The 11th Women Make Waves Film/Video Festival will take place between tomorrow and Oct. 22 at the President Cinema in Taipei. The festival will feature a total of 87 films: 19 films by four foreign directors from Iran, the UK, Australia and Germany in the exhibition section; a nine-film introduction to contemporary avant-garde filmmaking in Germany; and seven themed exhibitions offering 59 films.
The Women in Politics section will be one of the major highlights of the festival and will include four films: Search for Freedom (Afghanistan); Georgie Girl (New Zealand); and The First Lady (
Search for Freedom looks at the way women are oppressed or killed under various ethnic or state regimes. It tells the story of a princess in the 20th century, who, believing in education for women, was forced to flee to Pakistan. Having become a doctor, she continues to face persecution and threats for her belief in educating women, and many members of her family, including brothers and husband, are killed in the process.
The heroine of Georgie Girl was originally a man, and the film is his (her) story. The story starts with the lead actor questioning his male identity, changing his behavior, readjusting to society, deciding on a sex change operation, and going through experiences in the sex industry, until entering first local, then national, politics.
The First Lady presents a picture of foreign brides in Taiwan during the 1990s. In a position of weakness because of gender (female), race (foreign) and class differences, the government sought to integrate them into Taiwanese society. Focusing on the Chinese-literacy classes conducted by Meinung Township, the film presents the problems faced by foreign brides in Taiwan.
The Stitching Sisterhood focuses on a number of women who, step by step, walk out of narrow and restricted lives with the guidance of a female artist. The unexceptional activities of the group become a focus for the release of emotions, self-knowledge and become a way for them to participate in public activities. We see the enormous power and positive impact of art and creativity.
These four films present only some of the many issues that the lineup of films at this year's event seeks to explore.
Festival notes:
What: Women Make Waves Film/Video Festival
When: Today to Oct. 22
Where: Taipei President Cinema (
Tickets: NT$150 in advance for daytime screenings, NT$180 at the door. NT$180 in advance for evening screenings, NT$200 at the door. Tickets are available through the National Theater and Concert Hall ticketing system, or on-line at www.artsticket.com.tw
On the Web: www.wmv.com.tw
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