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International Short Film Competition Nominees
"Chinhua’s Blossom Unfolds"
2023／Taiwan (R.O.C.)／27minutes Director：Ming Hsia WANG
Rotary Club of Taipei Liberty
＜Story＞
At the ripe age of 102, ChinHua Ho Chen, the Golden Bloom, takes center stage. In 1938, her voice graced the tracks of 'Endless Spring' and 'The Camellia Lady', released by Victor Records, under the stage name 'Yingying'. She also stands as the first among renowned female singers of Taiwan's popular ditties. Through Chinhua, in this moment, we hear the echoes of the once renowned Yingying, preserving the distinct voices of Taiwan in song. Listening, we traverse a century, as though it were a fleeting moment in the tale of time."
Ming Hsia WANG
"The Rubber Tappers"
2022／CAMBODIA／20 minutes Director：Rotha MOENG
＜Story＞
In Ratanakiri, a province in northeastern Cambodia, Khlek, an 11-year-old boy, lives on the rubber plantation where his parents work. Coming from the Kroeung ethnic minority, they are tappers. But where does this enormous charred tree lying on the ground in the middle of the plantation come from? The answer that Khlek finds is much more complex than it seems.
Rotha MOENG
Profile
Rotha MOENG, a Franco-Cambodian artist, is a director, producer, and gallery owner who divides his time between Paris and Phnom Penh. While completing his directorial debut in Banlung, Ratanakiri province, two films he produced and co-produced were released in Europe. ""The Sound of the Night,"" directed by Chandaro Sok and Kong Kea Vann, while ""White Building,"" a feature film by Kavich Neang. Rotha MOENG's life is a testament to Cambodia's ongoing resurgence since the fall of the Khmer Rouge regime 44 years ago. As a child under Pol Pot's dictatorship, he lacked access to art, music, cinema, and songs until his family sought refuge in Thailand. It was in a refugee camp where he experienced his first film, ""Poah Keng Kang,"" sparking an enduring sense of wonder. As a refugee in France, Rotha MOENG kept Cambodia alive within him through traditional festivals, cuisine, the Khmer language, and karaoke nights singing Sin Sisamuth's melodies. In the early 2000s, as security improved and Cambodia embraced tourism, Rotha MOENG made his first return to his homeland, known as ""srok."" This journey inspired him to share his childhood in Cambodia, the refugee camps in Thailand, and his settlement in France, forming the foundation for his novel, ""Le chœur des enfants khmers"" (Seuil, 2008). In the 2010s, his artistic endeavors flourished. He collaborated with Régis Wargnier on the film ""Le temps des aveux,"" in the film, Rotha MOENG portrayed the defense lawyer for a Khmer Rouge executioner. He also engaged in the production of ""The terrible but unfinished story of Norodom Sihanouk, King of Cambodia,"" performed in the Khmer language at Théâtre du Soleil, where Ariane Mnouchkine and Hélène Cixous first staged the play in 1985. Concurrently, he established an art gallery in Battambang, promoting young Cambodian artists. As Cambodia undergoes profound changes, Phnom Penh becomes reminiscent of other bustling Asian metropolises. The rampant real estate frenzy and unchecked capitalism fracture Cambodian society, leaving the marginalized as casualties of this rapid development. Artists, including Rotha MOENG, strive to capture and reflect these transformations. Thus, he chose to produce the short film ""The Sound of the Night,"" which follows the story of Vibol and Kea, two brothers who sell noodle soup from a motorized cart while signaling their presence to customers by tapping on a bamboo stick. Both face violence and poverty, making distinct choices to escape their predetermined fates. Alongside Davy CHOU, Rotha MOENG co-produced ""White Building,"" a feature film portraying a young Cambodian grappling with his father's illness and the destruction of his building. After his initial experiences in production, Rotha MOENG takes a significant step by directing his first short film, ""The rubber tappers"" in January 2022."Visiting Linda"
2023／Indonesia／23 minutes Director：Ihsan ACHDIAT
＜Story＞
A single mother, Erni, notices something strange when she receives a grocery list request from her daughter Linda, who attends the Islamic Boarding School.
Ihsan ACHDIATProfile
Ihsan ACHDIAT entered the world of film by making documentary films. His documentary project has participated in several labs and documentary film festivals, including FFD, Lock Full Circle Lab, and Docs By The Sea. In 2023, he created his first short fiction film, Visiting Linda, which was screened at the Madani International Film Festival and Jakarta Film Week. Currently, Ihsan is in the development stage of his first feature film at the Indonesiana Film 2024 Screenwriting Workshop.『Goodbye』
2023／Japan／30 minutes Director：KITABATA RYUICHI
＜Story＞
“Apparently, she's gonna die...” A sudden call from the hospital. For Satoshi, the news of his estranged mother's illness doesn't feel real. When Satoshi reunites with his mother after a long time, she appears annoyingly healthy and as selfish as ever. He is reminded once again why he has grown distant from her.
Satoshi takes her to her favorite ramen shop, a place filled with memories. Seeing her barely eating, he senses the severity of her illness. they start to seek a farewell that can satisfy them, even if just a little.
KITABATA RYUICHIProfile
Ryuichi Kitabata graduated from Nihon University College of Art. He was deeply impressed by the offbeat world of television dramas while working on the set of director Yuichi Fukuda. His directorial debut was the drama "Kodoku no Gurume" ("The Solitary Gourmet"). He enjoys working on projects where food is an important element of the story, such as "Banshaku no Ryugi", "Kimi ga, Onigiri Suki Dakara", and "Junkissa ni Koi wo Shite"."The Ghost Lullaby" 2023／Korea／25 minutes Director：LEE Jihyeong
Lee Jihyeong
＜Story＞
Soonok, a senior living alone, reunites with her daughter Eunryeong who lost contact with Soonok for a long time and her granddaughter, Yeonji. With all the emotions built up after all this time, for whom the lullaby from someone's mouth was sung that night?
LEE Jihyeong
Born : November 27,1979
Country : Republic of Korea
Degree : BA in Movie Production (Chung-Ang University,Seoul,Korea)
MA in Movie Production (Graduate School of Chung-Ang University, Graduate School of Advanced Imaging Sciences, Master of Arts in Film and Multimedia, Korea, Seoul)
Profile
"Name : LEE JihyeongBorn : November 27,1979
Country : Republic of Korea
Degree : BA in Movie Production (Chung-Ang University,Seoul,Korea)
MA in Movie Production (Graduate School of Chung-Ang University, Graduate School of Advanced Imaging Sciences, Master of Arts in Film and Multimedia, Korea, Seoul)
『Go Class』 2023／China／16 minutes Director：Roger XUE
Roger Xue
＜Story＞
Summer vacation is coming, and a new little boy named Bai Feng has joined the Go training class. He and another little boy in the class, Gang Yi, became friends with each other because they were ostracized by other classmates. However, as the selection day approached, Gang Yi resorted to cheating to win. Bai Feng didn't know how to stop him, but was misunderstood by the teacher and classmates, and their friendship faced challenges……
Roger XUE
Profile
Roger XUE graduated from Tongji University in China. He is a young director, screenwriter, and photographer, and his works have been shortlisted for several mainstream film festivals in mainland China. His short films in the drama category are known for their bold style and nuanced character development, which make them particularly resonant with audiences. Additionally, he is an emerging talent in China's commercial advertising industry and has steadily made a name for himself as a leading young director in this field.« International Short Film Competition Juries announced!広島国際映画祭2024 上映作品ラインナップ発表！ »
