Taiwanese director Chou Tung-yen has been invited by the Austin Asian American Film Festival to exhibit the VR film "In the Mist" and the short film "Kiss.” Director Chou’s exhibition marks the US premiere of “In the Mist” which will be highlighted at the 18th Austin Asian American Film Festival. Previews are scheduled for June 25 with viewings arranged over the following two days.
Released in 2020, the VR short film "In the Mist" is the first installment of director Chou Tung-yen's gay sauna trilogy. Through VR headset-assisted immersion, the viewer is able to sink into the sensual world the director constructs in a steamy small room of a gay sauna. The film has been well received; it was selected for the 78th Venice International Film Festival and received the PANORAMA VR PRIZE at the 2021 Festival du Nouveau Cinéma de Montréal.
"Kiss" – Chou’s other film to be exhibited at the festival – will be screened after “In the Mist.” This film was produced in 2021 and draws from the emotional and psychological stress of COVID-19 pandemic. It was selected for the Frameline San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival, the oldest and largest in the United States in 2022.
Director Chou Tung-Yen and editor Huang Chia-Wen will attend the Austin Asian America Film Festival and hold a Q&A session with the audience during the screening. Interested viewers are welcome to attend and explore the avant-garde nature of Taiwan's VR shorts together.
For more info:
Location: Holiday Inn Midtown Austin
( 6000 Middle Fiskville Road, Austin, TX 78752 USA)
Time：June 26-27 from 12:00 to 21:00
For more info:
Day 1 https://www.aaafilmfest.org/film-event-schedule-2026/taiwanvr
Day 2 https://www.aaafilmfest.org/film-event-schedule-2026/taiwanvr-6hgww
