The first documentary film theater in Taiwan is now open.
The first documentary-film-themed theater, Fuzhong 15, has opened on Dec. 3rd. New Taipei City Mayor Erik Chu hosted the opening ceremony on Dec. 2nd and guests including famous directors Hsiaohsien Hou and Lichou Yang attended the event to witness the historical moment.
Mayor Chu said the documentary film is an important part of movie development because it records and depicts many true stories. It is beneficial to both filmmakers and citizens if they have a long-term site showing various documentary films. Therefore, New Taipei City Government planned out the Fuzhong 15 theater, letting the documentary film have its own show ground. Through cooperation with directors and young creators, Mayor Chu was hoping that Fuzhong 15 becomes an important demonstrating place for documentary films.
Director Hsiaohsien Hou said education for humanity must be initiated since childhood. He took himself as an example, saying he has been reading novels and watching movies since childhood and gradually developing his feeling and taste for images. He pointed out that it helps to cultivate future talents in filmmaking by connecting Fuzhong 15 to elementary schools in the neighborhood. He also stressed that if New Taipei City manages the theater well, other counties and cities may follow suit in the future.
Fuzhong 15 is located at No.15-B1, Fuzhong Rd., Banqiao Dist., New Taipei City, near Exit 2 of the Taipei Metro Fuzhong Station and Fuzhong Bazaar. It will show famous foreign and domestic documentary films every Saturday and Sunday. The opening film is the Best Documentary Film winner of the 2011 Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival, Hometown Boy.