The 20th Taiwan International Women Make Waves Film Festival kicked off Oct. 11 in Taipei City, featuring 90 movies by female directors from 30 nations. “The event is a platform to understand the historical context of women over the past two decades,” said Lo Pe-cha, director of event organizer Taiwan Women’s Film Association. “The issues examined range from gender equality, marriage, and the right to work and participate in politics, to relations between technology and motherhood. “We hope the films will disseminate the message that women must be independent, brave and themselves.” According to Lo, the films will be screened under the categories of Dancing in the Margin, All About Her Story, Queer Portraits, Variations of Family, Women Make New Waves, In Celebration of Her 20 and Women Make Waves Deja vu. Among the opening films, “Eggs Matter”, a documentary by 37-year-old Taiwan actress-turned-director Jessie Chang, depicts her ovum freezing decision and the technological process involved. “Keep Smiling,” by Georgian Rusudan Chkonia, is about 10 mothers taking part in a beauty contest, exploring issues such as the pitfalls of manipulation and challenges in maintaining self-respect. Chkonia said she is excited by the screening of her film at the festival and looks forward to exchanging opinions and sharing ideas with other directors at the event. “Couple or Kids,” by Israeli directors Orly Vilnai and Guy Meroz, explores the question of whether women should pursue infertility treatment at the risk of damaging their bodies. “My film talks about very unique phenomena in Israel,” Vilani said. “In Israel it’s like a mission from God which says to his people to make more kids. Women just try to fulfill this mission and it’s not so easy.” “Lots of women are getting injections everyday for years to create more babies and they ruin the bodies and soul. I hope through my film, women around the world will see that they don’t have to fulfill other’s mission. They can just keep themselves happy.” “Marquette 1:1000,” by Taiwan’s Doris Chia-ching Lin, documents a young local architect’s self-awareness and her decision regarding an unexpected pregnancy while studying in the U.S. The festival, running Oct. 11-20 at Huashan 1914 Creative Park in Taipei City, was launched in 1993. It aims to narrow the gap in urban-rural divide nationwide, offer educational opportunities for various organizations and enrich Taiwan’s feminist film theory as well as gender studies discourse. roc-taiwan.org/us/ct.asp?xItem=434843&ctNode=2300&mp=12
Posted on: Fri, 18 Oct 2013 18:00:34 +0000
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