Sundance Asia has officially opened in Taipei, Taiwan.
Over the next five days, the Asian edition of the Sundance Film Festival will screen 15 feature films and six short films, with Taiwanese-American director Shawn Wang's “Didi” opening the festival.
Before Wang's film (which won the Audience Award and Special Ensemble Jury Award at the Park City Film Festival) premiered in Taiwan, an Opening Ceremony Gala was held at Legacy Taipei, where Hollywood creatives mingled with local filmmakers and actors. Among those in attendance were “Fancy Dance” producer Nina Yang Bongiovi, “Joker 2” cinematographer Lawrence Sher, “Porcelain War” director Brendan Bellomo, “Your Monster” director Caroline Lindy and producer Kayla Foster, Wang and Esther Liu, Chen Yi-wen, Hank Cheng and Avis Chung.
Many of the attendees flew in from Toronto and Los Angeles, and they exchanged tips on surviving jet lag. Wang and Little Death director Jack Begert skateboarded on the streets of Taipei at 4 a.m. Some went to 7-Elevens, others refueled with Red Bull, and still others caught up on work. The opening ceremony began, and the screening of Didi Chuxing, which drew more than 250 people, created an air of excitement in the hall.
Sundance Asia has continued to grow and expand since its inception in 2016. The festival features more screenings, panel discussions and workshops, and the association strives to build a bridge between the minds behind Hollywood blockbusters and Taiwanese filmmakers.
“The 2023 Sundance Film Festival Asia will be held in Taiwan for the first time, and we have seen the strength of Taiwan's events and production capabilities,” said Sundance Institute Program Director Kim Yutani on stage. “We would also like to deepen exchanges with independent filmmakers in Asia and around the world. We look forward to interacting with everyone in Taipei.”
This year's event will feature 14 master panels and workshops, led by the AI panel. Additionally, the Sundance Asian Short Film Competition will screen six finalist films. Winners will be selected by a jury made up of members of the Sundance Film Festival programming team and guest judges including producer Justin O., Taiwanese actress Ke-Xi Wu (Nina Wu, “Black Tea”) and producer Wang Si-Jing (“Take Me to the Moon”).
At the opening ceremony, the Jury Prize for Best Short Film, sponsored by Gold House, was awarded to art director-turned-director Lin Qianyu's “Suo Jiang.” Gold House co-founder Bing Chen attended the ceremony to receive the award, and in addition to the certificate, she received NT$50,000 and a Gold House membership.
Later this week, Variety will host “A Filmmaker's Creative and Funding Journey,” a conversation moderated by Chen, Christine Yi (general manager of Futures at Gold House), Bon Jovi and director Lloyd Choi. Sundance Asia runs from August 21-25.
