Entering into its sixth year, the Taiwanese Film Festival (TWFF) in Vancouver is back again this summer. The festival - which runs from June 29 to July 1 at the Vancity Theatre (1181 Seymour Street) and is presented by student group UBC Literature Etc. and sponsored by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Vancouver - aims to raise awareness of and access to Taiwanese cinema.
The festival presents its 2012 theme “Metamorphosis-The Changing of Form” with six selections that turn the spotlight on humanity with the focus on Metamorphosis in all of its forms. Whether familiar with Taiwan or not, these films will offer a chance to reflect on a microcosm of Taiwan whose rapidly modernizing social and cultural landscape breed clashes and conflicts that are both unique and universal. The six films are:
GOODBYE MAY dir. Feng Zhu
A love story about a young and wild electronic music composer, frustrated in creating new music pieces, with his grandfather, and a new Chinese Opera talent young lady.
STARRY STARRY NIGHT dir. Tom Shu-Yu Lin
Based on a popular illustrated storybook that finds a growing friendship between two young students.
JUMP ASHIN dir. Yu-Hsien Lin
Based on the true story of director Yu-Hsien Lin’s brother, and tells the story of a talented young gymnast whose hopes of competing at the national level are dashed when he is required to work at his family’s grocery store and subsequently gets entangled in local gang activity.
ABBA dir. Rong-liang Hong
late Taiwanese singer Yi-Feng Hong was known as the King of Formosan Songs. Produced by Hong’s three sons, Abba not only remembers the musical career and cultural contributions, but his role as a father and family man.
WHEN LOVE COMES dir. Tso-Chi Chang
Which won the Golden Horse Award for Best Film at the 2010 Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival, finds a young woman (Yi-Jie Li) dealing with a surprise pregnancy, an abandoned boyfriend, and an estranged family.
LEAVING GRACEFULLY dir. Chia Chia Pon
It tells the story of a husband and wife’s relationship when the wife is diagnosed with a gradually debilitating disease. How would they face this fate? With an ocean of tears, or a smile of determination?
For more screening and ticketing information, please go to http://www.twff.ca.
For trailers please go to https://www.facebook.com/twffvancouver
Event: 2012 Vancouver Taiwanese Film Festival
Date: Friday, June 29th - Sunday July 1st, 2012
Location: Vancity Theatre /Vancouver International Film Centre
1181 Seymour Street (at Davie Street) Vancouver
