Comic IPs and Immersive Works Head to Cannes, Taiwanese Filmmakers Show Ambition for International Co-production
At the 79th Cannes Film Festival, Taiwanese filmmakers demonstrated their strong ambition for international co-production. The Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA) is promoting the adaptation of comic book IPs and immersive content, aiming to showcase Taiwan's unique creative strengths to the global market.
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(Central News Agency, Cannes, 16th, by reporter Lee Jo-yun) The 79th Cannes Film Festival and Marché du Film are taking place from May 12th to 23rd. In addition to 'The Dull-Ice Flower' being selected for the Cannes Classics section, this year's Taiwanese filmmakers and creators are participating in the international media market through various avenues, including comic book IPs, immersive works, and film scoring. TAICCA Chairperson Wang Shih-ssu stated that this year's Taiwan Pavilion focuses on international co-production and distribution, attempting to match the commercial ambition of the Cannes Film Festival.
The Cannes Film Festival is not just about red carpets and stars; its associated Marché du Film is an incubation ground for international film productions before they get the green light. According to the Cannes official website, the Marché is the world's largest film market, with over 15,000 international film professionals from more than 140 countries participating this year, hosting 250 pitching sessions, and with about 4,000 films and projects seeking collaboration.
The Taiwan Pavilion within the Marché du Film is a crucial hub for Taiwanese filmmakers to negotiate with international partners. This year marks its 6th year, supported by the Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA). The exterior walls feature Taiwanese thriller films awaiting international marketing, including 'Deadly Gamble,' 'The Ghost in the Market,' and 'The Rope Curse 4: Kuntilanak.'
The interior walls focus on promoting Taiwanese comic artist Lang Chi's work 'Echoes Before Dawn.' Due to its potential for film adaptation, the work was selected for this year's 'Shoot The Book! Pitches' section of the market. Only 8 publications were selected this year, and it was presented by professional consultants at a pitching session on the 14th to find interested production companies for film development.
In an interview with CNA at the Taiwan Pavilion, Wang Shih-ssu said that compared to other major European film festivals, Cannes has a clear commercial ambition and a more industrialized nature. Taiwanese films are currently recognized internationally mainly for horror and youth romance genres, so this year's focus is on creating a spotlight with 'FANTASTIC TAIWAN' genre films.
Wang Shih-ssu stated that with years of participation experience, the Taiwan Pavilion is focusing on 'Intellectual Property Translation' this time. Because when promoting international co-production, a key question inevitably arises: 'Can Taiwan's IP be seen by the world?' This is also the gain that all countries hope to achieve when promoting international co-productions.
Wang Shih-ssu emphasized that IP is the starting point for entering various interfaces, such as adapting comic IPs into animations, short films, feature films, games, etc. 'Taiwan's strength is its abundant originality, and we hope to build on this, align with the commercial ambition of the Cannes Film Festival, and connect with international production and distribution companies.'
Wang Shih-ssu added that another strategy this year was to collaborate with the Cannes Immersive section to hold the 'Taiwan Immersive Showcase,' a private screening for the industry, which was completed on the 13th and was the first immersive event of the festival. Representatives from the Venice Immersive section and the NewImages Festival in France attended, showing the importance they place on the Taiwanese immersive market.
Wang Shih-ssu explained that the market for immersive works is different from that of films. Besides needing unique venues for display, the operators are also a unique group of people. Bringing the right people together in a dedicated event will lead to the next step of development. This is a shortcut for Taiwan, which has been developing in this area for a long time, to enter the international scene. Immersive art is the market of the future.
In addition to comic IPs and VR, the classic Taiwanese film 'The Dull-Ice Flower,' digitally restored by the Taiwan Film and Audiovisual Institute, was selected for this year's Cannes Classics section. Directed by Yang Li-kuo and originally released in 1989, the restored version will have its world premiere on May 17th at 4:30 PM French time. The institute's chairman, Chu Ming-jen, and the film's cinematographer, Mark Lee Ping-bing, will attend. A total of 34 international classic films will be screened this year.
The Taiwan-UK-France co-production 'Playing with Fire: An Immersive Odyssey with Yuja Wang' was nominated for this year's Cannes Immersive Competition, with 9 works competing for the honor. The awards ceremony will be held on the 21st. Taiwanese new media artist Hsin-Chien Huang is one of the five jurors.
