16 Taiwan entries win at Houston film festival

2016/04/21

Taiwan submissions won 16 awards at the 49th WorldFest-Houston International Film and Video Festival April 16, including the Gold Remi for best comedy—one of four top-line honors on offer at the oldest independent film event in the U.S.

“The Missing Piece” by director Chiang Feng-hung trumped more than 500 submissions from 74 countries and territories to claim the prestigious Gold Remi Award. It tells the story of a young man suffering difficulty communicating after a childhood trauma, as well as four other characters struggling with different life issues.

Chiang said after the film’s April 15 WorldFest screening that he tried to use a simple but significant approach to giving the audience an insightful look into the characters’ self-seeking quests.

“The film captures Taiwan’s stunning landscapes and the day-to-day lives of its people,” Louis M. Huang, director-general of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston, said at its WorldFest screening. “This helps promote the island on the international stage and strengthens the homegrown film industry.”

In addition, seven new media productions by National Palace Museum in Taipei City shared a medal haul of one platinum, four gold, two silver and one bronze. Six TV productions directed by Lee Ming-chung won two golds, three silvers and one bronze, while a short by Tsai Chia-ying earned the Special Jury Award in the Independent Short Subject-Films and Video-Fantasy/Horror.

The Ministry of Culture started providing subsidies for Taiwan-made films in 1989, and has supported 54 percent of productions since 2006. “The Missing Piece” received MOC funding in 2013. The ministry has also played a role in assisting renowned directors such as Ang Lee, Hou Hsiao-hsien and Tsai Ming-liang reach the top of their profession.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=243972&ctNode=2194&mp=9)