KDIAF of 2023 started by screening International Short Films on October 23rd, attended by many people, VIPs at home and abroad, to enjoy with students from various departments of TNUA.

There were 33 works carefully chosen from nearly 1,000 submissions by creators from more than 90 countries to compete for the highest honor of “KuanDog Prize.” Each of the selected works has its distinguishing features and styles. Media from 2D to 3D, hand-drawn, frame-by-frame animation, and so on. Various topics from social observation, and environments to family relationships, love, and discussion of life issues.

The 2023 Kuandu International Animation Festival on October 23, has selected competition films from Taiwan among 33 entries in the international short film category. These films, each with their own unique styles and themes, have attracted numerous dignitaries, audiences, and students. Here are brief introductions to some of the featured works: 

"Gardens"

Every garden within a bottle is a complicated realm. The film combines shots in various artistic styles to construct one garden world after another, each hiding different symbolic meanings.

"Coo Coo Coo"

 Portraying an elderly grandfather who loves the land and the farm in a gentle hand-drawn art-style. Despite the passage of time and changing landscapes, he continues to hold onto his affection and passion for the land, moving forward alongside the persistent crowing of roosters in his mind.

"Robie"

 In a robot school where everything is neat and uniform, a different green robot arrives. He is small in stature and doesn’t look as modern as others. Realizing he cannot suffice everyone else, he embarks on a plan to transform himself.

"Red Rose"

 With warm and gentle artistry and color tones, it takes the audience on a romantic and fantastical date with two main characters, all while resonating with bright red roses.

"ALICE ON THE BEACH"

With a poetic style, it tells the story of a mysterious ocean that a girl explores. She discovers a beached whale, only to realize that everything is an illusion.

"Ghost of the Dark Path"

Using a unique and eerie artistic style, it explores the theme of Taiwan's White Terror period. The story follows a secret agent as he tracks clues and carries out missions, experiencing chilling accidents and encountering even more inexplicable and eerie events.

"The Egret River"

The story unfolds in ordinary Taiwanese street scenes which we are familiar with. In the corner of the bustling steel city, there's a tranquil green space that serves as the secret base for the protagonist and an egret. However, it is soon to face changes due to urban expansion.

"Giraffe"

Made by Natalya Mirzoyan, an artist from Russia. Based on a poem by Nikolay Gumilev, describes entanglements between a depressed woman and her lover.

"Beautiful Figures"

Using experimental lines, color blocks, geometric shapes, handwritten words, and numbers to present a distinct sense of rhythm. With a large amount of white space to give viewers freedom to interpret.

"LA PASSANTE"

The film showed a strong style with geometric cutting elements in black and white. It describes a woman who tries to save herself in the process of searching and finding, embarks on a fantastic journey.

"Return to Hairy Hill"

Creating a similar effect to paper figures with 3-D animation, and presenting a depressing and disturbing style by extremely low saturation. With no dialogue throughout the film, the director creates scenes and colors to present the atmosphere of a buzzard journey of the main character in the cold winter.

"Trace"

Telling a story about a writer and his lover, from facing the uncertainty and fear they feel at the arrival of a new baby, to the change of attitude when they finally confront their life situation.

"Tomato Kitchen"

The protagonist catches a glimpse of the unseen truth behind the tomato restaurant. Although he wants to uphold justice, he has to face his own secret first…

"Melting"

A man and a woman falling head over heels in love with each other, but are unwilling to speak out their feelings to each other.

"The Rat"

There’s a fierce combat between a drunken man and a giant rat in his overbalanced home. A broken family portrait is all that remains in the chaotic living room were found the next morning…

"Miracasas"

A Dark humor story by Raphaëlle Stolz from Switzerland. Describes an odd tradition of a lost village. After a grand funeral, people wait for the newborn life that comes with death.

"Millions of scarlet roses"

Telling a story about a young officer in an ordinary and cozy town, he plucks up the courage and delivers blossoming scarlet roses to his favorite actress.

"The Family Portrait"

It's a puppet animation with dark humor and a dark style. Describes a large broken family and the changes that are brought to each member of the family after a man's visit.

"Eeva"

The story begins at a funeral in the rain. In the midst of countless tear-stained faces, one woman remains calm, but as her thoughts accumulate. When she finally breaks down, the truth revealed...

"STILL ALIVE"

A desperate child is forced to thrive and stand firm, staying strong when facing fear and confronting a man who is bent on having his own way.

"Swing to the Moon"

Made in 3D animation, telling the story of a small spider who spares no effort to chase the moon in the night sky.

"Malacabra"

With proficient technique, lively and entertaining 3D animation. Follows the villagers of the Mayan civilization, who turn against each other, as a goat arrives and triggers absurd consequences.

"Teacups"

A 2D animation by Australian artists Alec Green and Finbar Watson. Using a unique color scheme to tell a story of reconciliation and redemption.

"The Queen of the Foxes"

To please the depressed Fox Queen, the foxes sneak into town and steal the many love letters from humans that haven't been sent, but the Queen isn't happy about it for long, she needs letters and words just for herself.

"A TINY MAN"

In a gentle, hand-drawn black-and-white charcoal style, it tells a man who accidentally ingesting his wife's mysterious drink and gradually becomes petite, leading to receiving strange stares and ridicule.

"Armat"

Swiss artist Elodie Dermange uses a documentary-like method to tell the story about a girl's quest to trace her family lineage, by interviewing her father, uncles, and great-grandparents in order to gain a deeper understanding of her own identity.

"Whale’s song"

A 2D hand-drawn work by French artist Adeline Faye. The story begins with a giant stranded  whale, which turns out to bring an unexpected impact on the daily lives of the inhabitants....

"Temporarily Removed"

Created by Iranian artists Dotan Goldwaser and Yoav Brill. The plot focuses on a middle-aged female gallery staff working alone, who is forced to leave her responsible area and embark on a journey to find a new place to belong.

"Monsoon Blue"

A girl who feels suffocated by life and work echoes with the repressed bagged goldfish. A wind of childhood memories blows by, and the soul waiting to be released will finally return to the clear river.

"Aaaah!"

The director's amusing and humorous childlike style, brings out a seemingly light-hearted but thought-provoking teenage issue. Cleverly transforming emotions such as surprise, joy, anger, and anxiety into sounds of "Aah!”

"Home of heart"

An Iranian immigrant living in France miraculously survived an accidental attack, only because he didn't have a heart! Therefore, he embarks on a journey to find his heart.

"Carne de Dios"

In pursuit of his target, a pastor decides to swallow poisonous mushrooms and go on an adventure inside the phantom.

"With All My Heart"

A traveler who is about to leave his hometown receives unexpected heavy love from his mother during the farewell. How does one choose the balance between "protection" and "letting go"?