Mayor of Taichung City

Dear Fellow Cinephiles:
Taichung International Animation Festival (TIAF) has officially entered its ninth year. Though young in age, it has grown since its conception. As the president of the Taichung Film Development Foundation views TIAF as akin to my child, having watched it gradually mature. We hope all our fellow audiences and animation-loving individuals enjoy their time wandering in the world of animation and also provide feedback and guidance to help make the festival the best it can be.

2023 is an extraordinary year. It is the dawn after the dark that was the pandemic. With life finally returning to “normal,” the streets are back to their former busy glory. The city can finally shine like it used to, which is why the festival has chosen “Between Light and Shadow” as this year’s theme to incorporate the rich local elements in Taichung and enhance the fantastical energy of this animation metropolis.

I am proud to share that the festival’s Short Films category has received 2,858 entries from 113 countries and regions, setting a record for the most significant number of entries from countries and regions in the festival’s history. We can say with great pride that TIAF has become an essential platform for international exchange.

Even more excitingly, among the 60 shortlisted short films, many of them have won the Best Animated Short Film Award at the Golden Horse Awards and the Taipei Film Festival, and have been nominated at Animafest Zagreb and other major film festivals. The critically acclaimed high-quality works suggest that TIAF is gradually on par with esteemed film festivals at home and abroad and is recognized and favored by international creators.

As the “International Film and Television Friendly City,” Taichung welcomes creators from all walks of life to film in Taichung. Taichung has also declared itself an “Anime Capital.” Furthermore, after six years of negotiations, it has been decided this year that the city will host the National Museum of Manga and Anime at The Taichung Prison Official Residence Cluster. In the future, the city strives to coordinate and streamline the production pipeline of the animation industry, continue to implement the three significant aspects of promoting talent cultivation, industry support, and film and television subsidies, and become the most substantial backing of the film and animation industries.

Lastly, the support and participation of all the local and international creators and guests, and the unremitting efforts of the Taichung Film and Development Foundation team and Taichung Information Bureau allowed the Taichung International Animation Festival to run smoothly year after year. This October, we invite all citizens to celebrate the fruitful achievements of these hardworking animators!

We look forward to seeing you there!

Mayor of Taichung City  LU Shiow-Yen