Island in Between

From The dGenerate Films Collection

Directed by S. Leo Chiang

20 minutes / Color
English; Mandarin / English subtitles
Closed Captioned
Release: 2024
Copyright: 2023

The rural Taiwanese outer islands of Kinmen sit merely 2 miles off the coast of China. Kinmen attracts tourists for its remains from the 1949 Chinese Civil War. It also marks the frontline for Taiwan in its escalating tension with China. Filmmaker S. Leo Chiang weaves lyrical vignettes of tourist visits and local life with his own narrative as someone negotiating ambivalent personal bonds to Taiwan, China, and the US, ISLAND IN BETWEEN explores the uneasy peace in these islands, and contemplates Taiwan's uncertain future.

“At once personal, poetic, and educational—a mix one wishes more of this year's short-form Oscar contenders managed so well.” —48 Hills

Ways to Watch

Colleges, Universities, Government Agencies, Hospitals, and Corporations
This title is available for streaming only.

Available for educational streaming from:

Select Accolades

  • Best Documentary Short nomination, Academy Awards 2023
  • World Premiere, Hawaii International Film Festival
  • West Coast Premiere, SFFilm Doc Stories
  • DisOrient Asian American Film Festival of Oregon

RELATED TITLES

This creative documentary shows real-life characters recreating protest movements from Hong Kong's modern history.

Chan Tze Woon | 2022 | 98 minutes | Color | Yue Chinese (Cantonese); Mandarin; English | English subtitles

Examines the impact of rapid industrialization on traditional housing styles and ways of living in Taiwan.

Wynette Yao | 1987 | 23 minutes | Color