Taiwan Bolsters International Co-Production Profile at Toronto Film Festival

Taiwan is reinforcing its status as a key player in international cinema at the Toronto International Film Festival, presenting a slate that highlights both local talent and cross-border collaborative production capabilities. The lineup features two world premieres in the Special Presentations strand, a Taiwan-Japan genre entry in Midnight Madness, virtual reality experiences, market projects, and an international Oscar submission.

Feng-I Fiona Roan’s “Happily Ever After” makes its world premiere in Special Presentations. Following her acclaimed debut “American Girl,” which swept five awards at Taiwan’s 2021 Golden Horse Awards, Roan’s sophomore feature explores sisterhood and the societal pressures placed on women to adhere to conflicting definitions of happiness. The film also marks the acting debut of Taiwanese singer and television personality Shu-hua.

Also debuting in Special Presentations is “The Age of Goodbyes,” a Taiwan-Malaysia co-production directed by Malaysian filmmaker Edmund Yeo. Adapted from Li Zi Shu’s novel, the narrative spans multiple time periods and stars Taiwanese actors Vivian Sung and Troy Liu in interconnected stories dealing with love, loss, and the aftermath of Malaysia’s May 13, 1969, racial violence.

Producer David Tang discovered the project at the Hong Kong Asia Film Financing Forum, where he was captivated by Yeo’s vision. Renaissance Films later joined as the lead Taiwanese production partner. While the film was shot entirely in Malaysia, a Taiwanese crew handled cinematography, lighting, and costumes, working alongside Yeo’s Malaysian team on production design. Post-production took place in Taiwan, with Taiwanese financing providing the majority of the budget.

“Taiwanese cinema has been a profound influence on me throughout my journey as a filmmaker, particularly the films of Edward Yang and Hou Hsiao-hsien,” Yeo told Variety. He noted that collaborators included sound designers Tu Duu-chih and Tu Chun Tang, as well as cinematographer Chen Chi-wen. “The story is deeply rooted in Malaysia, but the film grew out of a genuine creative exchange between Malaysia and Taiwan,” Yeo added.

In the Midnight Madness section, the Taiwan-Japan co-production “Arrested Memory” receives its North American premiere after its out-of-competition screening at Venice. Directed by Japanese filmmaker Sabu, the thriller stars Ethan Juan as a decorated detective suffering from early-onset memory loss following a failed sting operation. Charged with safeguarding a multimillion-dollar ransom but unable to recall its origin or destination, he is thrust into a tense overnight pursuit involving both law enforcement and criminals.

Sabu highlighted Taiwan’s unique urban landscape as a key factor in the production. “Taiwan has a unique atmosphere that allows audiences to enter the story with a slight sense of uncertainty, wondering, ‘What era are we in?’” Sabu explained. “New and old coexist naturally, and traces of everyday life remain embedded in the streets.”

Taiwan is also making significant strides in the festival’s market components. Singing Chen’s “The Clouds Are Two Thousand Meters Up,” a Taiwan-Germany co-production, will have its Canadian premiere in the Innovation Hub. Based on a story by Taiwanese author Wu Ming-Yi, this free-roaming VR experience follows a grieving man into the mountains, exploring the sacred origin mythology of Taiwan’s Indigenous Rukai people.

Additionally, Hsinmei Cheng’s feature project “Argus Inside” has been selected for the International Financing and Project Market. The thriller is set against the backdrop of escalating global tensions over semiconductor technology, positioning Taiwan at the center of an impending chip war.

On September 13, TIFF Lightbox will host a special screening pairing Chen Yu-hsun’s “A Foggy Tale”—Taiwan’s submission for the international feature Oscar—with the Golden Horse-winning documentary short “Fragments of Herstory.” Together, these projects underscore Taiwan’s evolution from a source of local filmmaking talent into a vital production, financing, and post-production partner for stories traversing Asia and the international festival circuit.