It is one of the four major Chinese-language film awards, also among the most prestigious and respected film awards in the Chinese-speaking film industry. It is also one of the major annual awards presented in Taiwan along with Golden Bell Awards for television production and Golden Melody Awards for music.
The festival screens both locally produced and international films, in all genres and lengths. The festival also has an international competition section where it hands out awards for outstanding short films.
STFF, the oldest indie film festival in Taiwan, has been carrying its legacy for over 20 years since 2001. It screens panorama programs featuring films from around the world and hosts the South Award-Chinese film competition every two years. The STFF team views the festival as more than just entertainment or a cinephile activity; it's a media platform for public discussion and a reflection of modern societies. Their goal is to provide the audience with a diverse range of perspectives and showcase radical, avant-garde, and innovative aesthetics and spirits in films.
Taipei Film Festival is the only festival in Taiwan that offers a New Talent Competition for aspiring directors from around the world and a Taipei Awards competition for Taiwanese filmmakers.
Each year the festival organizes around a central theme, curating a selection of films and organizing discussions that explore a specific aspect of human life. TIEFF also includes a “New Visions” category that showcases notable ethnographic films made within the past two years.
