Star-Studded! Hollywood Guests Gather in Taipei for Sundance Film Festival Asia
A Grand Event for the Taiwanese Film Industry with Over a Hundred Taiwanese Filmmakers in Attendance
Celebrities Including Esther Liu, Yi-Wen Chen, Hank Chen, and Aviis Zhong Attended in Style
The 2024 Sundance Film Festival Asia officially opened today, with the announcement of the winner for the short film competition. The grand prize was awarded to director Chien-Yu Lin for her film Suo Jiang. The red carpet was star-studded with the presence of Hollywood heavyweights such as Academy Award-winning sound mixer Skip Lievsay (Gravity), cinematographer Lawrence Sher (Joker), director Alan Taylor (Game of Thrones, Thor: The Dark World), and director Jane Wu (Blue Eye Samurai). Renowned Taiwanese actors, including Patty Lee, Janet Hsieh, Yi-Wen Chen, Sophia Li, Brian Tseng, Esther Liu, Hank Chen, Eleven Yao, and Aviis Zhong, also attended the event in style to celebrate the event.
Homme Tsai, Chairperson at Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA), stated at the opening ceremony, “This year, TAICCA has invested in over 80 film and television projects, including international co-productions. TAICCA warmly welcomes both domestic and international film partners to collaborate with us. Money is ready, make your story ready.” Tsai Shih-ping, Director of Department of Cultural Affairs,
Taipei City Government, also remarked that the Sundance Film Festival Asia further highlights Taipei’s diverse and independent creative spirit. The Taipei City Government will provide additional support and once again congratulates the Sundance Film Festival Asia for broadening the international horizons of Taiwanese filmmakers in Taipei.
The opening red carpet was star-studded, several distinguished guests including Jane Wu, director of Blue Eye Samurai; Lawrence Sher, cinematographer of Joker; Oscar-winning sound mixer Skip Lievsay of Gravity; director Makoto Tezka; and manga artist Reiko Okano. In addition to these Hollywood heavyweights, well-known actress Esther Liu expressed her familiarity with the Sundance Film Festival and her hope to shine on the international festival stage in the future. Renowned actor Yi-Wen Chen shared his excitement about participating in the Sundance Film Festival with his performance in the film Century Egg. Hank Chen joked on the red carpet that his brother is an English teacher, and since he aspires to join international film festivals in the future, he is now working hard to learn English. Eleven Yao, who has previously attended the Berlin Film Festival, mentioned her anticipation of seeing such a rich array of films and panels held in Taiwan. She expressed her keen interest in every panels and hopes that film lovers from all over Taiwan will participate. Actress Aviis Zhong also commented on the many excellent films this year, expressing her hope that one day her own work will be screened at the Sundance Film Festival.
On the opening day of the Sundance Film Festival Asia, several prominent figures from Taiwan’s film industry attended, demonstrating the high importance they place on this event. Among those present were Arthur Chu, Chairman of the Taiwan Film and Audio Institute; Ben Tsiang, founder of CNEX; and renowned directors Lester Shih, Tom Shu-Yu Lin, and Laha Mebow. Additionally, several well-known producers of blockbuster films, including Patrick Mao Huang, Amy Ma, Sarso Chou, and David Tang, were also in attendance. They engaged in discussions with notable Hollywood filmmakers at the event, exploring opportunities for future collaboration. This festival not only serves as a platform for exchanges between Taiwanese filmmakers and the international film community but also as an excellent opportunity to showcase Taiwan’s filmmaking capabilities and potential.
The 2024 Sundance Film Festival Asia is co-organized by the Sundance Institute and G2Go Entertainment, with the Taipei City Government as a co-host. TAICCA (Taiwan Creative Content Agency) serves as a partner. Additionally, the festival has received sponsorship support from Cathay Financial Holdings, the government of the state of Utah, and the nonprofit organization Gold House. The Sundance Film Festival Asia Master Panel is co-organized by the New Media & Entertainment Association (NMEA) and the Taipei Film Commission.
