In early morning Taiwan time on April 8th, VR project The Man Who Couldn’t Leave by Taiwanese director Singing Chen won the Special Cinematographic Distinction at NewImages Festival in France. This project, centering on political victims during White Terror (1947-1987) period in Taiwan, was well recognized among the jury and visitors. During the 2023 edition of NewImages Festival, Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA) led a delegation to participate in XR Days co-organized with the Festival. A designated Pitching Session for Taiwan XR Talents aimed to facilitate more mutual collaborations and market expansions. Seven projects selected in XR Development Market and four projects in XR Art Fair also approached for market and exhibition opportunities. In addition, TAICCA partnered with Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée (CNC), Forum des images (NewImages Festival organizer), Bureau Français de Taipei, and Kaohsiung Film Archive to launch Villa Formose Immersive residency program to enhance industrial engagement between Taiwan and France. The open call will be launched soon.
The Man Who Couldn’t Leave Wins Special Cinematographic Distinction at NewImages Festival
The Man Who Couldn’t Leave had previously won multiple international accolades, including Best VR Experience at Venice Immersive, and Hong Kong ifva VR Award. TAICCA congratulated Director Chen and her team for another recognition at NewImages Festival. It indicated immersive content works from Taiwan were very competitive worldwide. When noticed about the award, Director Chen expressed her gratitude to the jury and NewImages Festival and shared her excitement with the team. “It’s our first cinematographic distinction. What a fresh experience for us! VR cinematography is a technique that builds up a complete space. Only with the support of our team can we challenge and push the cinematography and storytelling of our VR 360 piece to the limit.”
Over the past three years, XR Days program brought immersive content producers and creators from Taiwan to France for international opportunities. The itinerary included visits to XR production studios, such as Atlas V and InnerspaceVR, discussions with French creators, case studies, and project pitches. The pitching session invited festival professionals from France, Quebec, Middle East, Belgium, Italy, and Korea to meet with outstanding Taiwanese creators. Private meetings also expanded international networks for co-productions, exhibitions, and collaborations.
Talents from Taiwan and French creator Pierre Cattan exchanged ideas at the XR Days.
Eight Taiwanese creators participated in XR Days this year, including Jay Tseng of Ultra Combos, Albert Chen of Surprise Lab, Han-Yu Feng of NAXS FUTURE, Allen Yu of Toii Games, Chin-Lun Kao of Hzalyzer.Sound, artist Kai-Chun Chiang, as well as Yi-Ho Li and Yi-Ting Cheng of CURIOSKI, which received TAICCA Special Prize at 2022 Kaohsiung VR FILM LAB – VR Talent Workshop. After the half-day workshop of XR Days, Pierre Cattan, the founder of French company SMALL BANG shared “The eight talents from Taiwan this year are really cross-field. They are professional and enthusiastic. We look forward to working together in the future.”
Talents Gathered at Taiwan XR Fever Reception.
To support more international immersive content co-productions, TAICCA partnered with CNC, Forum des images, Bureau Français de Taipei, and Kaohsiung Film Archive to launch Villa Formose Immersive residency program. Taiwanese and French creators could apply for three residency opportunities, engage with local ecosystem players, and present their works at NewImages Festival or Kaohsiung Film Festival. This partnership would prepare future content industries in Taiwan for global markets.
For the residency program, NewImages Festival Director Michele Ziegler said the collaboration will pull Taiwan and French content creators closer, shorten the gap between the two industries, and further enable the talents to create novel contents jointly.
TAICCA partnered with CNC, Forum des images, Bureau Français de Taipei, and Kaohsiung Film Archive to launch Villa Formose Immersive residency program. (Left to Right: Kaohsiung Film Archive Director Hao-Jie Huang, NewImages Festival Director Michele Ziegler, TAICCA Advisor Aurélien Dirler and TAICCA Director of Cultural Technology Dept. Grace Lee.)
Villa Formose Immersive residency program includes three opportunities. Taiwan Prototyping Residency will bring one French creator to Taiwan for prototype development, and exhibit results at Kaohsiung Film Festival. Taiwan Writing Residency will welcome four French creators to Taiwan for their immersive story development. France Prototyping Residency will select one Taiwanese creator to France for prototype development, and exhibit results at NewImages Festival. For more information.
【Appendix】
XR Development Market Selected Project
《Father's Video Tapes》｜ SWSG Studio
《Limbophobia》｜ Wen-E Studio
《Memories of the Waves》｜POKE POKE CREATIVE
《The EYE & I》｜EDDA & IN ART GALLERY
《The Island of Shells》｜Flash Forward Entertainment
《The Insider》｜CURIOSKI
《Virtual Kiss》｜Serendipity Films Ltd.
XR Art Fair Selected Project
《Gray Room》｜Kaohsiung Film Archive
《Mirror》｜Kaohsiung Film Archive
《Telling Tent－Institute of Fantastic Animals》｜TELLING TENT CO., LTD.
《Where is Noddy?》｜Kaohsiung Film Archive