Taiwan films win big at Portugal’s Golden Roosters

2014-10-29

Six Taiwan-made shorts won seven prizes at the International Tourism Film Festival, or Golden Rooster Awards, Oct. 27 in Porto, Portugal.

Featuring Taiwan’s cuisine, culture, nature and wheelchair-accessible travel environment, the films run between 3 and 24 minutes. They impressed the judges on the basis of their creativity and innovative approach to showcasing the country’s many charms.

Her Jian-gueng, Taiwan’s representative to Portugal, said during the awards ceremony that it was the first time for Taiwan to participate in the event.

“Taiwan still preserves much of its original splendor,” he said. “I invite all participants in the awards to visit the country and witness the beauty that goes far beyond the scenes in any of these films.”

Echoing Her’s remarks, Johnson Wang, director of the Frankfurt office for Tourism Bureau under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, said eye-catching imagery is the best form of promotion. “The films faithfully capture the firsthand experiences of foreign travelers and reflect Taiwan’s multilayered tourism branding.”

Top performer at the awards was “The Vision of 100 cm,” which won firsts in Promotional Films Health Tourism and Wellness and TV Programs. It highlights Taiwan’s suitability as a destination for wheelchair users and was produced by government-backed Workforce Development Agency.

Following suit was “A Spiritual Journey to the East Rift Valley” with first in Documentaries Cultural Tourism. Produced by bureau, the short introduces one of Taiwan’s most beautiful valleys, its people, food and tropical and sub-tropical scenery.

“Bravo! Taiwan,” comprising culture, food and nature shorts, also did the bureau proud. The nature and food components picked up first and second, respectively, in PF Ecology and Biodiversity and Tastes and Flavors.

Not to be outdone, “Come to the Sea” by National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium claimed second in PF Ecology and Biodiversity. It highlights the biggest aquarium in Taiwan and its special sleepover program.

But “Taiwan National Parks from Above” earned the most prestigious honor of Best Asian Film. Produced by government-backed Construction and Planning Agency, the short provides a panoramic view from 10,000 feet of the country’s most stunning landscapes.

The four-day award is one of 17 tourism film festivals around the world organized by International Tourism Film Festival Committee.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=223362&CtNode=413)