2023 Sundance Film Festival Asia arrives in Taipei on 18-20 August 2023

Sundance Film Festival Asia announced today the lineup of feature films for the 2023 festival, taking place for the first time in Taipei, Taiwan at SPOT Huashan Cinema from 18-20 August. This is the first time the festival has traveled to Taiwan, having previously been hosted in Jakarta, Indonesia in 2021 and 2022.

The Festival will present three feature films from the 2023 Sundance Film Festival selected by Sundance’s programming team. The films represent the best of US independent storytelling, all making their Taiwanese premiere. They include three fictions – Jamojaya (directed by Justin Chon), Shortcomings (directed by Randall Park), and Sometimes I Think About Dying (directed by Rachel Lambert).

Along with these film screenings, the Festival will also present the Taiwanese filmmakers’ short films selected from the Sundance Film Festival Asia Short Film Competition. The jury award for Best Short Film presented by Barco will be announced at the Opening Ceremony on Friday 18 August.

As a highlight of the program, there will be a “Meet The Programmers Panel” on Saturday 19 August, which will provide an up-close opportunity for Taiwanese audiences to connect and extend dialogue with Sundance’s programming team. Filmmakers wishing to pursue an interest in the flagship Sundance Film Festival US in Utah, or curious to learn more about how the festival is curated, can obtain advice and have their questions answered in this special ticketed event.

Further exclusive panels will be announced in due course, stay tuned on our Instagram (@sundanceffasia) and Facebook (@sundanceffasiaTW) pages for more updates.

The 2023 Sundance Film Festival Asia is co-organized by G2Go Entertainment and nonprofit  Sundance Institute, in partnership with the Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA) and the Taipei City Government, and is supported by the Taiwan Women’s Film Association.

Single film tickets will be on sale on July 31 – On-sale announcements will be made then via our Instagram and Facebook socials as well as our website www.sundanceffasia.com.

Kim Yutani, Director of Programming of Sundance Film Festival said: “We are looking forward to bringing the Sundance Film Festival to Taipei and introducing a wonderful selection of films. These films are entertaining and moving, and created by talented storytellers we can’t wait to introduce audiences to.”

“Hosting Sundance Film Festival Asia in Taipei marks a significant step in Taiwan’s global film dialogue. This event aims to spotlight Taiwan’s film industry, fostering a transformative exchange among global film industry leaders. We see this festival as a platform for fresh ideas and collaborations, and we believe that it will provide Taiwanese filmmakers with a broader international stage for their narratives, potentially transforming the cinematic landscape” says Kevin Lin, Founder of G2Go Entertainment.

The 2023 Sundance Film Festival Asia feature film lineup details are:

Jamojaya / U.S.A (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: Justin Chon, Screenwriter: Maegan Houang, Producers: Alan Pao, David Matheny, Joseph Dang, Alex Chi, Yama Cibulka, Shaun Sanghani) — A father-son relationship is put to the test when an up-and-coming rapper at the crossroads of his career decides to let go of his manager, who is also his father. This decision forces them to confront the past and figure out what they want of each other. Cast: Brian Imanuel, Yayu A.W. Unru, Kate Lyn Sheil, Henry Ian Cusick, Anthony Kiedis. Fiction.

Shortcomings / U.S.A. (Director: Randall Park, Screenwriter: Adrian Tomine, Producers: Margot Hand, Randall Park, Hieu Ho, Jennifer Berman, Howard Cohen, Eric d’Arbeloff) — Following Ben, Miko, and Alice as they navigate a range of interpersonal relationships and traverse the country in search of the ideal connection. Cast: Justin H. Min, Sherry Cola, Ally Maki, Debby Ryan, Tavi Gevinson, Sonoya Mizuno. Fiction

Sometimes I Think About Dying / U.S.A. (Director: Rachel Lambert, Screenwriters: Kevin Armento, Stefanie Abel Horowitz, Katy Wright-Mead, Producers: Alex Saks, Daisy Ridley, Dori Rath, Lauren Beveridge, Brett Beveridge) — Fran likes to think about dying. It brings sensation to her quiet life. When she makes the new guy at work laugh, it leads to more: a date, a slice of pie, a conversation, a spark. The only thing standing in their way is Fran herself. Cast: Daisy Ridley, Dave Merheje, Parvesh Cheena, Marcia DeBonis, Meg Stalter, Brittany O’Grady. Fiction

In partnership with TAICCA and Taipei City, the Sundance Film Festival Asia is sponsored by: Cathay Financial Holdings with special thanks to SPOT Huashan Cinema, Kavalan, Regent Hotel Taipei, Ambassador Hotel Group, Barco, and the State of Utah.

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Media inquiries:

Vincent Wan

Sundance Film Festival Asia Team

[email protected]

+852 6626 3242

 

About Sundance Institute

As a champion and curator of independent stories, the nonprofit Sundance Institute provides and preserves the space for artists across storytelling media to create and thrive. Founded in 1981 by Robert Redford, the Institute’s signature labs, granting, and mentorship programs, dedicated to developing new work, take place throughout the year in the U.S. and internationally. Sundance Collab, a digital community platform, brings a global cohort of working artists together to learn from each other and Sundance advisors and connect in a creative space, developing and sharing works in progress. The Sundance Film Festival and other public programs connect audiences and artists to ignite new ideas, discover original voices, and build a community dedicated to independent storytelling. Through the Sundance Institute artist programs we have supported such projects as Bottle Rocket, Boys Don’t Cry, Call Me By Your Name, The Farewell, Flee, Fruitvale Station, Get Out, Half Nelson, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Hereditary, Requiem for a Dream, Reservoir Dogs, RBG, Swiss Army Man, and Walking and Talking. Through year-round artist programs, the Institute also nurtured the early careers of artists such as Paul Thomas Anderson, Wes Anderson, Gregg Araki, Darren Aronofsky, Lisa Cholodenko, Ryan Coogler, Nia DaCosta, The Daniels, David Gordon Green, Miranda July, James Mangold, John Cameron Mitchell, Kimberly Peirce, Boots Riley, Ira Sachs, Quentin Tarantino, Taika Waititi, Lulu Wang, and Chloé Zhao. Support Sundance Institute in our commitment to uplifting bold artists and powerful storytelling globally by making a donation at sundance.org/donate. Join Sundance Institute on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and YouTube.

Sundance Film Festival Asia (SFF Asia) is an expansion of Sundance Institute’s programming in the region, further championing and promoting visibility for independent storytelling before a wider global audience. SFF Asia is a traveling event, moving throughout various cities across Asia. In 2022, the event was held in Jakarta, organized by XRM Media, IDN Times, and several other parties.

About G2Go Entertainment

G2Go stands for ‘雞兔狗’ or ‘Chicken Rabbit Dog’, the zodiac signs of the Taiwanese founding members wanting to bring the best of the tech and entertainment world to Taiwan. Led by Kevin Lin, G2Go produces events, hosts parties, facilitates, and introduces key connections to trusted providers, with the simple purpose of helping elevate Taiwan’s presence in the global community.

Through an expansive network of accomplished Asian and American counterparts, G2Go connects international brands, ideas, and people to Taiwan, creating a bridge for future collaboration and the opportunity for more global exposure. 

The 2023 Taiwan edition of Sundance Film Festival Asia is produced with the help of the Taiwan Women’s Film Association, organizers of the annual Women Make Waves Film Festival since 1993. Taiwan Women’s Film Association’s goal is to provide a perspective on humanities and the arts through film, and gender diversity, and are not only a stage for local filmmakers but also a platform for their international exposure.