Sundance Asia has officially commenced in Taipei, Taiwan, marking the beginning of a five-day cinematic celebration. The Asian edition of the Sundance Film Festival will showcase 15 feature films and six short films, with Taiwanese American director Sean Wang’s “Didi” selected as the opening night highlight.
The festival’s opening ceremony took place at the Legacy Taipei, where Hollywood and local film industry figures mingled. Attendees included “Fancy Dance” producer Nina Yang Bongiovi, “Joker 2” cinematographer Lawrence Sher, “Porcelain War” director Brendan Bellomo, “Your Monster” director Caroline Lindy, producer Kayla Foster, as well as Wang, Esther Liu, Chen Yi-Wen, Hank Chen, and Aviis Zhong.
The gathering saw many attendees traveling from Toronto and Los Angeles, sharing strategies for overcoming jetlag. Notably, Wang and “Little Death” director Jack Begert took to the streets of Taipei for a 4 a.m. skateboarding session, while others visited local 7-Elevens, fueled up with Red Bull, or caught up on work. As the crowd of over 250 people assembled for the “Didi” screening, the atmosphere buzzed with anticipation.
Since its inception in 2016, Sundance Asia has expanded significantly, now featuring more screenings, panels, and workshops. The festival aims to bridge Hollywood’s filmmaking community with local Taiwanese talent. Kim Yutani, the Sundance Institute’s program director, highlighted the festival’s growth, stating, “The 2023 Sundance Film Festival: Asia held its first event in Taiwan, revealing the country’s strong event capabilities and production power. We also aim to enhance exchanges with independent filmmakers across Asia and globally. I am eager to connect with everyone in Taipei.”
This year’s festival includes 14 master panels and workshops, with a notable focus on artificial intelligence. The short film competition features six shortlisted entries, with winners selected by a jury comprised of Sundance Film Festival programming team members, guest jurors such as producer Justine O., Taiwanese actress Ke-Xi Wu, and producer Wang Si-Jing from “Take Me to the Moon.”
At the opening ceremony, the Gold House jury prize for Best Short Film was awarded to “Suo Jiang,” directed by Lin Chien-yu. Gold House co-founder Bing Chen presented the award, which includes NT$50,000 and Gold House membership.
Later this week, Variety will host a discussion titled “A Filmmaker’s Creative & Financing Journey” featuring Chen, Christine Yi (Gold House’s general manager of futures), Bongiovi, and director Lloyd Choi. Sundance Asia will continue its festivities from August 21-25.
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