TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The prestigious Kaohsiung Film Festival (高雄電影節) will commence Oct. 10 with a stellar celebration of cinematic artistry, honoring legendary director David Lynch and Academy Award-winning actor Gene Hackman. Festival organizers revealed the highly anticipated "Classics only in Cinema" (大銀幕必看經典) section, featuring influential films that have fundamentally shaped the global entertainment industry. This comprehensive program demonstrates Taiwan's commitment to preserving and celebrating both international and domestic cinematic heritage.
The festival will honor legendary Taiwanese filmmaker Pai Ching-jui (白景瑞), a two-time Golden Horse Awards (金馬獎) Taiwan's premier film awards Best Director winner, through screenings of three meticulously restored classics. Featured films include "Lonely Seventeen" (寂寞的十七歲), "Accidental Trio" (今天不回家), and "Good Bye! Darling" (再見阿郎), showcasing Pai's artistic mastery during Taiwan's restrictive martial law period. His innovative collaboration with cinematographer Lin Tsan-ting (林贊庭) enabled these works to successfully navigate commercial pressures while capturing the era's complex social dynamics.
The diverse programming extends beyond Pai's retrospective to include Lynch's Palme d'Or-winning masterpiece "Wild at Heart" (我心狂野) and Hackman's compelling performance in "Scarecrow" (流浪奇男子). International selections feature Japanese auteur Takashi Miike's (三池崇史) provocative cult classic "Audition" alongside Harmony Korine's groundbreaking debut "Gummo (4K Restoration)". Commemorating the 80th anniversary of World War II's conclusion, the festival will present a curated collection of predominantly Japanese films exploring wartime experiences and their lasting societal impact.
The comprehensive festival runs from Oct. 10 to 26 across multiple prestigious venues throughout Taiwan's southern cultural hub. Locations include the Kaohsiung Film Archive (高雄市電影館), Neiwei Arts Center (內惟藝術中心), Kaohsiung Main Public Library (高雄市立圖書館總館), VR Film Lab (VR體感劇院), Pier 2 Art Center P3 Warehouse (駁二P3倉庫), and Kaohsiung Museum of History (高雄市立歷史博物館). These diverse cultural spaces will host varied screenings and special events, offering film enthusiasts extensive opportunities for cinematic immersion. ◼
