The 25th San Diego Asian Film Festival (SDAFF) will kick off from November 7 to 16, 2024. This year, SDAFF will feature over 170 films from more than 35 countries. The Taiwan Academy of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles (TECO-LA) is thrilled to collaborate with SDAFF to present “Taiwan Film Showcase,” screening at Edwards Mira Mesa Theater and the Museum of Photographic Arts in San Diego.
The feature lineup embodies Taiwan’s classic creations in various eras with director John Hsu's “Dead Talents Society," a box office hit in Taiwan, redefining a horror comedy movie with the theme of urban legends. It tells the story of ghosts who strive to develop their acting careers in the underworld and aspire to become superstars in the spiritual world. A Taiwan, Singapore, and Poland co-production, "Pierce," is Nelicia Low's directorial debut following two recently reunited Taiwanese fencing-enthusiast brothers whose mesh masks conceal as much as they protect. “Mahjong,” a classic by Edward Yang, deftly reveals the conflict across generations and hierarchy in society. Tsai Ming-Liang’s newest released documentary, “Abiding Nowhere,” features his long-time collaborator Lee Kang-Sheng as the character inspired by a Tang Dynasty monk’s pilgrimage to bring Buddhist teachings. “Light of the Setting Sun” is Taiwanese-American Vicky Du’s self-exploration of her family’s silence around the cycles of violence that have persisted since the Chinese Communist Revolution of 1949. John Hsu and Vicky Du are scheduled to attend the Q&A sessions.
Among the shorts in the Taiwan Film Showcase are “Tayal Forest Club,” “The Stag,” “Bird-Window Collisions,“ and “The Horse.” Five other Taiwanese shorts spread through other programs are “Is this Now the Time I Should Let You Go?” Euphoria,”along with animations “Limbo,” “Hey Day,” and “Watercolor Piggie.”
We are delighted to showcase 14 selected Taiwanese films that reflect the diversity of Taiwan's storytelling at SDAFF, the leading Asian cinema platform in the west coast,” stated TECO-LA. For more information about the Taiwan Film Showcase, please visit https://sdaff.org/2024/guides/taiwan-showcase/.