Preview – Seattle Taiwanese American Film Festival, June 29- July 1

The Seattle chapter of Taiwanese American Professionals (TAP) is proud to host the first Seattle Taiwanese American Film Festival from Friday June 29 to Sunday July 1, 2018, at University of Washington and SIFF Uptown Cinema. The first of its kind, the Seattle Taiwanese American Film Festival, in partnership with Vancouver Taiwanese Film Festival, presents seven feature films representing the best in recent Taiwanese and Taiwanese American cinema. The theme for the festival is Family and Home(land).

Opening Friday evening with a series of short films at the University of Washington’s Kane Hall (in partnership with the UW Taiwan Studies Program) the Seattle Taiwanese American Film Festival honors films selected from the best submissions to the 2017 Los Angeles Taiwanese American Film Festival. The Festival aims to be a platform for Taiwanese American film producers to showcase their talent. The Opening Program is free to the public and a panel discussion will follow the short films. The UW Panelists include Professor Yomi Braester, (Belinda) Qian He, and Ellen Chang.

The Festival will also bring award-winning directors Li-chou Yang and Charlie Chu all the way from Taiwan. They will participate in a Q&A session following the screening of their movies.

Yang’s Father is a documentary of Taiwanese puppetry master Chen Hsi-huang’s struggle to promote his trade at the age of 79. Taiwanese puppetry, once a national pastime, faces decreasing audiences in a modern world more fascinated with screens than wooden stages. Yang will also bring Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) equipment from Taiwan that will allow festival-goers to experience traditional Taiwanese puppetry with modern technologies. Yang hopes to preserve Master Chen’s techniques and hand motions for future generations using film and VR. The AR and VR experiences will be available to attendees during Friday’s Opening Program as a precursor to Saturday’s film screening.

On Sunday, the Festival will screen Formosa 3D, a groundbreaking 3D film showcasing Taiwan’s lush beauty and traditional crafts. Stunning scenes include a vibrant underwater world, a mountain landscape, and prominent artisans such as the oil-paper umbrella master and the drum-maker. Formosa 3D presents exquisite scenery and traditional craftsmen to remind us of the beauty of Taiwan. Through the lens of 3D, the audience will see a vivid display of Taiwan and its distinct culture. Following the screening, Chu will participate in a Q&A session and share his inspiration for filming in 3D.

The festival will also feature The Bold, the Corrupt, and the Beautiful, which won Best Feature Film and Best Leading Actress at the 54th Golden Horse Awards. Other films include Pakeriran, Take Me to the Moon, The Great Buddha+, and Journey of 35. All non-English language films will be presented with English subtitles.

For tickets and further information, visit the festival homepage or check out the latest news on the festival Facebook page.