Motion Pictures

As introduced by the Taiwan Yearbook 2006:

For many years, Taiwan's movies have won accolades at international film competitions for their artistic value and creativity, but such achievements have not translated into market success or commercial profits. As a consequence, in addition to offering annual film guidance funds, the government has recently taken several other measures to reinvigorate the industry. It offers tax credit for investment in film production and has established an incubation center for films. It is also working with the industry to expand marketing channels for Taiwan films. These measures have already started to pay off.

In 2004, Gift of Life, featuring survivors of the massive earthquake that hit central Taiwan in September 1999, became the highest grossing documentary in Taiwan box office history at NT$10 million (US$300,000). Other local productions that crossed the NT$5 million (US$150,000) mark in box office receipts were Formula 17, a humorous gay love story; and 20. 30. 40, a film about love, life, and the dreams of women at these respective ages. In 2005, the only movie that topped NT$10 million (US$300,000) was Tsai Ming-liang's The Wayward Cloud, which won the Silver Bear Award at the Berlin International Film Festival. Following close behind, however, was a horror movie The Heirloom, with NT$8.4 million (US$250,000) in box office receipts. Two other movies brought in more than NT$4 million (US$120,000): Fire Ball, a modern animation fantasy thriller based on Journey to the West; and Let It Be, a documentary about three elderly farmers' love for the land set against contemporary developments in Taiwan's agricultural practices.

One noteworthy trend has been the production of several documentaries which, in a change from the past, played in commercial movie theaters and generated healthy box office returns. Viva Tonal revives memories of old popular songs. Jump! Boys follows a gym instructor and seven young elementary schoolchildren who, after arduous training, win a team gold medal at a national contest. Burning Dreams features music from the 1950s, conflict between traditional and Western culture, and aspirations of the younger generation. Stone Dream depicts the differing lives of the indigenous and Hakka peoples, as well as those of postwar immigrants from China. Chronicle of the Sea Along Nanfanao, which won the best documentary award at the 2004 Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival, was the first such picture to film the sea around Taiwan and to trace the decline of trawl fishing off Taiwan's northeast coast.

Altogether, in 2005, screening licenses were issued to 40 local productions -- 24 feature films and 16 short films and documentaries. In contrast, 309 foreign-language films, 44 Hong Kong films, and 14 films from China were distributed in Taiwan. Taiwan had 166 theaters operating 661 screens, earning box office receipts of NT$2.67 billion (US$80 million) for all movies in 2005. Major cinema chains have been consolidating their market share and have introduced the new IMAX system to attract moviegoers. The movie screening business may be further influenced by the emergence of digital cinemas with even lower costs and special effects.

In order to promote domestic films in the global market, the Government Information Office (GIO) has worked with foreign film organizations to sponsor Taiwan film festivals in many countries around the world. Domestically, the GIO works with the local film industry to plan exclusive screenings of domestic productions.