For Elisha Karmitz, general director of mk2, this festival is part of a long-standing process: “ mk2 has always aimed to introduce cinematographies, particularly emerging ones. This festival allows us to share unique works, which have little or no distribution in France. »
The choice of France seems obvious to the president of TAICCA, Homme Tsai, because of the unique place that cinema occupies in its cultural life: “ France has a very rich cinematic heritage and plays a leading role in the European cinema market, which makes it an ideal partner for Taiwan.
A rich and unique program
This edition offers thirteen exclusive screenings, with films never before seen in France. “ Together, we selected films from various genres—drama, documentary, and animation—that authentically represent today's Taiwanese society and creativity » explains Homme Tsai. You will thus be able to discover Locust by KEFF, presented at the Critics' Week at the last Cannes Film Festival. This thriller stands out for its careful aesthetic and its hard-hitting critique of socio-political issues, painting the portrait of a Taiwan in the midst of change.
Another nugget to discover, the film Old Fox by Hsiao Ya-Chuan, selected to represent Taiwan at the 2025 Oscars. This film, along with other notable works like Abiding Nowhere de Tsai Ming-Liang, Trouble Girl of Chin Chia-Hua, and Love is a Gun by Lee Hong-Chi, demonstrates the creativity of Taiwanese filmmakers. According to Elisha Karmitz, this eclecticism is at the heart of the festival: “ In collaboration with TAICCA, we want to discover the diversity of Taiwanese points of view and shed light on the complexities of this society. » A point of view supported by Homme Tsai, president of TAICCA: “ Through this festival, we are enthusiastic about the idea of introducing Taiwanese cinema to a country that celebrates all the diversity of cinema, thus allowing the French public to discover the unique voice of Taiwan and the universality of our stories. »
A bridge between two cultures
For TAICCA, this partnership with France and mk2 goes beyond the framework of a simple festival. “ We would like to take this opportunity to promote Taiwanese works across Europe, improving the visibility and appreciation of our film productions “, says Homme Tsai. This festival is an opportunity for Parisians to discover a brilliant and still little-known cinematographic culture. “ We hope to continue and strengthen this partnership in the years to come to further promote Taiwanese cinema in France, inviting audiences to discover the ever-evolving spirit of Taiwanese storytelling » adds Homme Tsai.
Exceptional meetings with Taiwanese talents
For the first time, the festival will also offer meetings and question-and-answer sessions with Taiwanese artists. Eugenie Liu will come and present Old Fox, for which she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the 60th Golden Horse Awards as well as the 26th Taipei Film Festival.
Su I-Hsuan, the director of Who’ll Stop the Rainwill also be present for the screening of his film, selected in numerous international festivals including the Venice Film Festival. According to Elisha Karmitz, their arrival is essential: “ We want to arouse the curiosity of the Parisian public. This is the first time that Taiwanese talents have traveled to the festival, and it is a privilege to welcome them to share their works indoors. »
Notice to fans of Asian cinema and those curious in search of new horizons, Hello France, this is Taiwan invites you to immerse yourself in the creative world of daring cinema. See you from November 15 to 17, 2024, at the mk2 Bibliothèque, for a unique immersion in Taiwanese cinema.
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