2016 Taipei Film Academy Reception Brings Together Taiwanese Talents and International Film Professionals - Taipei Film Commission

 
(2016/10/03)
 
Organized by Taipei Film Commission (TFC) and co-organized by Taipei Film and Drama Union, Taiwan Film-Related Creative Industries Association, and Motion Picture Studios Association of Taiwan, the Reception party of the 2016 Taipei Film Academy (TFA) was held in Barcode, Taipei, Taiwan on October 2nd, after a week of condensed filmmaking courses. About two hundred guests including Taiwanese film professionals, international lecturers and students of the TFA were invited to gather in the warm evening, exchanging ideas and finding inspirations from each other.
 

DOCA Commissioner Pei-ni Beatrice Hsieh (first row, 5th from left), representatives of the organizer and co-organizers, TFA lecturers and other film professionals 
    

Lecturers of 2016 Taipei Film Academy--Filmmakers' Workshop, Christina Lee Storm (left) and John Heinsen
 
Among the lecturers, Christina Lee Storm, Producers Guild of America (PGA)’s Treasurer and Chair of Diversity Workshop and Production Executive at DreamWorks Animation, joined the Academy for the second time. Happy to be back to Taipei and once again amazed by the Academy, Christina loves collaborating with TFA to create the best filming courses in Taipei. She encouraged the students to keep on working, and said she looks forward to meeting everyone in 2017. Also from PGA, the other lecturer John Heinsen, Executive Committee of the Producers Peer Group of the Television Academy, expressed the excitement of his first-time visit to Taiwan. He was impressed by the quality of the students, and had a great time interacting with young filmmakers in Taiwan who were eager to learn more about film industry.
  

TFC Director Jennifer Jao (left) and lecturers of 2016 Taipei Film Academy--International Animation and Special Effects Forum, Shannon Tindle (second from left), Elaina Scott (third from left), Sharon Wu and Ryan Donoghue (right)
 

award-winning actress Zhu Zhi-ying
 
Other lecturers who also attended the reception party included Ryan Donoghue, Liao Ching-Song, Raymond Phathanavirangoon, Elaina Scott, Lorna Tee, Shannon Tindle, Sharon Wu, Victor Wu, Yeh Jufeng, Bobby Yu. Moreover, old faces from past editions of TFA and active figures in Taiwan’s film and culture circles all came to take part in the event. Renowned director Wan Jen (Super Citizen Ko), Adam Tsuei (The Tenants Downstairs), Chu Hsien-che (White Ant), nominee of New Currents competition of the upcoming 21st Busan International Film Festival and of Best New Director of this year’s Golden Horse Film Festival, producers Chien Li-fen (Blowfish), Liao Ching-Song (The Assassin), Liu Weijan (LOVE), Aileen Li (Lucy), actors Easton Dong (Island Etude), Jackson Lou (Police Story 4: First Strike), Vega Tsai (The Cabbie), Zhu Zhi-ying (Lust, Caution), event host Dennis Nieh, Commissioner Pei-ni Beatrice Hsieh of Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs (DOCA), Deputy CEO Ann Yang of Taipei Culture Foundation, TFC Director Jennifer Jao, and newly appointed Director Shen Ko-shang of Taipei Film Festival were seen in enthusiastic interaction with others. All seized the rare opportunity to meet new talents and gain different visions.
  

renowned faces from Taiwan's film circles
  

enthusiastic interaction among the guests (Photo/ Zona Lin)
  
Since TFA’s establishment in 2014 and along with its growing scale, a new chemistry has been in formation. Earlier during the opening speech, DOCA Commissioner Pei-ni Beatrice Hsieh announced three principal projects for 2017: the involvement of film education in middle-school curriculum, the introduction of Audio-Visual Industrial Park in Neihu that focuses on VFX, VR technology and other aspects of post-production; and ultimately, the establishment of a “permanent home” at Bopiliao Historic Block for Taipei Film Festival, which is going to celebrate its 20th anniversary in the upcoming year.
 

Commissioner Pei-ni Beatrice Hsieh of Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs (DOCA)
   
The 2016 Taipei Film Academy opened with Cinema Master Forum on September 19th, with lectures by world-renowned International Film Festival Awards Macao (IFFAM) Festival director Marco Mueller and Taiwanese producers Lee Lieh and Yeh Jufeng, drawing nearly 500 enthusiastic participants. The Academy carried on with Filmmakers’ Workshop from September 26th to October 1st, which invited Producers Guild of America (PGA) as its collaborating partner to present experienced producers from Europe, the U.S. as well as Asia to speak on domestic and international film production experiences. On the last day of the Workshop, certificates were handed out to 59 students.
 
After the Filmmakers’ Workshop, the second series of courses of Taipei Film Academy -- International Animation and Special Effects Forum will take place on October 3rd to the 4th. The third series --- The Screenwriters’ Forum will take place on the 18th and the 19th. For more information, please visit TFC’s official website: http://www.taipeifilmcommission.org/en (Article/ Sophie Wong; Photography/ May Wen; Video/ Ho Chun-mu)