Taiwan cinema

The Taiwan produced film are called “guopian”(國片).

Government policy

Taiwan government-funded "Film Fund" is crucial to explore Taiwan's film talent. The Government Information Office imposed film grant which is divided into two groups, five million and 800 million. The purpose of the group of five million grant is to encourage new directors directing a feature film for the first time.

Besides, since 1980, Taiwan government established The Motion Picture Foundation and Golden Harvest Awards for Outstanding Short Films, it is to encourage the production of animation, documentary and experiment film. With the aid of government funding, Taiwanese documentaries are artistic movie were well developed. Recently, Taiwan has produced a group of young documentary filmmakers. The themes of their works are varied from the subject himself or his family, and explore serious social or political issues.

Development of Taiwan cinema

Before 2010, Taiwan cinema was threatened by the bloom of Hollywood blockbusters. In 2003, local film production were less than 15 films and it only counted for less than 1% of total box office and 95% of them went to Hollywood blockbusters(盧非易, 2003). Taiwan cinema was dominated by foreign and Hong Kong movies. Some critiqued that no matter how many awards Taiwan movie received, Taiwan cinema was still dying(何自力、范麗青).

The release of Cape No. 7 (海角七號)in 2008 made the third highest record box office in Taiwan history. Cape No.7’s success turned Taiwan audiences sight to Taiwan “guopian” again. It won 15 awards such as The Outstanding Taiwanese Film of the Year at the 45th Goldern Horse Awards in 2008(Wang, 2012). “Guopian” revived after 2008, for example, Monga(艋舺) in 2010 and You Are the Apple of My Eye(那些年我們一起追的女孩) in 2011 both had record high box office which “You” earned about NTD 460 million.

Under the influences of regionalized industry, Cape No. 7 use J-pop singer Atari Kōsuke and Japanese model Tanaka Chie as the cast. This move can prove the internationalized of Taiwan movie and to promote the film out of local market. Besides, cultural tourism and movie are linked together in the production of Cape No. 7. The film was filmed in Hengchun Township and the place now become a famous tourism spot in Taiwan. “You” is an example to adapt the strategy of making the movie as a must-see spectacle event. When “You” was released in 2011, everyone was talking about the film and everyone became so nostalgic to drawn themselves into their first love in the past. The line “每個人心中都有個沈佳宜” evoked people’s romantic side and feel so connected with their first love’s memory.