'A Foggy Tale' named Taiwan's Oscars submission

Taipei, Aug. 18 (CNA) Taiwanese film "A Foggy Tale" (大濛) will represent Taiwan in the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards, the Ministry of Culture (MOC) announced Tuesday.

Set during the White Terror era, the film follows a girl who travels to northern Taiwan to retrieve the body of her executed brother.

Along the way, she befriends a former soldier who helps her raise the large amount of money required to retrieve her brother's body.

In a news release, the MOC said the film's title serves as a subtle metaphor for the White Terror era, reflecting the uncertainty felt by everyday Taiwanese during the period.

It said the story captures the joy and sorrow, cruelty and compassion experienced by ordinary people during the period of political repression, which lasted from 1949 to 1992.

Much of the film's dialogue is in the Taiwanese Hokkien language, with some in the Beijing dialect of Mandarin.

Directed by Chen Yu-hsun (陳玉勳), "A Foggy Tale" was selected from seven domestic films submitted for consideration.

The selection committee said it chose the film for its vivid characters, compelling storytelling and portrayal of the lives of everyday people during one of Taiwan's darkest chapters.

Released in November 2025, the film had grossed more than NT$1.192 billion (US$36.9 million) as of July this year and attracted more than 4.4 million moviegoers.

The film has earned critical acclaim both at home and abroad. At the 62nd Golden Horse Awards, it won Best Narrative Feature, Best Original Screenplay, Best Makeup and Costume Design and Best Art Direction.

It also received 13 nominations at the Taipei Film Awards, winning five prizes: Best Narrative Feature, Best Screenplay, Best Original Film Song, Best Art Direction and Best Makeup and Costume Design.

The film was also selected for the main competition at Italy's Udine Far East Film Festival and has been screened at the Hong Kong International Film Festival, San Diego Asian Film Festival, and Singapore Chinese Film Festival.

The 99th Academy Awards are scheduled to take place on March 14, 2027.