TFFS 2026: Taiwan Shorts

As part of Taiwan Film Festival in Scotland 2026: From the Mountain, From the Sea, we are delighted to present a special programme of award-winning Taiwanese short films, showcasing some of the most exciting voices in contemporary cinema.

Moving between mountain settlements, island crossings, geological landscapes, and surreal urban worlds, these four films explore memory, folklore, love, loss, and imagination through a diverse range of documentary, fiction, and animation practices.

Where the Sea Breeze Blows (European Premiere) follows a ferry route between Kaohsiung and Penghu, reflecting on grief, remembrance, and life after suicide loss.

The Tales of the Tale (European Premiere) journeys into the former mining town of Houtong, where folklore, local legends, and labour histories continue to echo through the landscape.

Somewhere in Time, River and Stone (European Premiere) is a lyrical story of queer love and reincarnation, unfolding among caves, rivers, and mountains where memory transcends time itself.

Completing the programme, Praying Mantis (Scottish Premiere), the acclaimed animated short by Joe Hsieh, blends horror, fantasy, and dark allegory in a visually striking tale of survival and transformation.

Together, these films reveal the extraordinary creativity of contemporary Taiwanese filmmakers while offering distinctive perspectives on landscape, identity, memory, and belonging.

Programme Duration: 112 minutes

Age Guidance: 15

Content Advisory: This programme contains themes of suicide and bereavement, strong horror themes, violence, and disturbing imagery.

*This screening features an online Q&A with director Chen Shao-Chun (Where the Sea Breeze Blows), SONG Cheng-ying & HU Chin-ya (The Tales of the Tale).

*This event is funded by the Ferguson Bequest. Professor Thomas Ferguson (1900–1977), Henry Mechan Chair of Public Health (1944–64), bequeathed his estate to the University with the instruction that it should be used to “foster the social side of University life”.