New Taipei unveils documentary awards finalists

2015-03-30

The finalists of the New Taipei City Documentary Awards were honored March 26 at a ceremony in the northern Taiwan metropolis, spotlighting local government efforts to transform the region into a mecca for the increasingly popular film genre.

“Taiwan documentaries boast enormous development potential that must be tapped,” New Taipei City Deputy Mayor Hou You-yi said. “We have pulled out all stops in spurring such filmmaking and related production over the past four years.”

Selected from a 20-strong field, the 10 finalists were praised for their innovative subjects and technical achievements. Each filmmaker is to receive a subsidy of NT$330,000 (US$10,655) and mentoring from professional directors so as to ensure their films are ready for screening at the main competition in mid-September.

Although all the greenlighted documentaries are deserving, “Star Chasing No. 20” from 12-year-old Da Chen Elementary School student Chung Chih-yun—the youngest finalist in the event’s five-year history—is particularly praiseworthy, Hou said.

“Chung details how she combines life as a full-time student and die-hard fan of a pop music group,” he said. “Her commitment to maintaining a balance between work and play delivers a salient message for the youth of today.”

Equally meritorious is “Snake Rescue” by Chang Wei-chih, Hou said. “The documentary vividly describes the actions of a snake lover rescuing his beloved reptiles captured by fire departments in Yilan County, and represents a win-win situation for humans and Mother Nature.”

The 10 films will screen at no cost from November at Fuzhong 15 Documentary Cinema in New Taipei City. They are also set to show on public and private cable TV channels across New Taipei.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=228805&CtNode=413)