[New Taipei City News] The 2023 New Taipei City Documentary Film Award (NTCDF) announced the top three winners on October 27, 2023. The top three winners received trophies and cash prizes of NT$100,000, NT$80,000, and NT$60,000, respectively, and the final 13 best films of the year received award certificates. In addition, the judges, after much discussion, felt that all of the entries had great potential and that it was difficult to choose just three. In a unanimous decision, they decided to add one Special Jury Award with a cash prize of NT$30,000 to encourage the efforts of the creator teams and to encourage more people to pursue the filmmaking of documentary.

Deputy Major Chen Chwen-jing (陳純敬) of the New Taipei City and Director Chang Ai-chin (張愛晶) of the New Taipei City Department of Information, were both present at the award ceremony. They invited the creator teams of the final 13 best films, as well as the distinguished guests Ou Jin-de, the Chairman of the Chi Po-lin Foundation, Wan Kuan-li, the CEO of the Chi Po-lin Foundation, Director Yang Li-chou and Director Hsu Che-chia, representing the Final Jury Panel, veteran directors Tseng Wen-Chen, Huang Chia-Chun, Lee Li-shao, Maso Chen, senior documentary Producer Gary Shih, and Producer Sunny Han of Local Tiger International, to come together to give their warm blessings and celebrate the accomplishments for the winners.

Deputy Mayor Chen thanked all of the documentary filmmakers and their teams for their support and for their resilience in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. He said that New Taipei City, under the leadership of Mayor Hou You-yi, will continue to support documentary filmmaking with action and be the backbone for the documentary filmmakers. Deputy Mayor Chen hopes to use documentaries to raise awareness of environmental issues, to promote international cooperation, and to lead Taiwan documentaries towards the world. He also hopes to attract more talented people to join the documentary industry and to inspire them to use their cameras to record the world through their own eyes.

Ou Jin-de, the Chairman of the Chi Po-lin Foundation, stated that he was pleased to continue collaborating with the NTCDF Award. He hopes that with the establishment of the Chi Po-lin Documentary Award, it will help to raise awareness of environmental issues in Taiwan and the urgency of environmental protection. He also hopes that the award will help to showcase the beauty of Taiwan's diverse ecosystems and landscapes.

Director Yang Li-chou, representing the Final Jury Panel, said that the final 13 best films reflect the issues that the documentary filmmakers in this generation truly care about. The films address the themes of migration and belonging in the post-COVID-19 era of the society. Whether it is the diversity of species or the pursuit of the heart and soul, these are all issues that are relevant to all of us individually and that we all need to deeply reflect on. Through the power of images, documentaries can provide support and companionship and help people to get through the lows of the pandemic. Director Yang also hopes that documentaries will continue to spread positivity and be a powerful force for social change.

The Final Jury Panel also agreed that the final films were all well-made and thought-provoking. They were impressed by the diversity of stories, the innovative techniques, and the emotional impact of the films. The Jury hopes that all of the films will continue to be successful and that more excellent documentaries will be produced in the future.

The Department of Information will host the Special Opening Screening of the 2023 New Taipei City International Documentary Month on November 4, 2023, at the Taiwan Film & Audiovisual Institute (TFAI). The screening will feature the longer version of the film "The Extra’s Journey," which one of the best films in 2016, it is such a privilege to see successful films back in in New Taipei City again, this will be the great kick-off for the “2023 New Taipei City International Documentary Month.”  The final 13 best films will also be screened at the 2023 New Taipei City International Documentary Month, which will be held from November 8 to 29 at the Fuzhong 15 - New Taipei City Documentary Cinema, We cordially invite everyone to join us at the screening of these films.

For more information about the 2023 New Taipei City International Documentary Month, please visit the official website at http://www.doc.ntpc.gov.tw or search for "感動，無所不在" on Facebook.

For more details please contact Department of Information at New Taipei City Government.

First Place  "We Live Underground" Xiao, Yu-Ru

Second Place  "The elimination" Liao, Ching-Yao

Third Place  "Eternal Isle"Chen, Shao-Chun

Judges Special Award  "Crossing" Yang, Ching-Wen

Lei Shi-ting (雷思庭) Phone Number：02-2960-3456 ext. 6100

Chou Yi-hsuan (周宜璇) Phone Number ：02-2960-3456 ext. 6113