'Nagi Notes,' a Japanese film with a score co-produced by Taiwanese composer Pat Lee, directed by Koji Fukada, was selected for this year's main competition at Cannes. A total of 22 international films will compete for the Palme d'Or, with the awards ceremony on the 23rd. Lee composed the ending theme song, sung by Taiwanese singer Enno Cheng.
Pat Lee was also selected for the 'Composers on the Rise' program at the Cannes Marché du Film, with only 5 music creators selected this year. They will participate in networking events from the 18th to the 19th. (Editor: Tang Sheng-yang) 1150516
The Cannes Film Festival is not just about red carpets and stars; its associated Marché du Film is an incubation ground for international film productions before they get the green light. According to the Cannes official website, the Marché is the world's largest film market, with over 15,000 international film professionals from more than 140 countries participating this year, hosting 250 pitching sessions, and with about 4,000 films and projects seeking collaboration.
The Taiwan Pavilion within the Marché du Film is a crucial hub for Taiwanese filmmakers to negotiate with international partners. This year marks its 6th year, supported by the Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA). The exterior walls feature Taiwanese thriller films awaiting international marketing, including 'Deadly Gamble,' 'The Ghost in the Market,' and 'The Rope Curse 4: Kuntilanak.'
The interior walls focus on promoting Taiwanese comic artist Lang Chi's work 'Echoes Before Dawn.' Due to its potential for film adaptation, the work was selected for this year's 'Shoot The Book! Pitches' section of the market. Only 8 publications were selected this year, and it was presented by professional consultants at a pitching session on the 14th to find interested production companies for film development.
In an interview with CNA at the Taiwan Pavilion, Wang Shih-ssu said that compared to other major European film festivals, Cannes has a clear commercial ambition and a more industrialized nature. Taiwanese films are currently recognized internationally mainly for horror and youth romance genres, so this year's focus is on creating a spotlight with 'FANTASTIC TAIWAN' genre films.
Wang Shih-ssu stated that with years of participation experience, the Taiwan Pavilion is focusing on 'Intellectual Property Translation' this time. Because when promoting international co-production, a key question inevitably arises: 'Can Taiwan's IP be seen by the world?' This is also the gain that all countries hope to achieve when promoting international co-productions.
Wang Shih-ssu emphasized that IP is the starting point for entering various interfaces, such as adapting comic IPs into animations, short films, feature films, games, etc. 'Taiwan's strength is its abundant originality, and we hope to build on this, align with the commercial ambition of the Cannes Film Festival, and connect with international production and distribution companies.'
Wang Shih-ssu added that another strategy this year was to collaborate with the Cannes Immersive section to hold the 'Taiwan Immersive Showcase,' a private screening for the industry, which was completed on the 13th and was the first immersive event of the festival. Representatives from the Venice Immersive section and the NewImages Festival in France attended, showing the importance they place on the Taiwanese immersive market.
Wang Shih-ssu explained that the market for immersive works is different from that of films. Besides needing unique venues for display, the operators are also a unique group of people. Bringing the right people together in a dedicated event will lead to the next step of development. This is a shortcut for Taiwan, which has been developing in this area for a long time, to enter the international scene. Immersive art is the market of the future.
In addition to comic IPs and VR, the classic Taiwanese film 'The Dull-Ice Flower,' digitally restored by the Taiwan Film and Audiovisual Institute, was selected for this year's Cannes Classics section. Directed by Yang Li-kuo and originally released in 1989, the restored version will have its world premiere on May 17th at 4:30 PM French time. The institute's chairman, Chu Ming-jen, and the film's cinematographer, Mark Lee Ping-bing, will attend. A total of 34 international classic films will be screened this year.
The Taiwan-UK-France co-production 'Playing with Fire: An Immersive Odyssey with Yuja Wang' was nominated for this year's Cannes Immersive Competition, with 9 works competing for the honor. The awards ceremony will be held on the 21st. Taiwanese new media artist Hsin-Chien Huang is one of the five jurors.
'Nagi Notes,' a Japanese film with a score co-produced by Taiwanese composer Pat Lee, directed by Koji Fukada, was selected for this year's main competition at Cannes. A total of 22 international films will compete for the Palme d'Or, with the awards ceremony on the 23rd. Lee composed the ending theme song, sung by Taiwanese singer Enno Cheng.
Pat Lee was also selected for the 'Composers on the Rise' program at the Cannes Marché du Film, with only 5 music creators selected this year. They will participate in networking events from the 18th to the 19th. (Editor: Tang Sheng-yang) 1150516