The "Taiwan Film Screening Event 2025" organized by the Taiwan Cultural Center in Japan has expanded this year to Osaka, collaborating with prestigious institutions such as the University of Tokyo, Keio University, Waseda University, Nihon University, and Osaka University. This initiative adopts a "campus engagement" strategy, bringing Taiwanese films into the sight of a broader audience of young people in Japan.

Lin Chia-wei, the event curator, and Tseng Hsien-lung, the director of the cultural center, recently discussed their curatorial philosophy and cultural observations in an interview. Lin emphasized that the core of the film selection focuses on presenting the depth and free expression of Taiwanese cinema from historical and cultural perspectives. This year's selection features eight films that have never been shown in Japan, allowing audiences to see the diversity of Taiwanese visual narratives beyond mainstream cinema. He believes that Taiwanese cinema has a unique charm as it confronts historical narratives and reflects social and political viewpoints more honestly compared to other Chinese-speaking regions.

As a director with extensive cross-border creative experience, Lin pointed out that Taiwan has emerged as a significant platform for audiovisual collaboration in Southeast Asia and beyond. Many creators, including Tsai Ming-liang, Liao Keh-fah, and Lee Hsin-chieh, have found their creative freedom in Taiwan. He also praised the cultural ministry's "TAICCA" policy, which supports international co-productions and enhances the international visibility of Taiwanese films.

Tseng Hsien-lung noted that this year's major shift is in extending screening sites to campuses, allowing the younger generation to directly engage with Taiwanese visual culture. This year, they have collaborated with five renowned Japanese universities to host eight free screening events, attracting numerous students who actively participated in post-screening discussions. He highlighted that this year's selections focus on themes such as "human rights, diverse gender identities, and ethnic integration," addressing issues like the history of White Terror, same-sex marriage legislation, and indigenous cultural topics. While these themes may be relatively unfamiliar in Japanese society, they spark curiosity and provide rich grounds for reflection.

In addition to the film events, Tseng also mentioned that the cultural center will continue to participate in major art festivals in Japan and host exhibitions of publications and comics to promote original culture. He specifically noted that Taiwanese artist Yao Wen-fu's work "Bamboo Waves" graced the cover of "Discover Japan," and Wang Wen-chih is participating in the Setouchi Art Festival for the fifth time, highlighting Taiwan's influence in the international art scene.