Taichung International Animation Festival Concludes with the First "Special Contribution Award"

The 2024 Taichung International Animation Festival held its awards ceremony today on 26th, October. The Deputy Mayor of the Taichung City Government, Cheng Chao-Hsin; the Deputy Director-General of Taichung Information Bureau, Chen Yu; and the Deputy Director of the Taichung Film Development Foundation, Chang Wan-Yu, along with the preliminary judges and international filmmakers, gathered to reveal the winners. The “Taiwanese Short Films Grand Prix” and “Taiwanese Student Short Films Grand Prix,” two of the most anticipated awards in Taiwan’s animation industry, went to “Dragon Fire,” directed by Yang Tzu-Hsin, and “HEY DAD,” directed by Wang Wei-Fan, respectively. This year’s Taiwanese animated short films showcased diverse narratives and a variety of techniques.

 

Deputy Mayor Cheng Chao-Shin noted that the 10th anniversary of the Taichung International Animation Festival holds great significance. To honor a key figure who has been deeply involved in Taiwan’s animation industry, mentored younger generations, and accompanied the festival to its successful tenth anniversary, the festival’s first “Special Contribution Award” was presented to C.Jay Shih. As the festival curator from 2017 to 2019, Shih has consistently promoted artistic creation and international animation exchanges. The festival extends its gratitude to Mr. Shih for his past contributions and looks forward to continued collaboration for the next decade!

 

Chen Yu, Deputy Director of Taichung Information Bureau, added that this year, the festival was honored to welcome international filmmakers, including Lee Kyung-hwa, curator of South Korea’s “Seoul Independent Animation Festival,” and Luce Grosjean, CEO of the renowned French animation distribution company Miyu Distribution, to participate in the awards ceremony. Following extensive discussions and considerations, the jury selected 13 outstanding works from 62 shortlisted entries. In addition to congratulating the winners, the festival also expresses gratitude to the international judges and creators who traveled from the United States, Poland, France, Portugal, Croatia, Israel, South Korea, Japan, and China to join the event.

 

The winner of the “Short Film Grand Prix” was “The Meatseller,” by Italian director Margherita Giusti, a film that explores intense subjects, portraying inhumane experiences with simple lines, strong colors, and powerful tension. The “Student Short Films Grand Prix” went to German director Bianca Sculli’s “The Disappearance of a Mole,” which skillfully intertwines physical cuts and psychological fragmentation to create an interrogative experience.

 

The “Taiwanese Short Films Grand Prix” winner, “Dragon Fire,” tells a story of overcoming inner fear. Director Yang Tzu-Hsin, who previously won the Taiwanese Short Films Grand Prix in 2021 for “Spinning,” was again recognized for her exceptional artistic design and innovation in “Dragon Fire.” The “Taiwanese Student Short Films Grand Prix” was awarded to “HEY DAD,” directed by Wang Wei-Fang, who translated inner monologues into visual metaphors, subtly revealing underlying anxiety and longing.

 

Daniel Šuljić, Artistic Director of the Zagreb International Animation Film Festival and chair of this year’s final jury, along with C.Jay Shih, remarked that this year’s shortlisted works span pure visual experiments to professional, entertainment-oriented productions covering diverse themes, offering an exciting glimpse of the new generation’s talent. Olga Bobrowska, Director of Poland’s “StopTrik International Film Festival” and a final judge, was also deeply impressed by the high quality of work in the student competition and looked forward to the filmmakers’ creative growth.

 

The “Audience Award,” presented by Chang Wan-Yu, Deputy Director of the Taichung Film Development Foundation, went to the Taiwanese work “Fan,” a film that reflects on the sorrow of losing a loved one and the inheritance of memories, resonating with audiences on themes of childhood and family. Meanwhile, the “Children’s Choice Award,” voted on by hundreds of “little judges,” went to Spain’s “Homework,” a charming film where common classroom stationery transforms into schoolchildren, capturing the dynamics of friendship and daily classroom life.

 

Filmmakers from around the world gathered, and the closing film, “Sirocco and the Kingdom of the Winds,” played to a full house, launching the Festival into a new decade of endless possibilities. Thanks to the support and encouragement of both new and long-time fans, the festival’s 10th anniversary was a resounding success. See you next year at the Taichung International Animation Festival! For a full list of festival winners and exciting highlights, please visit the official website of the Taichung International Animation Film Festival at http://twtiaf.com and the Facebook fan page at http://facebook.com/tiaf.taichung.