2026/08/05
When international news covers Taiwan, the focus is often on semiconductor microchips, regional peace, or geopolitics—sometimes even using sensational headlines like "one of the most dangerous places on earth." But when Taiwanese documentaries arrive in Los Angeles—the undisputed capital of the global film industry—and screen before packed American audiences, we project something far beyond tech and geopolitics. We share the authentic, free souls of Taiwanese filmmakers and the beautiful, moving stories they tell.
At the recent Getting Real ’26 special screening themed The Grey Between, hosted by the International Documentary Association (IDA), Taiwanese filmmakers presented two globally recognized documentary shorts:
Island in Between, directed by S. Leo Chiang, which earned a well-deserved Academy Award nomination for its profound look at history and identity;
Colour Ideology Sampling.mov, directed by Chan Cheuk-sze and Kathy Wong, a powerful work that won Best Documentary Short at the Golden Horse Awards and the Jury Prize at TIDF.
That evening, the packed audience in Los Angeles did not see the stereotypes found in news headlines; instead, they discovered a beautiful island overflowing with creativity, passion, and incredible resilience.
During his remarks, Director General Jason Ma shared that while the geopolitical pressure is real, Taiwan never goes dark because of it. Instead, this very environment breeds Taiwan’s unique artistic landscape, its finest artists, and its most powerful stories. In particular, the fact that Chan Cheuk-sze and Kathy Wong—two outstanding filmmakers from Hong Kong—are highly recognized on Taiwan's platforms perfectly illustrates Taiwan’s role as a beacon of creative freedom and diversity in the Mandarin-speaking world.
This successful showcase in Hollywood was made possible by the dedication of countless industry leaders. In addition to honoring the three brilliant directors, we extend our deep appreciation to Ben Tsiang, Chairman of CNEX, for leading the Taiwan delegation and bringing these powerful stories to the global stage. During the event, the Taiwan Academy in Los Angeles also partnered with Giloo, CNEX, and CCDF to host industry sessions, showcasing Taiwan’s thriving documentary ecosystem.
Whether a story is joyful, heavy, or romantic, these films show the world that Taiwan possesses not only technological prowess but also a profound and captivating cultural heritage!
