The acclaimed Seattle International Film Festival, listed among the world’s top 50 must-see film festivals, is set to take place from May 9 to 19. Two Taiwanese films, “Spring Walk” and “Is it Time to Let You Go Now?” have been selected for the New Directors Competition and Short Film Competition respectively. Additionally, Taiwanese films “Ba Jie” and “The Dragon Rider” have been invited to screen at the festival, showcasing the diverse creative styles of Taiwanese cinema.
“Spring Walk,” directed by Peng Zi-hui and Wang Pin-wen, is their first feature film entirely in Taiwanese. The film follows a man who can’t let go of his wife after her sudden death, holding onto the physical reminder of their love and loss. Following its reception of the Best Director Silver Shell award at the 71st San Sebastián International Film Festival in 2023 and being selected for the 53rd New Directors/New Films in New York in 2024, the film has now been chosen to compete at the Seattle International Film Festival. Director Wang Pin-wen will also attend a post-screening discussion. Another finalist, “Is it Time to Let You Go Now?” is an experimental animated documentary short by Tsai Yi-jin, winner of the Best Animated Short Film at the Golden Horse Awards, portraying a daughter’s emotional journey after losing her father. The film was previously selected for the 2023 Asian American Dance Film Festival.
The Taiwan Academy in Los Angeles, a branch of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, stated that the Seattle International Film Festival and the Taiwan Academy have been long-term partners, with the festival celebrating its 50th anniversary this year by showcasing 261 films from 84 countries. In addition to competition entries, Taiwanese films include the award-winning animation “Ba Jie” from the 60th Golden Horse Awards and the Taiwanese film “The Dragon Rider.” “Ba Jie” draws inspiration from “Journey to the West,” blending cyberpunk science fiction elements to tell the story of the selfish and lazy Ba Jie embarking on a journey for a better life only to realize true beauty is closer than he thought. Meanwhile, “The Dragon Rider” is a classic Taiwanese film where the protagonist, wearing a blindfold similar to Robin from “Batman,” transforms into a hero protecting citizens and fighting against evil.
For more information on Taiwanese films at this year’s festival, please visit the official Seattle International Film Festival website under the “Asian Intersection” and “Short Film Series” sections.