2024 KFF Short Film Competition Jury: Less Capital Distortion, More Sincerity and Purity in Short Film Creation

Words by Tzung-en Lu ▪ Edited by Chien-Hui Yu 

The 2024 Kaohsiung Film Festival has successfully concluded. Among the highlights was the "KFF International Short Film Competition," which showcased an impressive and diverse list of award winners. While recipients were in the spotlight, the jury's contributions should not be overlooked.

Interviewer｜Bella CHEN
Interviewee｜2024 KFF International Short Film Competition Final Jury: HSIAO Ya-chuan, Allison LIN, SU Hui-yu, Norris WONG, Jin PARK

This year's final jury for the short film category included Golden Horse Best Director HSIAO Ya-chuan, Golden Bell Award-winning actress Allison LIN, director SU Hui-yu, Norris WONG, and Jin Park, who served as a programmer at this year's Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival. With many outstanding works to choose from, the jury inevitably faced tough decisions. Did they also observe any emerging trends among the diverse entries?
 

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Jurors Discuss Overlooked Works

Jin PARK: I believe "The Deserter" carries a lot of energy. Created by a young director, it uses CCTV and multimedia to present an entertaining film with great potential. "Hymn of the Plague" brilliantly conveys the characters' fear and anxiety, delivering strong tension that is truly impressive.

HSIAO Ya-chuan: "The Deserter" was the most discussed film among us jurors, but unfortunately, we had limited slots and couldn't include it in the award list. "Goddess" explores the plight of migrant workers, opening the story with a found ID card, which I found very interesting and appealing.

Allison LIN: I appreciate "Back to Work" for exploring gender and resource inequality through two women. When Taiwanese women outsource their second shifts to helpers, they lose empathy for the helpers' situation, highlighting a thought-provoking issue.

"Summer 2000," set in the Y2K era, resonates with me as it showcases complex issues from a young girl's innocent perspective while subtly addressing LGBTQ+ feelings.

SU Hui-yu: "The Stag" mixes elements of violence, reality, and absurdity with warmth, leaving me both puzzled and fascinated. I also enjoyed "3MWh," which addresses philosophical issues from a physics perspective, using old-school film techniques to create a time-blurring atmosphere. 

Norris WONG: The "Hymn of the Plague" harmonizes form and content effectively with stunning visuals. The animated film "Pear Garden" presents a beautifully moving story that left a deep impression on me.
 

Characteristics and Trends of This Year's Nominated Short Films

◉ More Than a Stepping Stone: Exploring the Essence of Short and Beautiful Films

Norris WONG: Among the 21 Taiwanese films, over half are student works. On one hand, this reflects strong student talent, but there are concerns that they may not continue making short films after graduation. It seems that many view short films merely as a stepping stone to feature films. 

SU Hui-yu: I would like to respond to director Norris Wong. This is actually a policy from the MOC that prohibits any creator from making short films indefinitely. Once an individual receives funding for several short films, they are encouraged to move on to feature films. This isn’t a matter of individuals; it reflects our belief in viewing short films as a stepping stone to feature films. 

HSIAO Ya-chuan: I personally don't feel that my short film career is over. Many writers create both long novels and very short stories, with different formats conveying different attributes and narratives.

Taiwan's perspective on short films is also quite narrow, with non-narrative, artistic, and experimental shorts being rare, limiting the development of diverse genres.

◉ Con Self-Identity in Turbulent Times: The Authenticity of Short Films

Allison LIN: In a situation with clear segmentation and chaos, discussions on political topics like identity and stance become important, and many of the works this time focus on these issues.

HSIAO Ya-chuan: Today's world is insecure, and many short films reveal the contradictions and conflicts of ordinary people, showcasing the valuable nature of small-scale creations.

Feature films, constrained by commercial pressures, often distort the world's reality, whereas short films offer more purity and authenticity.

◉ The Dilemma of Academia: Follow Methodology or Forge Your Own Path?

