Taiwan Biz Gets Boost from Global and Local Streamers

variety.com:

Vivienne Chow When Taiwan auteur Chung Mong-hong’s acclaimed drama “A Sun” became a hit among film critics and film buffs from around the world after Variety’s chief film critic Peter Debruge named it the best film of 2020, it had reignited the hope and expectations of the island’s cinematic offerings.

The buzz and excitement were seen as what could be the beginning of a comeback of Taiwanese cinema on the international stage.Nearly two years on, the momentum is still there, but Taiwanese filmmakers are approaching the international stage with a more pragmatic approach. “A Sun,” and the director’s follow-up feature, “The Falls,” which both premiered on the international festival circuit (and now stream on Netflix), have certainly brought Taiwanese projects more exposure, according to industry insiders, but it was not yet enough to revive the glory from the golden days of Hou Hsiao-Hsien (“City of Sadness”) and Edward Yang (“Yi Yi”).

There is certainly the bright side. The Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA), a professional intermediary organization established in 2019 under the supervision of the Ministry of Culture to promote the island’s content industries locally and abroad, is still eager to present the island’s latest offerings across international film festivals and markets, including this year’s virtual European Film Market at the Berlinale.

There’s also a lot more Taiwanese content streaming on Netflix and other international or regional platforms than ever before, making it much more accessible to viewers abroad.