Department of Information and Tourism, Taipei City Government

Mayor Hau Lung-bin attended the press conference announcing the partnership between Taipei Film Commission and the Ile-de-France Film Commission on September 1. The event signifies a great step forwards for the local film industry. It also makes Taipei Film Commission the first Asian partner of its regional counterpart in Paris. The mayor remarked that Paris is a major city known for its rich culture and important role in film making – almost 90 percent of European films are related with the capital of France. He noted that in addition to providing assistance to producers and movie makers, the Ile-de-France Film Commission also proposes a series of projects related with conservation, making them into films and promoting the concept. Olivier-Rene Veillon, general director of the Ile-de-France Film Commission, noted that the French movie industry has always been interested with Taiwanese films. While he hopes to work with top Taiwanese film makers such as Hou Hsiao-hsien and Tsai Ming-liang, he also looks forward to the sparks of creativity from the younger generations. He added that joint projects between Taiwan and France – Tsai’s Visage and Hou’s Flight of the Red Balloon – are well received by French audience and demonstrate the characteristics of creativity stemming from both cultures. Deputy Mayor Lee Yong-ping noted that both Taipei and Ile-de-France hope to achieve the objectives of cross-nation collaboration in film making and the creation of a platform for exchanges through the partnership. She hopes that the Ile-de-France Film Commission can help Taipei’s films make leeway into the European film markets, allowing the European public to learn more about our city.