The 2023 World Ethnic Film Festival (WEFF) will take place from Sept. 15 through 24 in Taiwan. 19 films from 17 countries/regions are selected to be screened at Taipei’s Spot Huashan Cinema (光點華山電影館), Vieshow Cinema of Taroko Mall (大魯閣新時代威秀影城) in Taichung City, Southern Branch of the National Palace Museum in Chiayi County, and Century Asia Cinemas (喜樂時代影城) in Kaohsiung City.
The opening film on Sept. 15 is “Bliss Bringer (杭愛山上：幸福使者)” from Mongolia and the festival will close with the Italian film “In Viaggio: The Travels of Pope Francis (在旅途中：方濟各的朝聖之旅).” During the event, Taiwanese indigenous films “Seediq Bale (賽德克·巴萊)” and “Gaga (哈勇家)” will be part of the special screenings to present Taiwan’s ethnic portraits.
Attending the press conference to promote the film festival on Aug. 29, Deputy Minister of Culture Sue Wang (王時思) said that Taiwan is culturally and ethnically diverse, which is the country’s advantage in international exchanges. The 2023 World Ethnic Film Festival allows the audiences to see different interpretations of happiness in various ethnic backgrounds, Wang remarked, inviting the public to go see the movies and find the answers to the question about the pursuit of happiness.
The WEFF will present the films based on four themes, including happiness, freedom, folk custom, and religion, showcasing the unique existence and cultural value of 21 ethnic groups. These films manifest compassion for humanity from multiple perspectives as well as Taiwanese democratic society displaying respect for pluralistic culture.
Tickets to the festival are available online as well as on-site at the cinema ticket counters for free. Online ticket reservations can be made on the festival's official Facebook page three days before the film screening. On-site tickets will be distributed one hour before the film screening. For more information, please visit the WEFF’s Facebook page.