Golden Horse Goes to Cannes

16 May 2024 (Thu.)

14:30 - 15:30 Goes to Cannes Screening @ Palais K – J.L. Bory

17:30 - 19:00 Bubble Tea Happy Hour @ Producers Club (Lérins)

* Screening opens to Market / Festival / Press badge holders.

* Happy Hour opens to badge holders with invitation.

For more information, please contact  vicky@goldenhorse.org.tw

With the resolute backing of Ministry of Culture, under the 1plus4─T-content plan, Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival Executive Committee and the Bureau of Audiovisual and Music Industry Development collectively initiated the promotion of Taiwan cinema to the world in Golden Horse Goes to Cannes, a collaboration with the most influential international film market Marché du Film. On May 16th, we will proudly present five latest projects, helmed by CHEN Yu-hsun, YANG Ya-che, HUANG Xi, Giddens KO and John HSU, in Cannes for the world to sneak preview the diversity, vigor and bold competence of Taiwan cinema, ranging from epic, romance, comedy, fantasy and gender awareness.

YANG Ya-che has long been noted for his sophisticated interpretation on characters and accurate portrayal of social issues. Not only did his THE BOLD, THE CORRUPT, AND THE BEAUTIFUL win the Best Narrative Feature at the Golden Horse Awards, among many actors he has successfully forged, YANG also helped crowned GWEI Lun-mei and Kara WAI as Best Leading Actress winners. Now, he is partnering with award-winning producers LIU Wei-jan and Jeffrey CHAN in THE CHRONICLES OF LIBIDOISTS, the 2021 Golden Horse Film Project Promotion selectee, inspired by the timeless fairy tale The Little Mermaid with a contemporary touch on sex and love. The cast includes Golden Horse Awards winner WU Kang-ren, nominee Will OR as well as promising new talents LIU Chu-ping and Alisia LIANG. How will they interpret these lonesome, passionate urban souls in this fable of lust and lost? To love, or not to love, that is the question.

John HSU has scored big with his debut feature DETENTION, not only topped the domestic box office with over 8 million USD but also won the Best New Director and Best Adapted Screenplay at the Golden Horse Awards. In his sophomore dark comedy DEAD TALENTS SOCIETY, teamed up with veteran producers LEE Lieh, Aileen LI and budding producer Ivy CHEN, John will show how a rookie ghost and its senior unite to rise to the top, becoming the scariest legendary ghosts. The fine line between human and ghostly, humorous and scary will be rendered by Golden Horse Awards nominated actresses Sandrine PINNA, Gingle WANG and established actor CHEN Bo-lin. This is also the original Taiwan project having major investment from Sony Pictures in nearly two decades, a precursor showing their confidence in its commercial potential.

With 82 novels published and counting, Giddens KO has proven himself to be more than a successful writer but also a promising filmmaker. His debut feature YOU ARE THE APPLE OF MY EYE grabbed a nomination for Best New Director at Golden Horse Awards, reached over 13 million USD in the domestic box office, broke several box office records in overseas markets and got adapted into Japanese and Thai versions. Every title he directed became a buzz and the talk-about in town, TILL WE MEET AGAIN even scored 11 nominations. In the latest KUNG FU, a highly anticipated project prepared for 10 years co-produced by LU Wei-chun, Giddens assembled Golden Horse-winning actors Leon DAI, Kai KO and Berant ZHU to go on a modern fantastic adventure of two high school losers and we will witness how they learn the Kung Fu in a bittersweet symphony.

CHEN Yu-hsun and his works have been to Berlinale, Locarno and Busan. His last film MY MISSING VALENTINE won him Best Narrative Feature, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay at Golden Horse, and was adapted into the Japanese version written by KUDO Kankuro and helmed by YAMASHITA Nobuhiro. While his works never lack a great sense of humor, they always shine a light on humanity with deep empathy. In the latest A FOGGY TALE, CHEN eyes on the era of White Terror in Taiwan, depicting the tear-jerking story of a young girl as she went on a life-threatening trip for raising the money to redeem the remains of her family. It is presented by award-winning producers YEH Jufeng and LEE Lieh, with a refreshing cast of Golden Horse Awards winner Caitlin FANG, nominee Will OR and musician-turned-actress 9m88.

Multi-talented Sylvia CHANG has won multiple Golden Horse Awards and Hong Kong Film Awards for Best Actress; she has also been recognized in directing and writing, and is the pushing hand behind many titles. After starring in the well-received series TWISTED STRINGS backed by HBO, Sylvia once again worked with Golden Horse Best New Director nominee HUANG Xi in DAUGHTER'S DAUGHTER, as the lead and the executive producer. The film takes a deep gaze into varied layers like mother-daughter relations and IVF (in vitro fertilization) with a feminine perspective. It was a Golden Horse Film Project Promotion selectee and Excellent Screenplay Awards winner.

For over six decades, Golden Horse has praised excellent films and celebrated the unyielding spirit and dedication of the filmmakers. In addition to the Golden Horse Awards competition, film festival, film project promotion, film academy and master class, we are now one step further to introduce latest projects of Golden Horse winners to the world market, festivals and press, in hope to extend broader exposure of them and to stimulate deeper appreciation of Taiwan cinema for many more decades to come. For more info, please refer to the official website,Facebook Fan Page and Instagram.

2024 GOLDEN HORSE GOES TO CANNES

▎THE CHRONICLES OF LIBIDOISTS

Director: YANG Ya-che
Producer: Jeffrey CHAN, LIU Wei-jan
Cast: WU Kang-ren, LIU Chu-ping, Alisia LIANG, Will OR

The story unfolds with an allegorical inspiration from the well-known fairy tale, The Little Mermaid, in which the mermaid princess falls in love with the prince it saves from drowning, with a surprising twist of the mermaid being a young boy…

▎DEAD TALENTS SOCIETY

Director: John HSU
Producer: LEE Lieh, Aileen LI, Ivy CHEN
Cast: CHEN Bo-lin, Sandrine PINNA, Gingle WANG

A ghost must be frightening enough to sustain in this realm. It becomes imperative to navigate challenges and establish a reputation by eliciting fear, thus evolving into a legendary specter.

▎KUNG FU

Director: Giddens KO
Producer: LU Wei-chun, Giddens KO
Cast: Leon DAI, Kai KO, Berant ZHU

Two loser high school students meet a wandering old man with unparalleled martial arts skills. Together, they not only strive to restore justice to their city but also unravel the mystery of the old man's identity.

▎A FOGGY TALE

Director: CHEN Yu-hsun
Producer: YEH Jufeng, LEE Lieh
Cast: Caitlin FANG, Will OR, 9m88

Two people with no relations become friends in need and embark on a journey that may cost them their lives.

▎DAUGHTER'S DAUGHTER

Director: HUANG Xi
Producer: HOU Hsiao-hsien, Sylvia CHANG
Cast: Sylvia CHANG, Karena LAM, Eugenie LIU

In her 60s and divorced, Jin learned that her only daughter Zuer and Zuer’s partner Jiayi died in an accident. Knowing Zuer tried out IVF in New York, Jin inherited Zuer’s embryo with its fate in Jin’s hand. Meanwhile, she has to face Emma, the daughter she gave up for adoption when she was 16.