Hawaiian International Film Festival to showcase 7 Taiwanese productions

Taipei, Oct. 13 (CNA) This year's Hawaiian International Film Festival (HIFF) will feature seven Taiwanese productions, highlighting themes ranging from Taiwan's night market culture to ethnic relations and geopolitical tensions.

The festival, to be held Oct. 16-26, will screen three Taiwanese feature films -- "Left-handed Girl" (左撇子女孩), "The Waves Will Carry Us" (人生海海), and "Before the Bright Day" (南方時光), according to the Ministry of Culture (MOC), which funded the "Spotlight on Taiwan" program.

Set against the backdrop of Taiwan's bustling night markets, "Left-handed Girl," the debut feature by director Tsou Shih-ching (鄒時擎), portrays the everyday struggles of individuals navigating a patriarchal society, the MOC said.

"The Waves Will Carry Us," directed by Taiwan-based Malaysian filmmaker Lau Kek-huat (廖克發), follows a man returning to Malaysia to arrange his father's funeral and explores tensions between different religions and ethnic groups, the ministry said.

Meanwhile, Tsao Shih-han's (曹仕翰) "Before the Bright Day" is a coming-of-age story set during the 1996 Taiwan Strait Crisis, exploring themes of family, friendship, and love.

The "Spotlight on Taiwan" program will also present four short films -- "The Fishbowl Girl" (金魚缸小姐), which examines the body and identity; "The Mother's Voice" (母語), which addresses ethnic issues; and two Golden Horse-nominated animated shorts, "Force Times Displacement" (工) and "Rocked by the Wind" (風的前奏).

When the HIFF announced its award nominees in late September, "Left-handed Girl" and "Before the Bright Day" were both nominated for the Kau Ka Hōkū (shooting star) Award, which recognizes directors for their debut or sophomore feature-length films.

In addition, "Before the Bright Day" and "The Waves Will Carry Us" were nominated for the Network for the Promotion of Asia Pacific Cinema (NETPAC) Award, while "The Fishbowl Girl" was shortlisted for Best Short Film.

Chien Te-yuan (簡德源), director of the Taiwan Academy in Los Angeles, one of the MOC's branches in the United States, described the HIFF as a launchpad for Asia-Pacific films entering the North American market.

Known for its diversity, the festival this year will feature works that explore issues such as indigeneity, gender identity, democratization, and social change, reflecting the growing global appeal of Taiwanese cinema, Chien said.

The HIFF award ceremony is scheduled for Oct. 23 at the Halekulani Hotel in Honolulu.