Talkin' TIDF_Ep08

Welcome to the final episode of Talkin’ TIDF!
To wrap up this year's podcast series, hosts Cameron and Stefanie are joined by award-winning filmmaker LAU Kek-huat for an in-depth conversation on history, memory, identity, and documentary filmmaking. The discussion centers on Lau's acclaimed documentary From Island to Island, while also exploring his work across Taiwan and Southeast Asia.

🎙️In this episode
➤ How has the conversation around From Island to Island evolved over the past two years, and what audience responses from its international festival run have most surprised Lau?
➤ From Island to Island was programmed again in this year's Taiwan Spectrum section,” War Memories, Shifting Identities.” What aspects of the programme resonated with Lau and sparked his curiosity?
➤ How do younger generations of viewers engage with From Island to Island? After screenings for Taiwanese students, what generational differences in historical understanding has Lau observed?
➤ With several of his films censored in Malaysia, how is Lau perceived there today?
➤ What did it mean to make Taste of Wild Tomato, and how did a Malaysian-born filmmaker approach telling the story of Taiwan's 228 Incident?
➤ Why does Lau also make fiction films, and what themes or ideas does he explore in his latest drama-comedy, The Waves Will Carry Us?

🔗 Links:

• Lau Kek-huat biography: https://docs.tfai.org.tw/en/filmmakers/3350

Films discussed in this episode

• From Island to Island: https://docs.tfai.org.tw/en/film/7047
• Taste of Wild Tomato: https://docs.tfai.org.tw/en/film/6765
• Absent Without Leave: https://docs.tfai.org.tw/en/film/3680 (Censored in Malaysia.)
• The Tree Remembers: https://docs.tfai.org.tw/en/film/6024 (Censored in Malaysia.)
• The Waves Will Carry Us (Drama): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt38589615/

Other works mentioned

• Gan lu shui (Daughter of Nectar): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt38782708/
• Taiwan Travelogue by Yang Shuang-zi (International Booker Prize winner, 2026): https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/taiwan-travelogue

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