Mayor of Taichung City

Taichung International Animation Festival (TIAF) has entered its eighth year with the hard work and support of the Taichung city government. What's more, this year's short film competition has again broken a record high! 3,014 films were submitted to the contest by animation talents from 106 countries and regions worldwide. That is an astonishingly fruitful achievement for Taiwan or, dare we say, the whole of Asia. Taichung has become one of the leading cities in the animated arts. The city government is committed to making Taichung into an "International Film and Television Friendly City" and has continued to show remarkable results.

As the second most populated city in Taiwan, its advantageous geographical location connects the transportation network across Taiwan. Coupling that with the stable weather and unique scenery provided by the rich habitat, Taichung has always been where Taiwan's cultural gatherings come together. Since the inception of TIAF, it has become a significant platform for exchanges between the animation industry, government, and academia. Over the years, the masters of the field, professionals, and creative talents from all over the world have been invited to Taichung to share their experiences, enlightening countless animation fans and creators. Creating new opportunities for industrial development is also a significant cultural achievement of film and television in Taichung City.

In 2022, although the world is still shrouded in the shadows of COVID, it has also gradually opened up and recovered, returning us to a new form of daily life that is different from the past. Hoping to relieve the melancholy caused by the pandemic, TIAF has made "Transform • Rebirth" its theme this year. It wishes to lead by example by spreading life and creativity, inspire and propel Taiwan's animated works into the world's spotlight and simultaneously explore the infinite possibilities of the future through the imagination and creativity of animation.

In addition to leading the development of the film and television industry, the Taichung City Government has also implemented policies such as the " Taichung Animation Production Project" and "Central Taiwan Cinema Center" in continued support of the film, television, and animation industries through talent cultivation, industry training, and subsidies. Moreover, with the Taichung Film Development Foundation's fervent support and diverse promotion of the co-production and promotional businesses, they have actively strengthened the foundation and streamlined the television and film industry.

Lastly, we wish to give our appreciation to all the local and international guests and animators for their support and participation. We are also very grateful for the hard work of the Taichung Information Bureau and Taichung Film Development Foundation team for giving new life to TIAF and making it bigger and better year after year. Let's gather and celebrate the achievements of these exceptional talents in Taichung together! See you in September at the Taichung International Animation Festival!

Mayor of Taichung City  LU Shiow-Yen