Our Team
Director
Su Hung-En
Su Hung-En was born to a mix of indigenous people and Taiwanese. He received his MFA in Radio, Television and Film from Shih Hsin University. He is now a director and the head of Phbah Film Production Ltd. Focusing on Indigenous and social issues, his first feature-length documentary, The Mountain (2015), was awarded the Special Jury Mention in the Chinese Documentary Award at the 2016 TIDF Taiwan International Documentary Festival and the First Prize at the Taiwan International Ethnographic Film Festival and the South Taiwan Film Festival in 2015, among other awards. In 2017, his short film Dxgal (The Land) was short-listed at the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival Competition and selected for the Kaohsiung Film Festival and the Golden Spike Award. He has received awards at the Kaohsiung Film Festival and the Golden Harvest Award in the short film category. His other works include Swirling in the Dreams (2022) and Hunter Brothers (2024).
Curator's Note
"MATA Taiwan Indigenous Film Festival” is a relatively new event, now in its second edition. Since taking on this role, I've continually wondered what contemporary Indigenous cinema should look like. What inspirations can this festival provide?
The first image that came to my mind is that of my Baki (meaning 'grandfather' in Truku language) seen from behind as he ascends a mountain. His silhouette imparts two visions. The first is of our elders who, reliant solely on the natural world, live richly without the trappings of modern technology, feeling affluent even in solitude, and exemplifying physical independence. The second is of me, following in his footsteps, representing many young people in our community who earnestly seek to draw closer to our culture and forge a sense of personal identity, thereby achieving spiritual independence. This led me to adopt "Hiya nanak" (solitude in Truku language) as the thematic focus, aiming to simultaneously portray these dual states of being.
Accordingly, we have selected films that feature protagonists in solitary settings, such as Happy as Lazzaro for the opening and Last Days at Sea, which embodies themes of growth, for the closing. We are particularly honored to have Venice Atienza, the director of the closing film, attend the festival for a post-screening talk, promising engaging exchanges.
The festival will showcase several films by young indigenous directors, reflecting a trend of cultural root-searching and self-identity. Additionally, we have included films by both international and domestic non-indigenous filmmakers, offering a broader perspective on how indigenous peoples are depicted across different cultures.
This edition also features the Taiwan premieres of The Journals of Knud Rasmussen by Inuit director Zacharias Kunuk, and Petit Cahier de Cinéma by Huang, Pang-Chuan, both of which are moving works. We would like to invite our audience to seize such a rare opportunity and join us in the theaters to see them.
As a full-time filmmaker, the role of curator is quite new to me. However, thanks to an exceptional team, this festival has been brought to fruition. I extend my deepest gratitude to all my colleagues for their invaluable support in this venture.