To share with LA audiences, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles (TECO) will hold a special film event “Dynamic Taiwan in Film.” It will screen three acclaimed films: Life of Pi, a master class in movie-making by Oscar winner Ang Lee; Go Grandrider, a No. 1 box office documentary film in Taiwan; and A Year in the Clouds – Smangus, won Best Indigenous and Native Peoples Documentary at the 2011Montana CINE International Film Festival.
Since Life of Pi won four Oscars awards (best director, best cinematography, best visual effects and best original score) and was filmed mostly in Taiwan, TECO would like to share this excellent work with valued friends from media, arts, movie and consulates with a special screening on March 25th at 6:00p.m. at the Pacific Theater at the Grove in Los Angeles.
After the screening, special guests Mr. Justin Chang, senior critic from Variety, Professor Robert Chi of UCLA, and Mr. Brian Hu, artistic director of San Diego Asia Film Festival will discuss the success of the movie, as well as Taiwan’s film industry. Q&A will follow.
Go Grandriders portrays a group of ailing octogenarians who undertake a trip around Taiwan via motorcycle. The documentary follows the group’s 13-day journey and the hurdles they face along the way. This film was released in October 2012 in Taiwan and broke box office records for a documentary film. It premieres in LA on March 19, 2013 at the UCLA Melnitz Movies.
Due to popular demand, TECO will screen this film again jointly with Los Angeles City College (LACC) on April 25, 2013 at 7:00 p.m., at the Multifunction Room B, Student Union of LACC, 855 N Vermont Ave., Los Angeles. It is free and open to the public.
Smangus depicts the life of Taiwan’s Atayal tribe and the preservation of their traditions and relationships with their surroundings. In fact, Smangus is the only place in Taiwan that now practices common ownership of land and property. The documentary is a co-production between the Taiwan Public Television Service (PTS) and British documentary film makers, Dean Johnson and Frank Smith. It was filmed over a period of 15 months.
In a joint effort with the UCLA Richard C. Rudolph East Asian Library, this film screens on April 15, 2012 ,12 :00 p.m. at the Library Presentation Room (11348 YRL), UCLA, Los Angeles. It is free and open to the public.
