> YIDFF 2023

Taiwan Docs Inside Out

The 2014 documentary Sunflower Occupation (YIDFF 2015) captured history through the collective forces of many independent documentary filmmakers, as they accompanied the students who stormed the Taiwan Legislative Yuan to demand the withdrawal of the Cross-Strait Service Trade Agreement. What path has Taiwan’s documentary world taken since the passion of those times? At YIDFF 2023, the following events offer hints to the fundamentals of the Taiwanese doc ecosystem today, such as public programs ensuring a diversity of production and global outreach, and a strong mutual support movement among filmmakers.

Symposium: Taiwan Documentary Inside Out

The golden combo of public support and personal initiative carry the core of creative documentary in Taiwan. Players from the front lines of action will reveal what fuels the engine for Taiwan docs.

[Date] October 10 (Tue) 13:20–15:00

[Venue] Forum 3

[Panelists]

Jessie Yang (Project Executive, Taiwan Docs)
The office of Taiwan Docs promotes Taiwanese documentaries abroad and provides information, connects people, and educates filmmakers. It is based under Taiwan Film and Audiovisual Institute (TFAI).

Chen Wanling (Programmer, Taiwan International Documentary Festival)
TIDF is a biennial international film festival launched in 1998. In addition to three competitions (International, Asian, and Taiwanese), its program includes a wide range of sections and opportunities for exchange. Its next edition in May 2024 is now open for entries.

Kite Chen (Executive Director, Taipei Documentary Filmmakers’ Union)
The Doc Union safeguards the labor rights of documentary workers, elevates professional standards and promotes the development of the industry. Its membership of 500 includes directors, cinematographers, film critics, composers, and curators.

Joe Huang (Art Director, South Taiwan Film Festival)
Wanting to provide more viewing of art films in the southern part of Taiwan, teachers and students from the National Tainan University of the Arts founded South Taiwan Film Festival in 2001. The program features independent films (including documentary, shorts, experimental, animation) about Chinese-themed subjects and concerns.

Hsiao Mei-ling (Director of Parallel World)
Parallel World  (2022 / 177 min / Dir. Hsiao Mei-ling)

Workshop: Festival Strategy for Asian Documentaries

This is a workshop for Asian documentary filmmakers and an occasion to learn about the international film festival scene today. Through case studies of different types of documentaries, we will discuss their journeys and potential at film festivals and think about approaches and strategies to reach audiences abroad.

[Date] October 6 (Fri) 15:00–17:30

[Venue] Yamagata Creative City Center Q1 2-C (Event Space)

[Facilitators]

Abby Sun
Abby Sun is the Director of Artist Programs at the International Documentary Association, in Los Angeles, USA. At IDA, she organizes industry conferences, educational workshops and seminars, and year-round artist fellowships, and edits Documentary magazine in print and online. Her work also includes artist development, advocacy for independent filmmaking, and freelance film curation and writing. She has made short films such as Cuba Scalds His Hand (2019, co-directed with Daniel Garber).

Wood Lin
Wood Lin is the Program Director of Taiwan International Documentary Festival since 2013 and Associate Programmer of International Documentary Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) since 2020. He has made short films, is a film critic, writer, and festival organizer specializing in documentaries. He currently supervises the Research and Program Division at the Taiwan Film and Audiovisual Institute, which handles publication, film programming, TIDF, and other activities.

Taiwan Night

An evening of international exchange, introducing Taiwan documentary professionals and films.

[Date] October 6 (Fri) 18:30–21:00

[Venue] Yamagata Creative City Center Q1 2-C (Event Space)
By invitation only