Indigenous with a Capital ‘I’ : TIDF showcases First Wave of Taiwan's Indigenous Filmmakers (1994 - 2000)

TIDF 2020 +1 is proud to present the section "Indigenous with a Capital ‘I’: Indigenous Documentaries from 1994 - 2000", showing 17 works of indigenous filmmakers from Taiwan. Festival guests will have the rare chance to see records left by indigenous filmmakers when they first got hold of digital cameras to tell authentic stories of their own communities. The English title of this program, Indigenous with a Capital ‘I’, is indebted to the late Maōri director Barry BARCLAY, who first introduced the concept of 'Fourth Cinema' which proposes Indigenous stories in films should be interpreted by indigenous people. Thus, the capital ‘I’ symbolizes the subjectivity and empowerment of indigenous people.

Children in Heaven (1997), As Life, As Pangcah (1998)

Angoo (1999), Looking for the Salt (1999)

They developed their own viewpoints and aesthetics, breaking away from the Han Chinese ‘gaze’ and interpretation of their culture. The process of collecting these historical materials was painstaking, as many master tapes had been lost, even the directors don’t keep their own copies. By restoring the copies and subtitling them in English and Chinese, the TIDF team contributed to the preservation of aboriginal culture, and filled another gap in Taiwan's film history.

The Kavalan: Past and Present  (1997), A Mu Yi (2000)

Song of the Wanderer (1996), Too Young (1998)

The 17 films of different lengths shed light on many aspects of indigenous communities and their struggles in Taiwan mainstream society, touching upon sensitive issues like domestic violence, teenage pregnancies, or forced resettlements. Several works portray indigenous cultural heritage like tattooing or weaving, but also critically examine the dark sides of traditions. All of them are documents in the true sense of the word, offering a fascinating view into indigenous culture from an Indigenous viewpoint – with a capital ‘I’.

The Painter from Fata'an (1996), New Paradise (1999)

The Traditional Clothes of Raisinay Village (1997), Where Has the Land Gone? (1997)

Tales of the Rainbow (1998/2008), And Deliver Us from Evil (2001)

The 12th Taiwan International Documentary Festival will be held from April 30 to May 9, featuring 140 outstanding films from around the world. 

Venues: Shin Kong Cinemas, SPOT Huashan Cinema, and the Taiwan Contemporary Culture Lab (C-Lab).

Ticket Sale: Starting from Wednesday April 7, 13:00 on via ibon Ticket System