Liao Ching-sung succeeds as President of Taipei Film Festival, aiming to create “a field wherein Taiwanese film production
is encouraged”

​As Taipei Film Festival enters its 27th year, it announces today that the veteran film editor Liao Ching-sung succeeds director Yee Chih-yen as President of Taipei Film Festival. While taking over the responsibility as president, Liao Ching-sung expresses that it is time for him to accept this challenge; with his professional knowledge, he will take up the responsibility of nurturing the new generation of filmmakers. Furthermore, with a mindset that “one should break the norm and embrace the new perspectives,” Liao will collaborate with Taipei Film Festival to make a positive contribution towards Taiwan cinema. 
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Liao Ching-sung is a Taiwanese senior film editor whose career spans over four decades. Having edited more than a hundred films to date, Liao was nominated for Best Film Editing at the Golden Horse Awards for his first film, He Never Gives Up, and his other best-known works include Dust in the Wind, A City of Sadness, and The Assassin. Moreover, Liao has collaborated with many renowned Taiwanese directors such as Hou Hsiao-hsien, Edward Yang, Wan Jen, and Ko I-chen; together, they initiated New Taiwan Cinema and therefore, Liao is hailed as the “nanny of New Taiwan Cinema.” 
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Liao Ching-sung and Taipei Film Festival go back a long way as Liao had served as the International New Talent Competition jury president and a mentor at the New Director Workshop. 
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Regarding the future goals, Liao expects Taipei Film Festival to become “a field wherein Taiwanese film production is encouraged”; it will not only focus on nurturing the new generation of Taiwanese filmmakers but support the career development of directors, actors, and crew members. Liao expresses that the innovation and growth of Taiwan cinema needs a constant flow of new talents, and the film festivals should take up this responsibility, providing the Taiwanese film industry with the assistance needed. In addition, he encourages the young filmmakers to “directly face the challenges” and while enjoying making films, they should try to discover more new perspectives and possibilities. 
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Yee Chih-yen, who decided to step down as president, expresses that succession is a necessary and unavoidable process. During these four years as the festival president, he had learned a lot about the film festival structure and many young filmmakers; through Taipei Film Festival, he saw the endless creativity and courage demonstrated by the rising talents, and for him, it was a precious experience. He hopes that Taipei Film Festival will keep its rebellious spirit as it continues questioning and challenging the conventions, and through more international exchanges, the festival will not only offer the new directors more opportunities but facilitate the interaction between the Taiwanese filmmakers and their counterparts around the world. 
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The 27th Taipei Film Festival will take place from June 20 to July 5, 2025. The nominees of the Taipei Film Awards and the two independent awards will be announced on May 15 while the International New Talent Competition finalists will be unveiled in early to mid-May. The Taipei Film Award ceremony is scheduled to be held at Taipei Zhongshan Hall on July 5. For more details, please go to https://www.taipeiff.taipei/tw/.