What’s hot on the island right now? Since trendy brands, fashionable clothes and stylish shoes have become passé, just about the hottest thing to do is to show Taiwan to the world using nothing but your camera and a bit of creativity.
At the beginning of 2016, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) hosted a ceremony honoring the winners and premiering works from twin contests run between October and December 2015: the Taiwan Young Lions Competition and Trending Taiwan.
The Young Lions winner will represent Taiwan at the Young Lions Competition in Cannes, France in June 2016. The Trending Taiwan event was run with the goal of selecting a number of short films to showcase Taiwan, raising the profile of the nation abroad. The two events are both at the vanguard of the trend—using the creative talents of the competitors to portray visually some of the stories that make up modern Taiwan.
Taiwan in 180 seconds
In the local 2015 Young Lions Competition, the best three short films were selected from the 87 entries. The winners were To Know About Taiwan (Roughly) in 2.5 Mins produced by Find Taiwan, and Essential Taiwanese Kung Fu and Ghost Island: Taiwan, both produced by Taiwan Hakuhodo. In the Trending Taiwan competition, the top prize out of 64 entries went to Presenting Traditional Markets, with Matsu Fan Beigang Fashion taking out second prize, and Taiwanese Glove Puppetry and Impressions of Taiwan running third. There were also 16 honorable mentions.
Vanessa Shih, MOFA vice minister, spoke at the ceremony: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wants to encourage and draw together the boundless creativity and passion of our people, to bring the beauty, the magnificent cuisine and the warmth of our people to the eyes of world.”
Manfred Peng, director-general at MOFA’s Department of International Information Services, said that the ministry was committed to spreading the beautiful stories of the people of Taiwan. In place of words, the short films made for Trending Taiwan communicate the stories of the island’s people through moving images.
What’s trending?
So what does “trending Taiwan” mean anyway? And how does one go about it? It seems that everyone has different ideas.
“The word ‘trending’ really means keeping ahead of the fashion,” says the chairman of the judging panel for Trending Taiwan, Michael Kwan. Kwan, who is a part-time associate professor in the Department of Radio and Television at National Chengchi University, says: “By introducing the people of our nation and telling their fascinating stories in an upbeat fashion while making it all easy to understand for an overseas audience, these short films will project an optimistic image of Taiwan on the international stage.”
Founded in 1954, the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity attracts more than 40,000 works from over 85 countries every year. Jacqueline Lai, Taiwan’s official representative at the festival, notes that among the range of events, the Young Lions competition limits entrants to those under 30 years of age. Taiwan has sent a representative team to the competition every year since 2010.
This year the team Find Taiwan, led by Fan Rih-kuei and Liu Sz-hui, has won the honor of representing Taiwan in Cannes. Their work To Know About Taiwan featurs shots of passers-by on the streets of Taiwan cities singing and working out to background music reminiscent of the morning exercise routines formerly practiced in Taiwan’s elementary schools.
Fan discusses their inspiration for the film: “We wanted to create something that reflects the essence of Taiwan, perhaps creating a ‘movement’ to encapsulate the national passion for rhythmic exercise.”
Once they had the lyrics for the soundtrack, they traveled around Taiwan to film people at random, visiting places including Rainbow Village and Tunghai University in Taichung, Garden Night Market in Tainan, Sun Moon Lake in Nantou, Tamsui in New Taipei City, Daxi in Taoyuan, and Hualien’s Qingshui Cliff. “People were more than happy to participate once they knew that the team was working on a film to promote Taiwan—and that included foreigners,” says Liu. The film runs only three minutes, but captures images of 108 people singing and doing exercises. The lyrics feature lines like: “Taiwan is here. Have you seen her? Taiwan is here, have you seen her beauty? Have you tried Taiwan’s bubble milk tea yet? Have you tried Taiwan’s stinky tofu?”
Trending flavor
While the spectacular mountains, rivers, and scenery of Taiwan are renowned, the warmth of its people holds even greater beauty. In fact, the films that took the first and second prizes at the Trending Taiwan Competition both featured (purely coincidentally) the same theme—the warmth and friendliness of the people of Taiwan.
The short film Presenting Traditional Markets, produced by Yacool Studio, won top prize. Director Lin Huan-wen: “I love watching the interactions between shoppers and vendors at traditional markets. The lives of ordinary people are so full of vitality and the warmth of community.”
