•Publication Date：07/07/2011
•Source： Taiwan Today
•By Kwangyin Liu
Taiwanese cartoonists will take center stage at the 35th Chambery Savoie Festival International de la Bande Dessinee, one of the longest-running festivals of its kind in France, Government Information Office Minister Philip Yang said July 6.
“At least four artists and their signature works will be showcased during the event,” Yang said. “This is an excellent opportunity for Taiwan to show off its creative credentials.”
Yang said Taiwanese culture and cuisine will also be promoted at the festival through a series of news conferences, exhibitions and performances.
Last year’s event saw Taiwanese cartoonists Arku and Selena Lin present their works as part of an exhibition featuring 300 comic books and 40 manuscripts.
According to the GIO, Taiwan’s participants in the festival, which runs Oct. 14 to 16, will be selected from its Golden Comic Awards recipients; those in the running include Akru, Michael Hsiao and the 12 contributors to “Taiwan Comix.”
“Taiwan Comix” finished among the seven finalists for the Alternative Comics Award at January’s Angouleme International Comics Festival in France. It also featured at last year’s BD Festival International de Lausanne in Switzerland, which is known for its high standards and top-notch reputation among independent cartoonists worldwide.
In addition, organizers of Angouleme—the largest event of its kind in Europe, attracting 1,000 artists from around the globe and 200,000 visitors annually—have shown keen interest in showcasing Taiwan, the GIO said.
“We will strive to secure Taiwan’s involvement in the 2013 edition of Angouleme as a major exhibitor,” the GIO said. “The timing of this participation will be significant for the country as it is the event’s 40th anniversary.”
The GIO initiated large-scale support for Taiwan’s comics industry in 2003 with the launch of the Graphic Novel Awards, which became the Golden Comic Awards in 2010.
