TORONTO (TVBS News) — The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) Cinematheque (多倫多國際影展電影中心) announced on Monday (June 10) that it will host a retrospective of Taiwanese director Edward Yang (楊德昌) from July 4 to 30, 2024. The event will feature screenings of classic films including "Yi Yi" (一一) and "A Brighter Summer Day" (牯嶺街少年殺人事件), accompanied by discussions to delve into the charm and influence of Yang's cinema.
Celebrating Edward Yang's Legacy
TIFF Cinematheque recognizes the late Taiwanese New Wave director Edward Yang's films for their simple yet significant content, which has helped to reignite the vitality of Taiwanese cinema. Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Toronto Director-General Chen Jin-ling (陳錦玲) remarked that Yang was one of the pioneers of the Taiwanese New Wave cinema movement in the 1980s and is highly esteemed internationally. Chen expressed enthusiasm for supporting the TIFF's retrospective, aiming to spotlight Taiwanese cinema once again at TIFF.
A Tribute to a Visionary
This summer, TIFF Cinematheque will also showcase new 4K restorations of Yang's films, including "A Confucian Confusion" (獨立時代) and "Mahjong" (麻將). Yang, who passed away on June 29, 2007, at the age of 59 due to colon cancer, made history at the Cannes Film Festival in 2000 by becoming the first Taiwanese director to win the Best Director award. The TIFF, known for hosting one of the largest international film festivals every September, was established in 1990 and is dedicated to sharing the art of cinema by featuring outstanding contemporary films and retrospectives of the most influential directors and actors from around the world.
The retrospective not only honors Edward Yang's monumental contribution to cinema but also reinforces the global appreciation for Taiwanese film heritage.
