2007 Educational Film Festival - Press Conference on Films Nominated for the Festival's Awards
Ministry of Education (MOE) on June 7 gave a conference on films nominated for 2007 educational film festival's awards. Minister Tu handed out awards to those whose films were nominated. As many as 256 films entered the competition. Twenty-two distinguished films were nominated from different groups of makers and types of films. The public will be deeply touched by these educational yet fun films in the festival's August circuit.
- As many as 256 entrants, the highest among all other domestic film festivals to date
- Diversified educational viewpoints of non-students and students
The festival was the first of its kind given by MOE. The purpose of the festival - a joint effort between MOE, Government Information Office (GIO) and Council of Cultural Affairs (CCA) - is to encourage the public to look at education from the perspective of using images to record the process of educational changes. In addition, it is hoped to pool the public's wisdom, look at the past, present and future of education and find a new way out for Taiwan's education.
The organizers of the festival received a total of 256 distinguished educational films. Among them were 83 documentaries, 10 animations and 17 dramas from the non-student group; and 45 documentaries, 38 animations and 63 dramas from the student group.
MOE notes it is thrilling to find its first educational film festival to be so well received by the public. It is an indication that people from all circles have many thoughts and opinions about education. Meantime, it is hoped the festival will encourage the public to take part in educational issues, allowing broader, diversified and creative educational ideas to be expressed through vivid films.
The competition comprises two groups - non-students and students. Judging from the types of competing films, it can be discovered that non-students group focused more on the recording of educational phenomena. Educational workers all took a record of the educational environment they came in touch with. Their works are very touching and real.
The majority of the films made by students were dramas. They portrayed aspects of their student life such as studying, interpersonal relationships, pressure felt from pursuing further education and self-skepticism and identification through their works.
MOE stressed many teachers from the non-students group made their films for the first time. They delineated educational phenomena through films from the perspective of first-line educators. Though their techniques may be immature, their sincerity, passion and devotion to education are moving.