3 Taiwanese productions to feature at Czech human rights film festival

Prague, March 16 (CNA) Three fully or jointly created Taiwanese documentaries have been selected for this year's One World International Human Rights Film Festival, taking place from March 12 to April 27 in the Czech Republic.

The selected films are "XiXi" (曦曦), "Island in Between" (金門), and "Address Unknown: Fukushima Now" (住所不明:福島今).

"XiXi," directed by Taiwanese director Wu Fan (吳璠), documents Wu's chance encounters and interactions with Chinese improv artist XiXi and the two's soul-searching journey about womanhood, resilience, and the transformative power of personal reinvention.

The film, selected for the festival's "Female Gaze" section, was screened on Saturday and will be shown again on March 18.

Also showing at the festival is the Taiwanese-American-Japanese production "Address Unknown: Fukushima Now."

"Address Unknown: Fukushima Now," shot using immersive VR technology, takes audiences to the heart of Fukushima to meet the survivors living in the shadow of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and the ensuing nuclear accident today, according to the festival.

Dozens of screenings have been planned for the film from March 13 to March 20 as part of the festival's Immersive Films Competition.

"Island In Between," directed by Taiwanese-American S. Leo Chiang (江松長) and shot using a first-person perspective, weaves together a narrative on the relationship between Taiwan, its outlying Kinmen County, and China from the perspectives of tourists and locals and experiences of Chiang's father serving as a soldier at the offshore military outpost.

The documentary will go on a nationwide tour at schools across the Czech Republic.

Ke Liang-ruey (柯良叡), Taiwan's representative to the Czech Republic, said the One World festival offers a platform for Taiwanese productions to engage in dialogue with audiences worldwide.

The three films shown at the festival this year have won high praise from the jury in their narrative skills and artistic achievements, showcasing the remarkable creativity of Taiwanese filmmakers, Ke said.

The selections highlight that Taiwan and the Czech Republic are joined by their shared value of human rights and represent a collaboration between the two countries in the cultural field, he added.

Launched by Czech nonprofit organization People in Need in 1999, One World Festival is the largest human rights film festival in the world, bringing together international works on human rights to local audiences, according to the festival's website.

One of the festival's highlights is the discussions that take place throughout the event, involving dozens of guests from all over the world, including filmmakers, protagonists and human rights advocates, according to event organizers.