Lin spent many long hours in six traditional markets in Taichung to capture the vivid images he chose to represent the people of Taiwan.
Wang Yi-feng of 8th Art Image Production produced Matsu Fan Beigang Fashion, taking second prize in the Trending Taiwan competition. The film caringly depicts one of Taiwan’s oldest Mazu temples (the goddess Mazu is the guardian of seafarers) and the skills of traditional craftspeople.
Wang, born and raised in Yunlin County with deep ties to the Beigang Mazu (also in Yunlin), believes the goddess Mazu is probably the most timeless icon in Taiwan today. He admires the spirit of traditional craftspeople who make Mazu sculptures. “They’re not just working for money—they’re more concerned about perfecting their artworks. Such sincerity in maintaining the old skills should be acknowledged and respected.”
Show Taiwan
The short films that were successful in the Trending Taiwan contest will have subtitles added so they can be viewed online from anywhere in the world. And MOFA is planning to hold the Trending Taiwan competition twice a year in the future.
While the ceremony for the winners of Trending Taiwan was under way, another short film contest “Show Taiwan in One Second” was being officially launched.
“An instant can become forever!” says Vanessa Shih. Selected works from the Show Taiwan contest will be used as visuals for a music video—yet another conveyance to relate Taiwan’s fascinating stories to the international community.
You may have tasted Taiwan’s bubble milk tea and xiaolongbao (steamed filled buns), but have you ever participated in Trending Taiwan? Let’s all use our creativity to join Trending Taiwan!
Award
Film Title
Producer
Taiwan Young Lions Competition_ Winner
To Know About Taiwan (Roughly) in 2.5 Mins
Find Taiwan
Trending Taiwan First Prize
Presenting Traditional Markets_
Yacool Studio
Trending Taiwan Second Prize
Matsu Fan Beigang Fashion_
Wang Yi-feng_
Trending Taiwan Third Prize
Taiwanese Glove Puppetry
I’m National Treasure
Trending Taiwan Third Prize
Impressions of Taiwan_
Bruce Chiu_
“The word ‘trending’ really means keeping ahead of the fashion,” says Michael Kwan, chairman of the judging panel for Trending Taiwan. (photo by Jimmy Lin )
The short film To Know About Taiwan has managed to infuse something of the essence of Taiwan. Its “movement” captures the national passion for rhythmic exercise. (courtesy of Find Taiwan)
The short film To Know About Taiwan has managed to infuse something of the essence of Taiwan. Its “movement” captures the national passion for rhythmic exercise. (courtesy of Find Taiwan)
The short film To Know About Taiwan has managed to infuse something of the essence of Taiwan. Its “movement” captures the national passion for rhythmic exercise. (courtesy of Find Taiwan)
The short film To Know About Taiwan has managed to infuse something of the essence of Taiwan. Its “movement” captures the national passion for rhythmic exercise. (courtesy of Find Taiwan)
The short film Presenting Traditional Markets highlights the beautiful warmth of Taiwan’s people enjoying the energy of their traditional markets. (courtesy of Lin Huan-wen)
The short film Presenting Traditional Markets highlights the beautiful warmth of Taiwan’s people enjoying the energy of their traditional markets. (courtesy of Lin Huan-wen)
The short film Presenting Traditional Markets highlights the beautiful warmth of Taiwan’s people enjoying the energy of their traditional markets. (courtesy of Lin Huan-wen)
The short film Presenting Traditional Markets highlights the beautiful warmth of Taiwan’s people enjoying the energy of their traditional markets. (courtesy of Lin Huan-wen)
Matsu Fan Beigang Fashion vividly conveys something of the nature of folk beliefs in Taiwan, and highlights the skills of traditional craftspeople. (courtesy of Wang Yi-feng)
Matsu Fan Beigang Fashion vividly conveys something of the nature of folk beliefs in Taiwan, and highlights the skills of traditional craftspeople. (courtesy of Wang Yi-feng)
Matsu Fan Beigang Fashion vividly conveys something of the nature of folk beliefs in Taiwan, and highlights the skills of traditional craftspeople. (courtesy of Wang Yi-feng)
Matsu Fan Beigang Fashion vividly conveys something of the nature of folk beliefs in Taiwan, and highlights the skills of traditional craftspeople. (courtesy of Wang Yi-feng)
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