全台規模最大、唯一以動畫為主題的城市影展「台中國際動畫影展」（TIAF），其中備受全球動畫創作者關注的徵件競賽，即日起至6月30日止開放動畫短片報名，短片競賽單元包含「短片競賽」、「台灣短片競賽」、「學生短片競賽」、「台灣學生短片競賽」及「觀眾票選獎」5大項，總獎金高達新台幣120萬元，入圍名單預計8月1日以前公布，歡迎全球動畫好手報名參賽，共同角逐高額競賽獎金。
在台中市政府及新聞局的支持推動下，TIAF台中國際動畫影展今年即將邁入第八屆，其中最受矚目的就是短片競賽獎項，去年(2021)雖受新冠肺炎疫情影響，短片競賽徵件數量仍創下歷年新高，共計來自104個國家與地區、2,716部作品參賽，台中市長暨影視發展基金會董事長盧秀燕更出席頒獎典禮頒發重要獎項，除了榮耀動畫創作者也表達支持動畫產業發展決心。盧市長強調，台中市政府會持續支持推動「台中國際動畫影展」，讓更多國內外動畫創作者把台中做為動畫作品能在亞洲曝光最重要的舞台。
台中市影視發展基金會執行長林筱淇表示，台中國際動畫影展自2015年開辦以來，好評如潮，每年最受大家期待的短片競賽單元，以發掘全球動畫新銳創作者為目標，吸引全球動畫創作喜好者及製作公司目光，投件作品水準及藝術價值都更趨出色。今年期待有志參賽的國內外動畫好手們，共同參與這場一年一度的國際動畫盛會，與世界各地創作者同台切磋競技，一起創造台灣動畫領域新高峰。
台灣動畫人才逐年輩出，去年入圍競賽單元的69部短片中，台灣短片就占了12部，展現台灣動畫充沛的藝術創作能量。影展期間，多位重量級台灣及新銳導演們齊聚台中，不但讓更多台灣優秀動畫作品躍上國際，大幅提升台灣動畫在全球的能見度，也讓台中努力推動的用心被世界看見；此外，經過近年來的深耕經營，台中國際動畫短片競賽更逐步與世界接軌，評審結果優勝作品往往成為各大影展的風向球，尤其近年參賽作品原創性與完整度都很高，體現各國文化、創作精神及動畫產業的實力，傳遞動畫創作者對當代社會與國際現況的觀察，評審們皆給予高度的評價。
台中國際動畫影展自2015年由新聞局開辦，每年在台中盛大舉行，2017年起由台中市影視發展基金會主辦，竭誠邀請各方動畫好手踴躍參賽，期許報名參賽作品數量再創新猷，也盼讓更多台灣優秀動畫創作者在國際間發光發熱。為響應節能減碳愛地球，僅接受網路報名，詳細競賽規章與報名方式，請上台中國際動畫短片競賽官網查詢 https://twtiaf.com/2022rg/，或逕洽04-23236100分機21（蔡小姐）。
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The Taichung International Animation Festival (TIAF), the largest and the only animation-themed film festival in Taiwan, is now open for short film competition entries until June 30, with five categories: “Short Films Competition,” “Taiwan Short Films Competition,” “Student Short Films Competition,” “Taiwan Student Short Films Competition” and “Popular Award,” with a total of 1.2 million NTD in prizes. The shortlist is expected to be announced by August 1; animators from all over the world are welcome to register for the competition and compete for high competition prizes.
With the support of the Taichung City Government and the Information Bureau, TIAF is now entering its eighth year, among which the most eye-catching part is the short film’s award, where a record high of entries was received last year (2021) despite the impact of COVID-19, with 2,716 entries from 104 countries and regions. The Mayor of Taichung City and Chairman of the Taichung Film Development Foundation (TFDF), Ms. Lu Shiow-Yen, attended the award ceremony to present the significant awards, which is not only to honor the animation creators, but also to express her determination to support the development of the animation industry. Furthermore, Mayor Lu highlighted in her speech that the Taichung City Government would continue to support the Taichung International Animation Festival, enabling more domestic and foreign animation creators to regard Taichung as the most critical stage for their animation works to be exposed in Asia.
According to the Director of Taichung Film Development Foundation, Ms. Lin Shiau-Chi, the Taichung International Animation Festival has been well-received since its inception in 2015, with its short films competition being one of the highly anticipated annual events, which aims to discover new animation creators from around the world while attracting the attention of animators and production companies globally, thereby resulting in more outstanding submissions in terms of traditional and artistic value. This year, we look forward to aspiring talented animators from domestic and abroad participating in this annual animation event and competing with creators from all over the world to create a new peak in animation in Taiwan.
Year after year, Taiwan’s animation talents are emerging. 12 of the 69 short films selected for the competition last year were from Taiwan, demonstrating the abundant artistic energy of Taiwan animation. Furthermore, many big wheels in the Taiwan animation field gathered in Taichung during the festival, which brought more outstanding Taiwanese animation works to the international arena, which significantly increased the visibility of Taiwanese animation in the world as well as made Taichung’s efforts to promote them it visible to the world. Furthermore, in recent years, the originality and completeness of the entries have been very high, reflecting the culture, creative spirit, and strength of the animation industry of each country while also conveying the creators’ observation of contemporary society and the international situation, which the judges highly praise.
The Taichung International Animation Festival has been held annually in Taichung since 2015 and has been organized by the Taichung Film Development Foundation since 2017, which sincerely invites all animation talents to participate in the festival. For more information on the competition rules and regulations, please visit the Taichung International Animation Festival website https://twtiaf.com/2022rg/ or contact Ms. Tsai at 04-23236100 ext. 21.