Taiwan Film & Culture Association Receives the 2026 Taipei Film Festival Outstanding Contribution Award
25 Years of Steadfast Dedication; Continuing as a Driving Force Behind Taiwanese Cinema
Pioneering Short Film Program “The End of the Tunnel · Summer Afternoon · Family Viewing” Returns to the Big Screen

April 1, 2026
The 28th Taipei Film Festival announced today (April 1) that the recipient of this year’s Outstanding Contribution Award is the Taiwan Film & Culture Association, in recognition of its long-standing dedication to Taiwan’s film and visual culture. The Association has been deeply engaged in festival programming, venue management, film education, and support for creators, establishing a stable cultural platform between audiences and the industry, and serving as a vital force in advancing Taiwanese cinema. Receiving this honor on its 25th anniversary, Executive Director Venus Chen (Chen Po-jen) remarked, “This award feels like both a surprise and an encouragement—not only an affirmation of the past, but also a source of strength as we move toward the next 25 years.”

Founded in 2001, the Association was involved from the outset in organizing the Taipei Film Festival and the Kaohsiung Film Festival, playing a crucial role at a time when Taiwan’s film festival system was still developing. With limited screening opportunities for arthouse films, the team actively explored ways to sustain dialogue between films and audiences, leading to the launch of the “National Cinema” initiative. Through themed touring programs across northern, central, and southern Taiwan, the project gradually cultivated a stable audience base and laid a strong foundation for Taiwan’s non-mainstream film culture.

As its experience grew, the Association further revitalized cultural venues, with SPOT-Taipei Film House and SPOT-Huashan as its core bases. Through a curatorial approach to programming, it broke away from commercially driven screening frameworks and guided audiences toward diverse forms of cinematic expression. Chen noted, “Programming is not just about responding to the market—it’s about proposing another way of seeing.” This philosophy has not only reshaped urban cultural spaces, but has also gradually influenced audience viewing habits in Taiwan.

Building on its management of two arthouse cinemas—SPOT-Huashan and SPOT-Taipei Film House—the Association has consistently upheld its core belief: “A film should not only be completed, but also be seen.” It has long served as a vital support system for emerging directors and independent productions. Early short films by directors such as Kek Huat Lau and Jung-Chi Chang were screened through SPOT cinemas, enabling them to connect with audiences, gain hands-on experience, and establish a foundation for their later feature-length works. This has solidified the Association’s key role in nurturing film talent.

In addition, the Association continues to strengthen the connection between film festivals and the industry. Over the years, it has organized the “Taipei Literature Film Festival,” a landmark event bridging literature and cinema, and has supported screening operations for the Golden Horse Film Festival, the Taipei Film Festival, and various documentary festivals. Beyond industry collaboration, it has also been deeply committed to film education, guided by the belief that “watching films helps shape one’s worldview.” The Association regularly brings students and educators into cinemas, facilitating post-screening discussions with filmmakers to help students understand cinematic storytelling while cultivating critical thinking and emotional awareness. It also offers long-term film appreciation and practical training courses to nurture audiences and enhance industry skills.

Reflecting on the past 25 years, Chen emphasized that the most memorable aspect is not any single highlight, but the accumulation of everyday efforts. “For those who run a cinema, the most important day is every day—the day we open, screen films, and turn off the lights,” she said. It is through this daily rhythm that cinema becomes part of everyday life.

After a quarter century, the Taiwan Film & Culture Association expressed its commitment to continuing this mission—standing alongside creators and audiences, and extending a message to all filmmakers: “We will always be here. Whenever you need us, you are welcome to come back and watch films.”

To honor the Association’s long-standing contributions behind the scenes, this year’s Taipei Film Festival will present a special screening program. Looking back, through the Association’s active coordination, The End of the Tunnel, Summer Afternoon, and Family Viewing were screened at SPOT-Taipei Film House, pioneering the theatrical release of short film compilations in Taiwan. All three works, highly acclaimed at the Taipei Film Festival, feature an outstanding lineup: The End of the Tunnel, directed by Jung-Chi Chang, winner of the Taipei Film Award for Best Narrative Short, with powerful performances by Sandrine Pinna and Huang Yu-Siang; Summer Afternoon, directed by Wi Ding Ho, selected for the Directors’ Fortnight at Cannes and showcasing his signature long-take aesthetics; and Family Viewing, directed by KUO Cheng-chui, featuring Gwei Lun-mei, Lu Yi-ching, and Mark Lee, a family drama recognized with nominations at both the Taipei Film Awards and the César Awards in France.

Through this special program spanning both festival and theatrical contexts, audiences will have the opportunity to revisit these early works by now-established filmmakers, and once again witness the crucial role the Association has played over the past 25 years in building the foundation of Taiwanese cinema.

The 28th Taipei Film Festival will take place from June 26 to July 11, 2026, at Zhongshan Hall, SPOT-Huashan, and Eslite Cinema in Taipei. The full program and event details will be announced in stages. Nominees for the Taipei Film Awards and the International New Talent Competition are expected to be revealed in mid-May. For more information, please visit the official website: https://www.taipeiff.taipei/