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As the number of migrant workers increase in countries like Taiwan, so does the amount of social issues that arise. Apart from question about integration and supposed exploitation by the employers, the growing sense of isolation from their families becomes a heavy burden on many of them, with often tragic consequences. In her 2016 short feature “Arnie” director Rina B. Tsou tells the story about a man working in Taiwan, whose love and dedication for his fiancee back home is what gets him through an otherwise dire environment. The movie, which was nominated for the Discovery Award at Cannes Film Festival 2016, deals with the growing feeling of detachment from one’s home country and family.

Arnie is screening at Taiwan Film Festival Berlin

Together with several other Filipino men, Arnie (Whakin C. Maniego) works as a seaman at the port of Kaohsiung. What sets him aside from his mates is his motivation and even optimism,...

After Hong Kong and Thailand, Taiwan presents its own very personal vision of the near future in “Ten Years Taiwan”, the omnibus that is now a sort of franchising, following the original anti-establishment project originated in Hong Kong.

Unlikely the Thailand version that had established directors on board and a spotlight on big name Apichatpong Weerasethakul, and more similarly to the Hong Kong one, this is a collection of 5 short movies from 5 young directors whose vision of their country in 10-year time, highlights the concerns of the present-day Taiwan.

“Ten Years Taiwan” is screening at Across Asia Film Festival

First one to open the collection is “The Can of Anido” by aboriginal director Lekal Sumi who focuses on the environmental issue. Maran is an aboriginal old man on the small island of Lanyu who, day after day, looks after his vegetable garden that provides him with a frugal meal every day.

Los Angeles, CA – UCLA Film & TV Archive in partnership with the Taiwan Academy in Los Angeles proudly announces the complete 2019 line-up for the Taiwan Biennial Film Festival, a unique two-week celebration of groundbreaking films, including post-screening conversations with celebrated filmmakers, and featuring exciting Los Angeles and North American film premieres. The highly anticipated second biennial event will also feature a unique “Focus on Taiwan” forum showcasing special guests exploring timely issues related to Taiwan’s burgeoning film industry and the country as a leader in embracing gender equity and Lgbtq representation both in front and behind the camera.

The unique Film Festival spans October 18 – 28, with screenings at the Billy Wilder Theater, Hammer Museum and select screenings at The Downtown Independent Theatre in downtown Los Angeles and the James Bridges Theater on UCLA Campus.

The ‘Focus on Taiwan,’ panel is a curated afternoon of timely conversations about issues facing the Taiwan...

The London East Asia Film Festival (Leaff), opens its third year on the 25th October at Vue Leicester Square with “Dark Figure of Crime”, the newest thriller by director Kim Tae-gyun, and runs until the 4th November. It will close with the intelligent and emotionally complex family drama, “Ramen Shop”, the latest feature film by acclaimed Singaporean director, Eric Khoo.

Having expanded to include the cinematic offerings of 13 countries – China, Japan, South Korea, North Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Myanmar – Leaff’s 2018 programme focuses on the “future”. Through the lens and unique perspectives of East Asian filmmakers, Leaff offers compelling insight into not only the future of those in East Asia but in London, with vital and thought – provoking dialogues being opened up around subjects such as youth, human interaction, development, cultural and social issues.

Leaff will screen 6 International premieres, 8 European premieres and 23 UK premieres,...

June 20–22, 2017‘The heart of Paris beats for film industry’

Industry Week is the professional part of the Champs-Elysées Film Festival.

This label includes the Us in Progress and Paris Coproduction Village. Together they offer 24 film projects at different stages, from development to post production. More than 200 professionals from the industry, producers, international sellers, distributors, etc. are welcomed

Paris Coproduction Village Unveils Its Selection

Organized by Les Arcs European Film Festival within the frame of the Champs-Elysées Film Festival Industry Week, Paris Coproduction Village is made up of professional meetings and is also a financing platform for feature projects selected worldwide.

For its fourth edition, which will take place June 20–22, 2017 in Paris, the following projects have been selected:

“Amparo” by Simón Mesa Soto; 2016 — short film

“Madre” Official Competition Cannes, AFI Iff, Chicago Iff; 2014 — short film

“Leidi” Golden Palm Cannes, Best UK Short Award London Short Ff, Chicago Iff, Edinburgh Iff) produced...

12 international projects to presented at event in Paris this June.

Ryota Nakano, Sharon Bar-Ziv and Mauro Mueller will be among the directors presenting projects at the fourth edition of the Paris Co-production Village in June, aimed at connecting international filmmakers with French partners.

Organised by the team behind the Les Arcs European Film Festival this year’s village runs June 20-22. It takes place within the framework of the Champs Elysées Film Festival’s industry week which also includes Us in Progress showcase.

Swiss-born New York-based director Mauro Mueller is bringing Fingerplay about a jaded middle-aged woman whose life is given fresh meaning after a mentally-challenged young man enters her life.

Israeli film-maker Sharon Bar-Ziv’s will present Love Your Neighbor about a single mother who finds herself at odds with her Jewish-Orthodox neighbours who want to take-over her flat.

It is Bar-Ziv’s second film after her well-received debut Room 514 about a young female soldier who puts...

The 15 filmmakers selected to take part in the Filmmaker's Academy at this year's Locarno Film festival represented a map of the cinematic world. Hailing from Morocco, Malaysia, Israel, Singapore and elsewhere, these filmmakers have all directed one or more short films and are now working on getting their first feature films made. But nationality can be reductive, as is the case with Rina Tsou. The program states she is from Taiwan, yet she also has ties to the Philippines, and her feature project is built around relations between these two countries. Read More: Here's How Music and Sound Set the Scene for This Singapore-Based Filmmaker When Indiewire chatted with Tsou recently at Locarno, she discussed her career trajectory and the challenges she faces putting together international projects in a country dominated by Hollywood and local feel-good productions. How did you get involved in cinema? What's your background? I come from a mixed family.