The film festival, which is growing every year, will present a diverse program of ten films to the residents of Lithuania’s big cities this year. Here you will be able to watch the latest, award-winning films well known to Taiwanese and international audiences.
As always, the program of the “Taiwan on Screen” festival, which is characterized by a variety of genres, will be diversified this time not only by horror films, but also by two animations – Sung Hsin-Yin’s “On the Street of Joy” (2017), which examines the experiences of a person living in the diaspora, and Wang Shau-di’s “Grandmother”, which has already become a cult and her ghosts’ (1998).
The festival will be opened by John Hsu’s horror comedy The Talented Ghost Company (2024), which was well received by film critics and was presented at the Toronto Film Festival this year. It will take viewers to the world of ghosts and tell the story of a recently deceased teenager who wants to become famous in it. This year, the film has also been nominated for four awards at the Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival, the winner of which will be announced on the opening day of “Taiwan on Screen”.
According to the organizer of the festival, the Asian Arts Center, this year’s entire program is united by the focus on mutual connection. The films look at the connection with family, home, one’s history, society or even the living world from different perspectives. The main characters of the strips find themselves in the love traps of social networks, try to understand their relationship with the past or wonder what home really means to them after returning to Taiwan after a long time.
The representative of Taiwan’s Ministry of Culture and film expert dr. will visit the festival this year. Pin-Chuan Chen, and the tapes will be presented by various specialists in Asian cultures. After the screenings, festival visitors will be able to participate in virtual question-and-answer sessions with the filmmakers and ask them their own questions.
This year’s “Taiwan on Screen” visual was created by designer Lukas Tomaševičius, who was inspired by the streets of Taipei. “For this year’s visual, we chose a typical image of a Taipei cross street – unpolished, unadorned, where the real lives, experiences, joys and pains of real people are boiling, just like in our films of this year’s festival,” say the festival organizers.
Photo of the organizers/”Senas lapinas”
“Taiwan on screen” started as a one-time screening of Taiwanese retro films at Vilnius University, and every year it expands more and more. This year, films will be presented not only in Vilnius, Kaunas, but also in Klaipėda. This perfectly responds to the growing interest of our society in this distant Asian country, its history and culture.
The Taiwanese film festival “Taiwan on screen” will be held this year at the Skalvija cinema center (11.23–12.01), at the Romuva theater in Kaunas (11.28–12.02) and at the Klaipėda cinema “Arlekinas” (11.24–12.01). The festival is sponsored by Taiwan’s Ministry of Culture.
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**Interview with Dr. Pin-Chuan Chen, Representative of Taiwan’s Ministry of Culture and Film Expert**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Chen. As a representative of the Taiwan Ministry of Culture and an expert in film, what excites you most about this year’s “Taiwan on Screen” festival in Lithuania?
**Dr. Chen:** Thank you for having me. I’m particularly excited about the diverse range of films that showcase the unique narratives and cultural experiences from Taiwan. This festival not only highlights genres like horror and animation but also delves deeper into themes of connection—between family, past, and society. It’s a wonderful opportunity to foster a greater understanding of Taiwanese culture in Lithuania.
**Editor:** The festival features both horror and animation, which are quite different genres. How do you see this diversity enriching the audience’s experience?
**Dr. Chen:** Absolutely! Each genre offers a distinct lens through which to explore human emotions and societal issues. For example, our animation films like “On the Street of Joy” and “Grandmother” provide poignant commentary on diaspora experiences and generational bonds. Meanwhile, John Hsu’s “The Talented Ghost Company” brings in humor while transporting viewers to the supernatural realms of Taiwanese ghost stories. This variety allows audiences to experience a broader spectrum of Taiwanese storytelling.
**Editor:** You mentioned a focus on mutual connection in the films. Can you elaborate on how this theme is portrayed?
**Dr. Chen:** Certainly! The films selected for this year’s festival explore various dimensions of connection. Many characters grapple with their identity after returning to Taiwan, asking profound questions about home and belonging. They also navigate their relationships in the age of social media, which adds another layer of complexity to their interactions. This thematic focus resonates universally, as we all seek connections in our lives.
**Editor:** The festival also includes a virtual Q&A with filmmakers. How important are these interactions for festival-goers?
**Dr. Chen:** They are incredibly important! These sessions provide a platform for direct dialogue between filmmakers and audiences, allowing for deeper engagement with the themes presented in the films. It fosters a sense of community and encourages meaningful discussions about the creative process, cultural insights, and personal experiences behind each film.
**Editor:** Lastly, what message do you hope attendees take away from “Taiwan on Screen”?
**Dr. Chen:** I hope attendees leave with a deeper appreciation of Taiwan’s rich cultural tapestry and the universal themes that connect us all. Films have the power to bridge gaps and evoke empathy, and through “Taiwan on Screen,” we aim to celebrate our shared humanity.
**Editor:** Thank you, Dr. Chen, for sharing your insights. We look forward to the festival!
**Dr. Chen:** Thank you! I look forward to it as well.
