Kaohsiung Film Festival Short Film Competition Jury Interview

The 2025 Kaohsiung Film Festival Short Film Competition received 2,380 submissions from 100 countries, with 40 international and 20 Taiwanese shorts selected for the final lineup. This year’s jury, chaired by award-winning director YANG Ya-che, included Sung MOON (Programmer, Jeonju IFF), UGANA Kenichi (Japanese director), actress TSENG Pei-yu, and Golden Horse-winning director Laha Mebow.

Programme Director Ryan CHENG noted that this year’s deliberation was “the longest and most passionate in the festival’s history.”

The Golden Fireball Award for the International Section Competition went to God is Shy (France), while Little Mirage (Taiwan) won in the Taiwan Section Competition.

Sharing her reflections on the jury experience, Sung MOON praised the Kaohsiung Film Festival for its thoughtful programming and inclusive discussion process. “As a festival curator myself, I truly want to give KFF a big round of applause,” she said, adding with a smile that “the food was also amazing.”

Her personal favorite that narrowly missed an award was Their Eyes, a film addressing artificial intelligence and labor hierarchies—“a story deeply relevant to our times,” she noted.

Director Laha Mebow remarked, “Many films in the international competition were among my top picks—sometimes the works are so good that it becomes a beautiful kind of burden when only a single point separates them.”

She praised The Spectacle for its short yet magical and simple storytelling that made her realize “how powerfully a single shot can be used.” She also commended This Is NOT My Cow for its excellent performances and execution, expressing hopes to see director Lin Chih-wen make a feature film. Side A: A Summer Day was another standout on her list.

Reflecting on the judging process, she said, “I truly enjoyed the discussions. Everyone came from different backgrounds and ways of thinking, which made it fascinating to understand our diverse perspectives.” Participating in the Kaohsiung Film Festival for the fourth time, she added playfully, “Since our screenings started at noon, I could take advantage of the mornings to experience the VR works—definitely a fun perk!”

Director UGANA Kenichi expressed his admiration for the overall quality of this year’s selections, saying he was “deeply impressed by the high standard of the films.” He added that the judging process fostered a sense of camaraderie among the jury, “as if we had gone through something meaningful together.”

Ugana named A Time to Cherish as his personal favorite that didn’t win, praising its emotional depth and simplicity: “It beautifully conveys the scope of a grandmother’s life with subtle visuals. Every detail—from the lighting and costume to the performances—felt perfectly in tune with the theme. I especially loved the final scene.”

He also highlighted Floaters from the Taiwan Section, noting its originality and playful execution. “It has a fresh and distinctive perspective,” Ugana said, adding that he looks forward to seeing how director SUEN Kwan-to might approach a feature-length project in the future.

Actress TSENG Pei-yu also named A Time to Cherish as one of her favorites, praising its delicate portrayal of aging and memory. “The scene where the grandmother watches her granddaughter leave was both a blessing and a moment of deep loss,” she said. Tseng noted how the symbolic exchange of clothing between the outgoing grandmother and the reserved granddaughter beautifully represented a generational connection — “a reminder to live fully and pursue one’s own life.”

She added that the overall quality of this year’s entries made judging particularly challenging but rewarding: “It felt like taking a creative energy boost — I learned so much from hearing diverse perspectives from filmmakers around the world.”

Tseng also highlighted The Tales of the Tale, commending its seamless editing and narration that vividly connect the audience with the region’s culture and history. “The more I watched, the more immersive it became,” she said. “It was truly impressive.”

Director YANG Ya-che shared his personal favorites that narrowly missed awards in the International Section — Samba Infinito and Pippa and Leo. “I was captivated by the color palette, cinematography, and the way Samba Infinito used the concept of souls traveling through time. It’s something I’ve never seen before, with a beautifully structured narrative,” he said.

On Pippa and Leo, Yang noted, “It was the film I spent the most time thinking about. The way it expresses love and parenthood through dance is extraordinary. The lead actress conveyed her affection and hesitation toward the baby with remarkable subtlety.” He added that the film resonates with audiences of all ages for its universal emotional depth.

Yang also highlighted Awake Before Your Gaze from the Taiwan Section, which portrays a forgotten part of Taiwan’s postwar history through the story of children born during the Vietnam War. “Taiwan is a place shaped by many cultural layers,” he said. “Using the story of the past to reflect the future of Taiwan makes it a truly powerful work.”

Director Yang Ya-che remarked that selecting the winners was exceptionally difficult given the high quality of all the entries. “After intense discussions, the final list of winners turned out beautifully,” he said. Yang also praised the two international jurors for bringing valuable perspectives to the table. “Their insights and our open exchanges allowed us to discover new ‘gems’ together. In the end, the jury reached a strong consensus on the final results.”