SU Hui-yu: Taiwanese shorts reflect a clear academic issue where scholarly methods limit creators' (students) imagination, which is unfortunate. However, works like "The Deserter" illustrate how young filmmakers use new media to break traditional boundaries, which deserves our attention.

Jin PARK: Some of the short films felt lacking in originality, as certain segments appeared to be concepts learned by young creators from other series or films. Nevertheless, I commend their attempts to convey their perspectives on life in diverse ways, with the ultimate goal of making the world a better place.

◉ Embracing Simplicity: A Return to Authentic Times

Jin Park: Young people have a near-obsession with retro items from the 1980s and 1990s. They use various media to celebrate the beauty of that era, perhaps seeking to revisit the past. Regardless, their unique perspectives on an era they did not experience are a popular trend in contemporary creation. 

Allison LIN: I believe the influence of AI technology has led young people to yearn for simpler times.
 

The jury noted other exceptional short films beyond the award winners...

⓵ 逃兵 The Deserter ◍ Jay WEI｜Taiwan｜DCP｜2024｜Color｜13min

On the eve of the cancellation of COVID-19 sick leave, soldier Wei Yu attempted to falsify a positive rapid test result to evade military service, but Sergeant Winnie was undeterred, vowing to visit him personally. The film uses video calls and surveillance footage to depict the daily life of a soldier amid the pandemic and the ongoing conflict.

⓶ 女神 Goddess ◍ CHAO Koi-wang , Yen HU｜Taiwan｜DCP｜2023｜Color｜25min

Soft, a migrant worker at a recycling plant, becomes infatuated with a woman’s photo on an ID card. Just as he is about to be repatriated, Soft and his fellow villagers embark on a quest to find this "goddess." When spring arrives at the recycling yard, feelings of love and kindness blossom between them.

⓷ 落跑佳麗 Back to Work ◍ Zoe CHANG｜Taiwan｜DCP｜2023｜Color｜25min

When career woman Li Fen encounters a runaway domestic worker who fled to participate in a migrant beauty pageant, she wonders what to do next. Life doesn't return to normal as expected. Discovering the real reason behind the maid's escape puts Li Fen in an even tougher dilemma.

⓸ 公鹿 The Stag ◍ An CHU｜Taiwan｜DCP｜2023｜Color｜15min

During the antler harvesting season in Changhua, a strong wind stirs up a duel between worker Ahe and a stag. The director combines documentary and narrative techniques to observe and capture the unexpected connections between deer and the human world.

⓹ 吟唱瘟疫 Hymn of the Plague ◍ Ataka51｜German, Russia｜DCP｜2024｜Color｜14min

The majestic music in an old Soviet recording studio seems to hint at the shadow of war. Inspired by Julio Cortázar's novel "Casa Tomada," this work depicts humans being driven from their homes by ghosts, symbolizing the tension between political oppression and everyday life.

⓺ 能量守恆定律 3MWh ◍ Marie-Magdalena KOCHOVÁ｜Czech｜DCP｜2024｜Color｜12min

A silent man working at a nuclear power plant insists on living a minimalist life, consuming no more than 3 MWh of energy each year. However, as energy resources dwindle, the final solution will inevitably be implemented. The film liberates humanity from physical constraints, integrating into the natural energy cycle and reflecting on the essence of life.

⓻ 阿嬤的梨 Pear Garden ◍ Shadab SHAYEGAN｜German｜DCP｜ 2024｜Color｜7min

Six-year-old Lily is curious about the shadow on her grandmother's chest and follows her shadow to a pear orchard one night. The film, featuring a 2D hand-drawn style, focuses on children's reactions to illness and showcases the rich imagination that arises when one is determined—even shadows can lend a helping hand.

⓼ Y2K的夏天 Summer 2000 ◍ Virginie NOLIN, Laurence OLIVIER｜Canada｜DCP｜2023｜Color｜20min

The DV to explore a girl's curiosity about love. With the arrival of secondary sexual characteristics, a beautiful new world opens, bringing both delight and potential harm. The film gently examines the differences between boys and girls during their transition to adolescence.