Taiwan’s SXSW Titles Feature Cutting-Edge Tech and Break ‘Boundary of Classic Storytelling’
Vivienne Chow The showcase of four immersive titles from Taiwan at this year’s South by Southwest (SXSW) festival symbolizes a strong boost to the island’s confidence in developing XR (extended reality) content among a new generation of curators, according to the industry insiders behind some of the featured works.“[The selection] shows that the new generation of Taiwan’s creatives and storytellers are willing to try and use new ways to create their art,” says Estela Valdivieso Chen, CEO of Serendipity Films, one of the producers of the 17-minute featured short “Madame Pirate: Becoming a Legend,” which will be making its international premiere at SXSW EX Experience Spotlight.“They are both utilizing the local resources the island has, like its tech, and working with international partners all over the globe to break the boundary of classic storytelling and bring to life, their creative visions,” Chen says. Based on the story of pirate queen Zheng Yi Sao, who was active in the South China Sea in the early 19th century, the 17-minute “Madame Pirate: Becoming a Legend,” written and directed by Morgan Ommer and Dan-Chi Huang, will be joining “LIPs,” stop-motion VR animation “The Sick Rose” and concert film “Beatday — the Beginning — Mini VR Concert” in Taiwan’s line-up at SXSW’s XR Experience Spotlight on March 13-15. In addition, “Tank Fairy,” a U.S.-Taiwan short directed by Erich Rettstadt, has been shortlisted for the Midnight Shorts Competition.Two are produced by HTC Vive Originals: “The Sick Rose” is already a hit in the festival circuit since its Venice Film Festival premiere last year.