan-France co-production “Colored,” which has been selected in the Out-of-Competition category, the TAICCA said, adding that key players in the Taiwan industry including Craig Quintero, artistic director of Taipei City-based Riverbed Theatre, and Chou Tung-yen, director of “Traversing the Mist,” are invited to share their insights at the festival’s Industry Days session.
Two works developed by the agency’s bilateral residency program The Villa Formose Immersive entitled “Deep Ecology” and “Sense of Nowhere” are also screening at the festival, the TAICCA said, adding that the program was launched in 2023 by the Kaohsiung Film Archive, the French Office in Taipei and French institutions such as the National Centre of Cinema and Forum des images.
In other events, five Taiwan projects have been selected to explore international collaboration opportunities through the XR Development Market, while six local works are looking to expand their global reach via the XR Distribution Market, according to the agency.
Taiwan’s immersive works have gained significant global recognition, said TAICCA Chair Homme Tsai. The partnership between Taiwan and France will continue to foster talent cultivation and market expansion while boosting relevant technological advancements, he added.
Established in 2018, the NewImages Festival serves as a crucial platform for showcasing digital works and facilitating professional activities to propel the global industry forward. (YCH-E)
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