The "Youth Returning Home &ndash 2025 Regional Revitalization Microfilm Competition," co-organized by New Taipei City, Keelung City, Taipei City, Taoyuan City, Hsinchu County, and Taichung City, is now officially open for submissions until June 30.
This year, the competition continues the "review-before-filming" format. Projects that pass the initial review will receive a NT$5,000 grant and have access to editing and filming workshops as well as creative consultation resources.
Finalized works will be publicly screened at the awards ceremony and during a nationwide film tour, allowing more people to witness local stories.
New Taipei City Deputy Secretary-General Kung Ya-wen stated that the New Taipei City Government has long promoted youth participation in local public affairs, deepening the connection with the land through visual storytelling.
She highlighted that areas such as Sanxia, Jinshan, Pinglin, and Sanzhi in New Taipei have already seen tangible results from young people returning home to engage in regional revitalization. She hopes that through this competition, even more touching stories can be documented and shared.
Li Yong-ping, Chairperson of the Taiwan Art Creation and Culture Foundation, pointed out that the third edition of the competition collected 37 selected films covering northern, central, southern, eastern Taiwan, and offshore islands, showcasing the abundant creativity and energy of Taiwan&rsquos regional revitalization movement.
She expressed hope that the fourth edition would continue to inspire young creators to exert even greater social influence.
Since its launch in 2022, the competition has accumulated 84 works, authentically documenting stories of young people returning to their hometowns, starting local businesses, and preserving cultural heritage.
Last year, New Taipei City's award-winning work "Walking in the Mountains &ndash TAMPYA" captured the story of Wulai youth Tian Yuan carrying forward Atayal culture, garnering attention from the Council of Indigenous Peoples and academic circles
Taoyuan City's winning piece "Returning to Xinwu" showcased the achievements of local revitalization in boosting rural economies
Hsinchu County&rsquos "Fields in Continuity" depicted young farmer Hsu Yu-shan linking farmers across five locations to establish a cooperative, highlighting the strength of Hakka regional revitalization
Taichung City's first prize-winning work "To You Who Came Home" told the story of a film editor returning home to manage a tea farm, while the distinguished work "Candid" reflected on the future development of Taiwan's betel nut industry.
Kinga Tazing (Teacher Tian Yuan), founder of the Datong Mountain Atayal Art Museum, who was filmed by university students last year, shared that the video allowed many people to discover the Atayal culture of Wulai. (Image: Sourced from New Taipei City Government website)
The organizers noted that to encourage even more youth participation, a special "Campus Rookie Award" has been introduced this year, calling on image creators from across Taiwan to use their lenses to capture moving chapters of regional revitalization.
For more information, please visit the official event website.
Regional revitalization is moving beyond policy into everyday life&mdasheveryone who cares about this land is invited to document the warmth and hope of this island.
Zhang Xinyu, the subject of last year's first prize-winning video &mdash from Huiyi Zhi Xin Teahouse in Taichung and Xieli Tea Farm in Lugu, Nantou &mdash shared that she returned to her hometown to take on the challenge because she did not want to be forgotten, and documented the journey through film. (Image: Sourced from New Taipei City Government website)
