The first Taichung International Animation Festival (TIAF) is one of my policies that will build Taichung into a “creative city and living capital”. Taichung is a cultural city that has long been connected with media production. Apart from providing assistances for movie and TV drama shooting, facility construction is also a key focus in our “Good Living Taichung 2025 Plan, including the establishment of Central Taiwan Film Studios in Wufeng and the Central Taiwan Cinema Center in Shui-nan. And, it also demands immediate actions to organize and run a city film festival.

A city film festival is not only arts and cultural activities, but also a way to reflect a city’s character. Having scenically diverse landscapes, unique food culture and lifestyle, Taichung is a city brimming with creativities and possibilities. The expressing way of animation images is exactly in line with the character of Taichung. Furthermore, there are many schools with animation related departments here in Taichung; and as Taichung is located in central Taiwan, it has the advantages of integrating animation resources from the north and south of Taiwan. We believe that Taichung can bring together all the animation resources in Taiwan, and can be built as an international animation city.

This year’s Taichung International Animation Festival includes Taiwan selections and World panorama. There will be lectures in a variety of subjects; and we also invite famous curators for international film festival, animation directors, and Taiwanese filmmakers and animators to share their experiences in issues related to animation production. We're sending out a big warm welcome for all of you to come and join us, and encourage your engagement throughout the festival.