Q&A with Environmental Documentary Maker Ke Chin-Yuan (柯金源)

Director Ke Chin-yuan

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Speaker's Bio

A selfless, forward-looking documentarian’s long and silent protest for Taiwan’s environment.  Ke Chin-Yuan has been a guardian of Taiwan's environment and ecosystems for countless years, using his own way to answer the question: “What is the spirit of documentary filmmaking?” He understands how to work with one foot in public institutions, thereby utilizing public resources and exposing the things that the country endeavor to cover up at all costs. In Formosa vs. Formosa and his other films, he recognizes the importance of maintaining a critical attitude to prevent any elements that may possibly breach his code of neutrality.

Ke was born in a remote region in Changhwa County, Taiwan, and began filmmaking in 1980, adopting fieldwork style where he produced a continuous record of Taiwan’s natural landscapes, including environmental changes and pollution incidents. In 1998, after entering the News Department at Taiwan’s Public Television Service (PTS), he became a full-time photojournalist, producing films on a range of issues, from coastal damage, forest conservation, to environmental hazards, as well as other news features. In total, he has accumulated over 25 documentaries, 400 in-depth video coverages, and 200,000 images on Taiwan’s geological terrain over the past 30 years. His work has earned him finalist nominations and first prizes at more than 70 major film awards both home and abroad. His incredible ability to inspire the audience with touching images and deeply penetrating content make his work a model for Taiwan’s environmental documentary scene.

List of Director Ke's 27 Documentaries

Sacred Forest 神殿 2019

The Age of Awakening 前進 2018

Itu Aba Island 太平島 2017

Ocean 海 2016

The Fight for Water 水戰 2015

Water Is Life 命水 2015

Undercurrent 暗流 2015

Dive With You 餘生.共游 2014

Black Tears of the Land  黑2013

Take My Breath Away 空襲警報 2013

Faces by Intertidal 退潮之海岸群像 2011

Ebb and Flow 退潮 2011

Formosa vs. Formosa 福爾摩沙對福爾摩沙 2010

Song of the Forest 森之歌 2010

Swinging 擺盪 2010

Extreme Ascent 登峰造極 2009

Peak of Dreams 夢想顛峰 2009

Our Antarctic Dream 前進南極 2008

Paradise Way 天堂路 2007

Squid Daddy’s Labor Room 產房 2006

Beyond Heaven＆Earth 天大地大 2005

A Pratas Island Journey 渡.東沙 2005

Corals in Ｍemory 記憶珊瑚 2004

Biographies of the Macaques 獼猴列傳 2004

Amorgos 阿瑪斯 2003

Wuqui.Roc 烏坵.ROC 2002

News from the Fault Line 來自斷層的消息 2000

Organiser: Centre of Taiwan Studies

Contact email: jl91@soas.ac.uk