TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Sundance Film Festival Asia held a red carpet event on Wednesday (Aug. 21) at Taipei's Huashan 1914 Culture and Creative Park, kicking off five days of film screenings, panel discussions, and film industry events running from Aug. 21–25.
Each year, the festival tours different international locations, such as London, England, and most recently, Mexico City. “This is our tenth year in Asia, and we have done similar events in the past in Hong Kong and Jakarta, Indonesia," said Sundance Film Festival Director of Programming, Kim Yutani.
She was especially proud of the festival's opening film, "Didi,” directed by Sean Wang. Yutani said Wang is a product of Sundance, first attending the “Ignite” program for 18-to-24-year-olds and later, a screenwriter lab, and directors program.
As the leading independent film festival in the US, Sundance is proud of its role in nurturing young filmmakers, providing them with mentorship and instruction. However, Yutani said that “funding is not something that we do.”
Wang was honored by the opportunity to screen his first feature film in Taiwan, a place he regularly visited in the summers and holidays when he was a child up until the age of 12 or 14.
Wang told the audience the film is dedicated to his mother. “My parents are from Taiwan. My father was born in Taipei, and my mother is from Kaohsiung. This film is very much inspired by Taiwan,” said Wang.
Earlier this year, Wang won acclaim for his Oscar nomination for the short film “Nai Nai & Wai Po” at the 96th Academy Awards. Attending the Sundance Film Festival Asia is his first visit to Taiwan since receiving the Oscar nomination.
In a press release issued by Sundance Film Festival Asia, Wang expressed a desire to return to Taiwan for future projects, either feature films or shorts. He said Taiwanese variety shows are part of his childhood memories and time spent with his grandparents.
According to Sundance Film Festival Asia, 15 award-winning films, six short films, and a series of prestigious master panels and workshops will take place. This year is notable as the number of panels and workshops has expanded from four last year to 14.
One of the highlights is a "Sound Workshop" featuring Skip Lievsay, known as the father of Atmos, in conversation with Taiwan’s top sound designer, Tu Duu-chih (杜篤之). Other notable guests attending the festival include Lawrence Sher, the Oscar-nominated cinematographer of “Joker,” Alan Taylor, director of “Game of Thrones,” and Jane Wu, director of “Blue Eye Samurai.”
