Queer Lenses of a Taiwan Film Director
Key information
- Date
- Time
-
2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
- Venue
- Russell Square: College Buildings
- Room
- KLT
About this event
Speaker: Film Director Hou Chi-jan
Abstract*
Although same-sex marriage will soon be legal in Taiwan, there are still many religious organisations and conservative groups which oppose LGBT rights. What struggles do LGBT children and teenagers encounter in school? What are some forms of homophobia in the media and film industry? Talented and budding Taiwanese director Hou Chi-jan, well-known for touching on LGBT themes in several of his short films, will be sharing his views on some of these issues, based on his experience as a film director and observations of social incidents and movements in Taiwan.
Please note that the venue has been changed to KLT, SOAS Russell Square, College Buildings.
Speaker's Bio
Director and Screenwriter
Having worked on the “Database of Taiwan Cinema” during his college days, Hou’s works tend to be lyrical and stylish, and are often characterized by the themes of time and memory.
His experimental short, “Stardust 15749001”, won the Grand Prix at the Taipei International Film Festival in 2003. His second short, “My 747”, won the Grand Prix of Hong Kong IFVA Independent Short Film & Video Award in 2006. His documentary work, “Taiwan Black Movies”, which presented cult films made during repressive 1970s-era Taiwan, was nominated for the Golden Horse Awards and invited to many international film festivals.
Hou Chi-Jan’s first feature film "One Day" has been selected in Berlinale Forum 2010. In the same year, his short film “Juliet’s Choice”, from the Pushing Hand Project produced by Khan Lee, is selected in Asian short film Competition in Busan International film festival and theatrical released in December 2010.
In 2011, his short film ”Green Island Serenade” is part of 10+10 project produce by Taipei Golden Horse International Film festival. Hou is also well-known for directing queer music videos of mainstream popular artists such as Jolin Tsai and Yonlon Chen.
Hou Chi-Jan’s second feature film “When a Wolf Falls in Love with a Sheep” , an urban romance comedy, has released in Autumn 2012 and was nominated in Asian Film Award and Golden Horse Award, won the Best Technical Achievements at the Taipei International Film Festival.
Organiser: Centre of Taiwan Studies
Contact email: hn15@soas.ac.uk