10 Films you shouldn’t miss at the Taiwan Film Festival in Australia 2024

By Asian Film Festival on July 25, 2024 • ( Leave a comment )

These are our ten recommended films from the Taiwan Film Festival in Australia, which is taking place from July 25 until September 14, 2024 in multiple cities around Australia.

– Feature Films –

Breaking and Re-entering by Wang Ding-Lin – Taiwan | 2024 – 109 minutes

Stealing without being discovered is easy, but what about returning the stolen goods without being caught? On Lunar New Year’s Eve, a notorious theft gang pulled off the largest heist in history, making away with a staggering one billion dollars. However, a double-cross forces them to drag innocent people into the case. Now, they must return the entire one billion sum. How will they masterfully pull off this seemingly impossible mission? (TFFA 2024)

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Old Fox by Hsiao Ya-Chuan – Taiwan | 2023 – 112 minutes

In 1989, eleven-year-old Liao Jie lived a frugal life with his father, saving every penny for their dreams of buying a house. However, under the volatile Taiwanese economy, their goal slips further and further away, until one fateful day, Liao Jie unexpectedly befriends their cunning landlord, the “Old Fox”. His friendship with the Old Fox allows him to taste the power wealth brings, and as his desperation for his dream grows, Liao Jie must grapple with the reality of his honest life with his poor father, and the deceitful but rewarding ways of an “Old Fox”. (TFFA 2024)

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Salli by Lien Chien-Hung – Taiwan, France | 2023 – 104 minutes

Amidst the tranquillity of Taichung’s hills, Hui-Jun, a mature single woman, tends to her chicken farm in the countryside, grappling with her innermost desires while yearning for a fairy-tale romance. When her niece introduces her to an online dating app, messages start pouring in, both from near and far. Despite warnings of scams and deception, Hui-Jun embarks on a journey to Paris in pursuit of her love, chasing the dream she has long held dear. Is love truly worth pursuing, despite the sacrifices it demands? (TFFA 2024)

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Snow in Midsummer by Chong Keat-Aun – Malaysia, Taiwan, Singapore | 2023 – 116 minutes

On May 13th, 1969, Sumei and her daughter Eng were captivated by Chinese Opera at a temple in Kuala Lumpur, while Kooi and his son attended the Majestic Theatre. Suddenly, violence erupted at the theatre, with news spreading through the radio as the Prime Minister declared a state of emergency and imposed martial law. Escaping with her mother, Eng never saw her father and brother again. Nearly half a century later, Eng continues to seek closure, following elusive traces amidst the echoes of history and culture for the tumultuous embrace of family and memory. (TFFA 2024)

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Tales of Taipei by Yin Chen-Hao, Liu Chuan-Hui, Joseph Hsu, Chong Keat-Aun, Wong Yee-Lam, Pawo Choyning Dorji, Rachid Hami, Remii Huang, and Lee Sin-Je – Taiwan | 2023 – 115 minutes

Taipei City is a congregation of love and romance. As the sun rises, a deliveryman begins his day, wandering through the urban landscape of Taipei and encountering ten different stories of love. These stories range from the heartbreak of separation to the euphoria of new passion, from the reality of pandemic-driven intimacy to the supernatural affairs of folklore and spirits. TALES OF TAIPEI explores what it means to love in this unique time and place, and how that love can transcend gender, nationality, and reality. (TFFA 2024)

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The Woman Carrying the Prey by Rngrang Hungul – Taiwan | 2023 – 69 minutes

This documentary follows Heydi Mijung, a Truku woman who is the only female hunter in her tribe. She upholds the ancestral tradition of Gaya and practices traditional hunting skills. As winter approaches, Heydi returns to the old hunting grounds with her nephew to retrace their path and explore new hunting trails. (TFFA 2024)

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– Short Films –

Chuff Chuff Chuff by Chao Koi-Wang – Taiwan | 2024 – 7 minutes

A man from Hong Kong falls asleep on the train. When he wakes up, he finds himself in an unfamiliar apartment. Thinking it is all a dream, he is surprised when the woman next to him insists that it isn’t his dream. (TFFA 2024)

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Kipuaputr by Lil Ku – Taiwan | 2023 – 29 minutes

Hao-Cheng, an urban indigenous boy, sets out on a journey to reconnect with his ancestral tribe. Yet, as he ventures deeper into the heart of his heritage, a creeping fear begins to take hold, with eerie occurrences unfolding one after another. (TFFA 2024)

The Egret River by Liu Wan-Ling- Taiwan | 2022 – 20 minutes

In the heart of a bustling city, nestled amidst the clamour, there is a hidden field where only a solitary guard meets a graceful egret. When the field is suddenly razed, and the egret escapes, the guard finds himself ensnared in enigmatic illusions. (TFFA 2024)

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The Horse by Lan Yi-Tzu – Taiwan | 2023 – 15 minutes

Jing is about to move out. As she stands at the doorway of a room, hesitant to step in and start packing, a horse unexpectedly appears inside the apartment. (TFFA 2024)

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