Independent Era: Taiwan Shorts Restoration Projects 1997-2005
The late 20th century is often regarded as one of the lowest points in Taiwanese cinema. Yet in 1999, a group of young filmmakers boldly shot independent films on 16mm and organized their own event—the “Pure 16 Film Festival.” These works entered the market with a spirit of creative independence, injecting much-needed vitality into a long-dormant film industry. In doing so, they opened up an alternative path beyond the mainstream, igniting new hope for the next generation of Taiwanese cinema. Recognizing the fragility of film stock, the Kaohsiung Film Archive undertook the digitization and restoration of independent films produced between 1997 and 2005. Through this effort, these past classics are now reintroduced in renewed form, allowing their historical and artistic value to shine once again.
高雄市電影館為南台灣專責推廣電影的基地，近年以「高雄人」品牌投資電影長片、影集及製作原創短片，並以「高雄拍」、「高雄VR FILM LAB」扶植新銳短片及VR創作，每年定期舉辦之高雄電影節，現為台灣最大的國際短片影展。
8 films
The Skywalk Is Gone
Before Dawn
Fluffy Rhapsody
Respire
Layover
Postcard
Badu's Homework
The Pain of Others
Popular
The Art of Lesbian Visibility
Taiwan has long since become the first country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage, and LGBTQ+ lives seem to be increasingly woven into everyday life. Yet, when we turn our gaze to Asia’s mainstream media and cinema, where are the stories of lesbian women? The love left unspoken, the relationships that defy definition, and the intimacies that blur the line between friendship and romance—are they still hidden beyond the frame? And when lesbian women do appear on screen, how often are their stories truly told from their own perspectives? This time, through a collection of films, we summon those who have always been there, yet have rarely been seen. “I summon you by this name. Reveal yourself.”