E-NEWS LETTER

The Youth Film Festival, a major competition for film and animation students in Taiwan, recently announced this year’s list of nominees. Chih-Hsiung Su, a student in the Master Program of Cultural Creative Communication and Design under the College of Communication and Design, stood out from 267 entries from 36 schools with his film A Misfit Tiger, which became one of the 32 nominated films. Su, hailing from Malaysia, used the story of the native Malayan tiger to metaphorically explore the father-son relationship, impressing the judges with his outstanding work. A Misfit Tiger received recognition at the Youth Film Festival and premiered alongside Shell of Men, a short film directed by Chun-Han Wu, a student from the Department of Film and Television, at the PTS Innovative Story.

Su came from Malaysia to study in the Department of Film and Television at I-Shou University, progressing all the way to the master’s program. During the toughest times of the pandemic, while conceptualizing the script for A Misfit Tiger, Su faced profound personal challenges. The passing of his grandmother and his inability to return home for her funeral led to frequent phone calls with his father. These father-son exchanges, along with Su’s deep homesickness, inspired the creation of A Misfit Tiger. Using a narrative style that blends suspense and fantasy, Su conveyed the pain of longing for home as an alien in a strange land, channeling his emotions into the script. Through this film, he addressed his struggles and sought inner reconciliation through cinematic creation.

Su expressed his happiness at being recognized by the Youth Film Festival, noting that this is the first festival A Misfit Tiger has entered since its premiere, and being nominated is the best encouragement. Su dedicated his film to all Malaysian students studying in Taiwan, acknowledging the various challenges they face abroad. He hoped this short film would bring positive energy to Malaysian students abroad. A Misfit Tiger received recognition from the Youth Film Festival and aired on PTS Innovative Story. Another short film, Shell of Men, also aired on PTS Innovative Story. Directed by Malaysian student Chun-Han Wu, it centers on a father and son trapped in a shipwreck, using their relationship as the main theme. Wu skillfully incorporated his experience of working part-time harvesting oysters during his sophomore year, portraying the deep bond between father and son.

Since its establishment in 2011, the Department of Film and Television at ISU has frequently distinguished itself in various competitions, including the Golden Harvest Awards, PTS Innovative Story, Kaohsiung Shorts, and the Taipei Film Awards. Given Taiwan’s robust film and television environment and its high-quality creative output in Asia, ISU has become a top choice for many Malaysian students seeking higher education. Emphasizing practical training, the department offers students diverse opportunities for industry-university collaboration and hands-on experience. The educational philosophy of “learning by doing and doing by learning” enriches students’ professional skills and prepares them to face workplace challenges early on, making them immediately ready for professional careers.

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