Acclaimed Taiwanese director Chen Wei-ling dies at 48

Taipei, Nov. 2 (CNA) Taiwanese director Chen Wei-ling (陳慧翎), a multiple Golden Bell Award winner, died Wednesday at the age of 48, a close friend of hers told CNA.

Sarso Chou (周銓), a producer who had known Chen for almost 15 years, told CNA on Wednesday that the director had passed away peacefully at Taipei Municipal Wanfang Hospital earlier in the day, with her mother and close friends at her side.

Chen was the director of several popular television series in Taiwan, including "Year of the Rain," "Autumn's Concerto," and "Material Queen." Between 2008 and 2019, she won several Golden Bell awards, for best director, best screenplay and best editing.

One of her recent series, "Mom, don't do that!" was streamed on Netflix in 2022. It tells the story of a 60-year-old mother who decides to find love again after her husband's death, to the joy and annoyance of her two daughters.

In 2013, Chen was diagnosed with cervical cancer and had been in and out of hospital since then, but she continued her work as a filmmaker.

Her friend of many years Chou said the two of them had worked on multiple projects over the years.

Prior to Chen's death, they had been planning two new projects, one of which would tell the story of her mother, Chou said, adding that he will strive to help complete those films.

"Some people say we had a 'twin flame' relationship that went beyond soulmates," he said, expressing grief at the loss of his dear friend.

When Chen passed away at the hospital Wednesday, at the age of 48, many loved ones were at her side, Chou said.