Art and Entertainment

Taiwan film wins Audi Short Film Award in Berlin festival

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/02/21
By: Lin Ting-yi and S.C. Chang

Berlin, Feb. 21 (CNA) “Anchorage Prohibited,” a film depicting life of migrant

Chiang Wei-liang

Chiang Wei-liang

workers in Taiwan, won the Audi Short Film Award at the 2016 Berlin International Film Festival Sunday.

It tells the story of a Vietnamese migrant couple who do not have the means to put down roots and settle on an island where an anchorage is prohibited while they try to seek solutions to their problem.

Chiang Wei-liang (曾威量), Singaporean director and M.A. program student at Taipei National University of the Arts, said he was pleased to represent Taiwan and show a Taiwanese film on the international arena.

“My suggestion to other young people is: Act on your ideas; don’t waste your creative time on waiting,” he said during an interview with CNA.    [FULL  STORY]

Spring Wave Music, Arts Festival to move to Taipei this year

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/02/16
By: Kuo Chu-chen and Lilian Wu

Taipei, Feb. 16 (CNA) The Spring Wave Music and Arts Festival, one of the

(CNA file photo)

(CNA file photo)

major events of the Kenting music festival April 2-5 in southern Taiwan, will move to Taipei this year, the sponsor said Tuesday.

Shen Kuang-yuan (沈光遠), founder of Spring Wave festival and general manager of Friendly Dog Entertainment, which sponsors the festival, said that due to difficulty in finding a suitable venue for the concert, it decided to leave Kenting and move this year’s festival to the Dajia Riverside Park in Taipei April 3-4.

Tickets went on sale Monday.

Shen said that the festival, which features top-class singers and bands, has been one of the most popular events in a decade at the Kenting music festival, attracting more than 10,000 fans at its concerts.     [FULL  STORY]

Vatican artifacts exhibition launched in Taipei City

Taiwan Today
Date: February 5, 2016

The world’s largest exhibition to be held outside the Holy See of

President Ma Ying-jeou opens Treasures from Heaven: A Special Exhibition of Artifacts from the Holy See Feb. 4 in Taipei City. (Staff photo/Chin Hung-hao)

President Ma Ying-jeou opens Treasures from Heaven: A Special Exhibition of Artifacts from the Holy See Feb. 4 in Taipei City. (Staff photo/Chin Hung-hao)

liturgical artifacts used by popes throughout the centuries was launched Feb. 4 during a ceremony co-hosted by the ROC Ministry of Foreign Affairs at National Palace Museum in Taipei City.

Staged by NPM and the Vatican with the support of the MOFA, Treasures from Heaven: A Special Exhibition of Artifacts from the Holy See comprises 60 sets of objects illustrating the artistic values and cultural content of the Roman Catholic Church and its development in the Chinese-speaking world. It underscores 73 years of diplomatic relations between the ROC and Holy See, and highlights the deepening of bilateral relations and exchanges between the two sides.

Attended by ROC President Ma Ying-jeou, MOFA Minister David Y. L. Lin, ROC Vice President-elect Chen Chien-jen and a Holy See delegation led by Archbishop Piero Marini, president of the Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses, the launch ceremony was a fitting start for this major religious and cultural event.     [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan International Arts Festival tickets going fast

This year’s program is packed with some familiar names as well as newcomers, both foreign and Taiwanese, with shows that range from interpretations of Shakespeare to multimedia explorations of music, theater, dance and puppetry

Taipei Times
Date: Feb 05, 2016
By: Diane Baker / Staff reporter

Since the initial Taiwan International Arts Festival (TIFA) in 2009,

Based on a True Story (d’apres une histoire vraie) will be performed on March 5 and March 6. Photo courtesy of marc domage

Based on a True Story (d’apres une histoire vraie) will be performed on March 5 and March 6. Photo courtesy of marc domage

the National Theater Concert Hall (NTCH) programmers have kept raising the bar, bringing some of the best and most innovative artists from around the world and Taiwan to fill up the weekends over five to six weeks in Taipei.

NTCH artistic director Lee Huey-mei (李惠美) said each festival takes about two years of planning, and the goal is to expand the horizons of local audiences as well as inspire the nation’s performers and arts groups.

The line-up of 20 shows put together under the theme of “Echos of Imagination” this year hold a lot of promise. In keeping with the worldwide celebrations to mark the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare’s death, there are two productions based on his works: Avignon Festival director Olivier Py’s King Lear (李爾王), a joint production with the NTCH, and Taipei-based Contemporary Legend Theatre’s (當代傳奇劇場) Beijing opera interpretation of A Midsummer’s Night Dream (仲夏夜之夢).     [FULL  STORY]

Fans flock to Madonna’s first ever concert in Taiwan

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/02/04
By: Sabine Cheng and Christie Chen

Taipei, Feb. 4 (CNA) Enthusiastic fans on Thursday flocked to 14758884Madonna’s first ever concert in Taiwan, expressing their excitement to finally see the pop legend in person.

