S’pore film-maker Anthony Chen’s Distance to open Golden Horse Film Festival

SINGAPORE — Anthony Chen’s Distance has been chosen to open the Golden Horse Film Festival in Taipei on Nov 5.

This will be the world premiere of the film, for which Chen serves as executive producer. Distance brings together three young award-winning directors: China’s Xin Yukun, Singapore’s Tan Shijie and Thailand’s Sivaroj Kongsakul.

Starring Taiwanese actor Chen Bolin as three different characters, the film, shot in Singapore, Taiwan, mainland China and Thailand, tells three stories: One about a conflicted manager on a business trip who takes an interest in an elderly worker, one about a young father who receives a letter that brings him to a foreign land and one about a visiting professor’s relationship with a student.

Distance also features Hong Kong veteran Paul Chun, Chinese actress Jiang Wenli and Taiwanese heartthrob Yo Yang. It is produced by Singapore production company Giraffe Pictures, which Chen co-founded with producer Huang Wenhong.

“It is a great honour for Distance to be chosen to open the festival,” said Chen, who previously won four Golden Horse awards for his feature film Ilo Ilo. “I am excited to be able to return to Golden Horse to present the film. This serves as a wonderful encouragement and affirmation for our three young, talented directors. The film is very unique in that it combines creative voices from different parts of Asia, sparking and bringing forth new ideas.”