The 8th Taipei Film Festival (TFF) brings Toronto and Montreal of Canada to “City Vision.” TFF selects 60 films from the two cities, ranging from classics to the newly released. Canada cinema shines despite its overshadowing neighbor Hollywood as well as French cinema across the ocean.

「Weird Sex & Snowshoes」characterize Canadian cinema. Says who? Atom Egoyan, Denys Arcand and many other directors in the film Weird Sex & Snowshoes: A Trek through the Canadian Cinematic Psyche. One would probably find the chill thrill from the scenes in Atom Egoyan’s The Adjuster、Patricia Rozema’s I've Heard The Mermaids Singing、Denis Villeneuve’s Maelström、David Cronenberg’s Crimes of the Future and Dead Ringers、Denys Arcand’s The Decline of the American Empire、Jesus of Montreal、Jean-Claude Lauzon’s Night Zoo and Léolo.

To add to the list, TFF has other updates from the country: an all-black cast in Love, Sex & Eating the Bones depicts a pornoholic’s nightmare: impotence with his dream date. Sabah features Arsinée Khanjian (wife of Egoyan) as a middle-aged woman from an Islamic family in search of her love and self. Biography of the Quebec diva Alys Robi is told in My Life in Cinemascope; Pascale Bussières (When Night is Falling, 1995) who played Robi won the Best Actress in Genie Award. Actor Luc Picard proves himself also a fine Director/Writer in Audition. In The Novena, believer and non-believer’s paths cross. Its depiction of faith and friendship won 3 awards in the 58th Locarno International Film Festival. Saint Martyrs of the Damned is the rare horror in Canadian cinema. Seducing Doctor Lewis won the audience’s hearts in Sundance, what’s more, laughs are guaranteed.

Robert LePage is this year’s Director in Focus who in Taiwan is lesser-known as the other three among the Canadian director quartet: Egoyan, Cronenberg and Arcand. He reveals his artistic talents in stage and film directing, also as a scriptwriter and actor. The sharp-eyed must have noticed by his appearance in Jesus of Montreal and Audition. He is also versatile in film genres. TFF will show his debut The Confessional, which brought him much success. In Possible Worlds, the director blends multiple styles in a sci-fi. Nô is a drama set against Quebec when the city claimed for independence. LePage’s Far Side of the Moon is a recent demonstration of his screen writing, directing and acting talents and garnered several film awards including the FIPRESCI in Berlin International Film Festival.

Also in the program is the Tribute session to the Master of Documentary: Allan King. King is a leading figure in direct cinema. TFF would showcase his classics Warrendale、A Married Couple to recent piece Memory of Max, Claire, Ida and Company. TFF also offers a selection of recent Canadian documentaries. Last but not least, there would be twenty animation and shorts from Canada.

The 8th TFF will be running from 24 June to 9 July 2006. Festival venues are Chungshan Hall、The Metropolitan、in 89 Digital Cinema and Shin Kong Cineplex. More information would be provided on such sessions as New Talent Competition、Global Chinese Films and Videos、Panorama、From the Old Towns in due course. Ticket sales start on May 27th, 2006. Updates on the festival would be posted on www.tiff.org.tw