VC Filmfest 2024 - New Era, Same Battles
Personal Intro: It feels so wonderful to get back to sharing things all things squee. In the middle of covering VC Film Fest, a particularly stubborn and lingering virus took over the health system. Which meant a complete on so many posts. Health has been regained so enjoy the future influx of posts.
VC Filmfest (Formerly known as Asian Pacific Film Festival) featured another year of voices from the AAPI media community. For two weeks, audiences were able to experience projects from global creators in the form of feature films, shorts, animations, and more. So many stories and messages were shared from all over the world. All of these stories contained the same inner passion to fight and keep fighting. Whether it would be fighting against ones own cultural norm or against high powered entities, it’s still a battle.
Even with the name change, It was another festival year of diverse storytelling echoing the same battles performed over and over again. Battles of not being heard, not being understood. How can Hollywood be so deaf to so many voices clamoring to share their experiences and stories? For two weeks, the voices are deafening in their unified cry to be heard.
Many of the films that were curated for this years festival was reflective of the upcoming political elections and the growing unease as it approaches. Some of the films expanded beyond the domestic boundaries of North America to encompass the effects of other countries waiting to see the outcome. Taiwan and China seemed to be a very hot topic. Personally, I’m not well versed in international political affairs which is why film festivals are crucial. These documentaries provide compelling visual platforms that shows another perspective and incite curiosity.
This years documentary that left a contemplative impact was INVISIBLE NATION, directed by Vanessa Hope. Taiwan’s first female president, Tsai-Ing Wen is the main focal point of the film . This was my first exposure to learning about Tsai-Ing Wen and after the film, could not help but be even more fascinated by this steadfast and pioneering politician. Her resolve to lead Taiwan to a Democratic future while navigating the eyebrow raising political mazes is completely admirable. Throughout the documentary, Tsai-Ing Wen embodies the political figure that a country would want to support and stand behind. Especially when that country is tiny country compared to the behemoth power of China. Even if the behind the scenes moments with Tsai-Ing Wen most likely scripted or heavily edited, the documentary still provides one of the few pieces that non-Taiwanese audiences can learn about Tsai-Ing Wen and the political situation.
Plus, Tsai-Ing Wen has a cat that interrupts the interview.
The documentary also outlines the historical struggles between China and Taiwan and the precarious situation its in. This one project not only incited curiosity about the political tensions between multiple countries around Taiwan but it does crack the the bubble idea that the world is at peace. There may not be outright war in some places but it’s not far behind. INVISIBLE NATION may have shown the immensely positive rise and admiration Tsai-Ing Wen but there was always an underlying current of unease that all of this could way, way worse.
Fore more information on the documentary: https://www.invisiblenation.net/
