To filmmakers who have been paying attention to animation film festivals around the world over the years, TIAF (Taichung International Animation Festival) should definitely ring a bell.
In 2003, director of Chinese Taipei Film Archive (CTFA), Winston Lee, held the first TIAF (Taiwan International Animation Festival). The widely acclaimed film festival had a successful run for 5 years straight, but came to an end in 2008.
In 2015, under one of the city development policies, film and television became a main focus in Taichung in order to achieve a “creative and lifestyle capital,” according to Taichung’s mayor, Lin Chia-Lung. Aside from the Central Taiwan Film Studio in Wu-feng District and the Central Taiwan Cinema Center in Shui-nan District, a more specific way to promote the film and television development is by selecting “animation” as the city’s film festival theme. Under Cho Kuan-Ting’s (Director-General of Taichung Government Information Bureau) active promotion and Zero One Film’s organization, the first annual TIAF (Taichung International Animation Festival) were able to kick-off and rejoining the world of animation festivals, once again providing a platform for animators in Taiwan to be in line with international animators.
In 2016, the triumphant TIAF was advised by the Taichung City Government Information Bureau, organized by the Digital Art Foundation and co-organized by the newly established Taichung Film Development Foundation.
In 2017, the Taichung Film Development Foundation officially took over TIAF. In addition to re-positioning the festival itself and curating an Official Selection, TIAF is now accepting international submissions under two categories: “International Shorts” and “Student Short Films.” With a sum of NT$1.3 million in prize money. A New award category, the “Best of Taiwan” to encourage original Taiwanese animations. Meanwhile, TIAF is committed to promote a series of animation education activities, introducing the diversification of international animation to Taiwan, as well as creating an artistic animation platform for the public.
