The 2020 Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ Film Festival in partnership with the Ministry of Culture, Taiwan (R.O.C) and Taiwan Academy in Los Angeles will host Taiwan Program featuring Taiwanese films “The Teacher” and “Sunshine in the Ruins” from August 24-26, 2020 with post-screening Q&As during the festival, which takes August 20-30, 2020 to highlight the LQBTQ culture and achievements of Taiwan. Taiwan passed the same-sex marriage bill in May 2019, and the law went into effect on May 24 that year, making Taiwan the first country in Asia to legalize the same-sex marriage. One year after the law took effect, over 4,000 LGBTQ couples got married in Taiwan, demonstrating Taiwan’s achievements in equal rights for sexual minorities.
Damien S. Navarro, Executive Director of Outfest said, “Outfest is honored to continue our relationship with the Ministry of Culture, Taiwan (R.O.C) and Taiwan Academy in Los Angeles. We are proud to be able to showcase the incredible LGBTQ films and filmmakers from Taiwan. During the festival, we have the opportunity to recognize Taiwan’s support to Outfest, as well as Taiwan’s values of liberty and equality that inspired the lives of LGBTQ groups and communities in Asia.”
The two films delicately and deeply explore issues in the LGBTQ+ community.
“The Teacher”, is a story that not only touches on the marriage equality debate happening in Taiwan, but also reveals the fragility of human nature in the face of the HIV threat.
“Sunshine in the Ruins” centers around inter-generational communications that take place in military dependents’ village of Taiwan, with a hope of capturing the discomfort in facing the topics on homosexuality and the relief through reflection.
“These two films present the breathtaking affections and struggles through their intricate narratives,” said Emmy Yang, Director of Taiwan Academy in Los Angeles. “They represent the creative freedom and the dedication to equal rights for the LGBTQ community in Taiwan. We are extremely delighted to have worked with Outfest for three consecutive years. Through this well-known platform, splendid Taiwanese LGBTQ works will be unveiled to amaze the American audience.”
This year’s Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ Film Festival will run August 20-30,2020 and will be accessed via www.outfestla2020.com for one All-Access Pass to OutfestNow (app now available for Roku, AppleTV, Android, ioS), where centerpiece films, premieres, and hand-curated programs debuting daily. Select packages of Festival Favorites will also be available for direct purchase.
Taiwan Academy in Los Angeles is a nonprofit cultural institute with an aim to promote Taiwanese arts and culture in the west coast of North America. Established by the Ministry of Culture of Taiwan in 2012, Taiwan Academy collaborates with major cultural/arts organizations and festivals to spotlight Taiwanese artists in international exhibitions, performances, film screenings, and arts residencies. Taiwan Academy functions as a cultural bridge between Taiwan and overseas countries to increase global visibility of Taiwanese culture, to enhance cultural exchange, and to raise appreciation of the rich, diverse culture of Taiwan.
For more information about Taiwan Academy, please go to la.us.taiwan.culture.tw.
