Taiwan's Creative Content Fest Opens With AI at the Centre of the Conversation

Taiwan's Creative Content Fest opened in Taipei on 6 November, and artificial intelligence was at the heart of the opening remarks. The seventh edition runs until 9 November at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, Hall 2, according to Variety.

Sue Wang, chair of the Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA), the body that organises the fest, told the audience that AI is reshaping how the creative industries and human society are defined. She said the technology could take on technical tasks but could not replace the parts of creative work that move people. She also said she hopes more people come to believe that culture is power.

Taiwanese actor Allison Lin hosted the opening ceremony, and Culture Minister Li Yuan attended.

The numbers are large for an event of this kind. The fest's market has 107 exhibitors from seven countries, and it includes 92 project and story pitches across film, series, animation, documentaries, publishing and comics. Industry participants from 28 countries are attending. Screen Daily has described this edition as the biggest yet. The market has also added spotlight screenings aimed at buyers.

For anyone who wants to see how a film gets made, the four-day Forum may be the most useful part. It holds 12 sessions with more than 20 speakers. Topics include AI, intellectual property (IP, meaning the stories and characters that can be turned into films, series or games) and international co-production, where companies in two or more countries share the costs and the credit on a project.

Why does a market like this matter to people far from Taipei? Pitches made in rooms like these often turn into the films and shows that reach cinemas and streaming services years later. A story that a producer presents at a fest this week may not be seen by audiences until well after the event is over.

The fest is held on the seventh floor of Hall 2, and it runs for the whole of the week ahead.