Beth Main.
A number of Taiwanese filmmakers have spoken out in support of the Golden Horse Film Awards after the opposition party suggest scrapping it for not awarding enough prizes to Taiwanese films.
The DPP seems to think that probity and credibility are overrated these days and that an Asian film festival that isn’t corrupt is a waste of time. Director Hou Hsiao-hsien criticised this approach, pointing out that the Golden Horse Awards are a ‘cash cow’ that stands head and shoulders over China’s Golden Rooster Awards.
Mainland Chinese film Beijing Blue’s took Best Film at this years awards with Taiwanese films only winning 2 out of the 19 major categories, Best Actress for Gwei Lun Mei (Gf*Bf) and Best New Director for Chang Jung Chi (Touch of the Light).
DPP ministers have questioned the political allegiance of the Ministry of Culture after the awards were apparently so China biased, as obviously it is impossible that China might have actually made some good films.
Full list of the awards here.
A Golden Horse is widely acknowledged as an Asian Oscar, partly due to the perceived fairness and impartiality of the judging process. Just imagine US Republicans having a hissy fit if a Hollywood picture didn’t get the award for ‘Best Foreign Language Film’.