2020 SeaShorts Film Festival, co-organized by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Malaysia and SeaShorts Film Society, is set to be held entirely online at seashorts.org from the 12th to the 20th of September. This year 52 short films from Taiwan, Japan, Myanmar, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam,and Malaysia will be played online. It’s the first time Taiwan’s awarded short films participate in the event. Anne Hung, Representative of the Taipei Office in Malaysia, will deliver her brief opening speech inviting all to watch the films to enhance mutual cultural understanding between Taiwan and Southeast Asian countries.
Viwers can enjoy 7 excellent short films from Taiwan’s Golden
Harvest Awards for Outstanding Short Films and Kaohsiung Film Festival.
Among them, 5 of which are stories depicting joys and sorrows of friends from Southeast Asian countries who are struggling, working and living in Taiwan. They are director Su Che Hsien’s “Nine Shots”, questioning the migration system; director Hsueh Wen Shuo's "Lovely Sundays", a portrait of overseas Filipino workers through a healing place; director Rina Tsou’s “Arnie” depicting the helplessness of a Philippine fishermen at sea; director Tseng Ying Ting ‘s "Tea Land" telling a group of immigrants and their broken dreams of going home; director Myo Aung’s “Fire At Forest”describing a Burmese youth quitting studying in Taiwan, then returning home to attempt to cash in on an agriculture boom. The remaining works are made by emerging Taiwanese talent, namely“ To Be Shit or Not to Be”, based on the director Chen Kuan Chung 's decade-long experience behind the camera; and director Chia Hsien Chou’s “The Calling” saying about a teen torn between tradition and his dream.
On 13th September, Taiwan directors will join an online seminar. After the film is broadcast, short film directors will also be invited to discussions with Southeast Asian short film professionals, so that participants can have a deeper understanding of the short films.
The SeaShorts Film Festival is an annual celebration of Southeast Asian short film, comprising screenings, forums, workshops, exhibitions, and other creative endeavours from guests across the region. Founded by award-winning filmmaker Tan Chui Mui in 2017, it has grown into a permanent fixture on the calendars of cinema professionals and enthusiasts alike.
For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/seashortsmy
or www.seashorts.org
Tristan Toh +6012 719 2021 tristan.toh@seashorts.org