Office worker Sam Lin (林聖賢) wore a bright pink dress and hat, which he decorated with fake fruit and other objects, to the “Rebel Heart” concert at the Taipei Arena to pay tribute to the singer, whom Lin had been a fan of for three decades.

The costume, which he made by himself over a period of four months, was modeled after a costume that Madonna wore during her first concert tour in the 1980s, the 42-year-old said.

“Madonna is true to herself and is not afraid to show herself,” Lin said, adding that the singer has had a great impact on him.     [FULL  STORY]

‘The Assassin’ tops Asian Film Award nominations

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/02/03
By: Sabine Cheng and Kuo Chung-han

Taipei, Feb. 3 (CNA) The martial arts movie “The Assassin” (刺客

From Ad Vitam Distribution official website

From Ad Vitam Distribution official website

聶隱娘) received nine nominations, including best film, best director, best actress and best supporting actress, for the 2016 Asian Film Awards on Wednesday.

The film was also nominated for best cinematography, best original music, best production design, best costume design and best editing awards.

Taiwanese actor Cheng Jen-shuo (鄭人碩) was nominated for best supporting actor for his performance in “Thanatos, Drunk” (醉.生夢死), while Lee Hong-chi (李鴻其), who appeared in the same movie, was nominated for the best newcomer award.

Hong Kong-based Taiwanese Canadian actress Karena Lam (林嘉欣) was nominated for best actress for her performance in “Zinnia Flower” (百日告別), along with Shu Qi (舒淇) for her role in “The Assassin.”

Madonna arrives in Taiwan for her Rebel Heart Tour

Taiwan News
Date: 2016-02-02
By George Liao, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

Pop signer Madonna Louise Ciccone, 57, arrived in Taipei by 6732962private jet on Monday night for her Rebel Heart Tour’s first stop in Asia, which includes two performances on Thursday and Saturday nights at the Taipei Arena.

Coming to Taipei for the first time, Madonna said in a Facebook post on Tuesday, “We are coming to get you TAI-PEI!!”

Media reports said Madonna lowered the car window and waved to reporters on her way to the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, where she is said to be staying.     [FULL  STORY]

Twice wins Best Female Rookie award in Philippines

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/01/25
By: Chiang Yuan-chen and Y.F. Low

Seoul, Jan. 25 (CNA) Chou Tzu-yu (周子瑜), a Taiwanese teenage pop star, 201601250033t0001and her girl pop group Twice have won the Best Female Rookie award at the 7th Philippine K-pop Awards.

Sharing a photo of it receiving the award on Twitter, the girl K-pop group said “thank you” to their fans on Monday.

Also Monday, Twice’s debut music video, “Like OOH-AHH,” exceeded 3 million hits on YouTube.

The video, which was released in October 2015, topped 1 million hits on YouTube on Nov. 14 and broke 2 million hits on Dec. 22.

Ryan Reynolds wows Taiwan fans with more than greetings in Chinese

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/01/21
By: Jay Chen

Taipei, Jan. 21 (CNA) If Ryan Reynolds’ reception in Taiwan is anything to go

(From Ryan Reynolds' Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/vancityreynolds)

(From Ryan Reynolds’ Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/vancityreynolds)

by, bantering with fans works, especially if it is done in the local language.

The Canadian movie star arrived in Taiwan Wednesday to promote his latest movie, “Deadpool.”

Taking several steps further than other Hollywood stars who try to greet local fans in Chinese when in Taiwan, Reynolds showed his knowledge of some the latest news events in the country, much to the pleasant surprise of the locals.

In a Facebook post, Reynolds announced jokingly — in Chinese — that he wants to apply to become the lead singer of ChthoniC, Taiwan’s best-known death metal band.

On Jan. 16, the band’s lead vocalist, Freddy Lim (林昶佐), won a seat in the legislative elections to become a member of Taiwan’s next Legislative Yuan.     [FULL  STORY]

TV host of ‘Taiwan Taste’ dies in suspected suicide

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/01/20
By: Liu Chien-pan and Elizabeth Hsu

Taipei, Jan. 20 (CNA) Jack Luck, a co-host of “Taiwan Taste” TV show on

The Faceboon page of Jack Luck.

The Faceboon page of Jack Luck.

Fox TV’s Chinese channel, died Wednesday after he was found hanging from a rope at his home in Taipei.

The Australian-Korean was discovered by his brother’s girlfriend at his residence, who then called the police for help. Luck was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Police suspected that Luck hanged himself with a length of rope, according to an initial probe. A note was found at the scene, police said.