Taiwan’s Children’s Film Creativity Shines Again on the International Stage! Since 2018, the Fubon Cultural & Educational Foundation has been running momo mini Incubator to nurture outstanding creators and support the production of locally rooted children’s content in Taiwan. Recently, the incubated short film Ni Chui Do, Wo Chui Si (Tutti) was officially selected for the Generation Kplus Competition at the Berlinale), one of the world’s three major film festivals, and will have its world premiere in Berlin. This marks the first time in seven years that a Taiwanese children’s short film has been selected for this section. Prior to departing for the Berlinale premiere, the film team returned on the 22nd to the original shooting location—Xinhe Elementary School in Wanhua, Taipei—to hold a special screening, sharing this international honor with teachers and students across the school.

The Berlinale Generation selection team gave the film high praise, stating:
“Ni Chui Do, Wo Chui Si(Tutti) unfolds the world of Rong-Chen and Shao-Yu with remarkable sensitivity, staying close to the way children perceive their surroundings. The film gently portrays moments filled with difficulty and challenge, while emphasizing children’s agency. It creates a space for young audiences to learn how to face dilemmas, discover solidarity and community, and experience joy and freedom. With an elegant and restrained cinematic language, always maintaining an eye-level perspective with its characters, this work greatly moved us, and we're sure it will also touch our audience.”

At today’s (22nd) campus screening, the entire school watched the film together in a lively and enthusiastic atmosphere. The Tianmu Elementary School Recorder Ensemble, which also appears in the film, was invited to perform the film’s music on site, rallying support for the team and wishing them success at the festival. Seeing herself on screen for the first time, lead actress Liu Rong-Chen shared her excitement upon hearing the Berlinale news: “Filming was really fun, but I never imagined I could go to Berlin! Thank you to the recorder—it gave me this opportunity.” Lead actor Wu Shao-Yu added, “Thank you to the director and everyone. I hope more people will find practicing the recorder fun.” He then shyly joked, “Now the whole world is going to see my funny faces.”

Director Zhuang Rong-Zuo also shared behind-the-scenes stories from the casting process at the screening. He recalled, “When we first visited the Tianmu Elementary School recorder ensemble, Liu Rong-Chen was always polite and enthusiastic, constantly welcoming us to come back. Her openness and sincerity deeply touched me.” As for Wu Shao-Yu, his tall stature combined with a slightly shy demeanor perfectly matched the image of the ‘tall boy’ responsible for the bass recorder in the film. The director believes that it is precisely these natural and pure qualities of children that give the short film its strong vitality. Before the event ended, teachers and students jokingly told Liu Rong-Chen, “Don’t forget us when you become famous!” Everyone expressed high hopes for the film’s success at the Berlinale.

Directed by Zhuang Rong-Zuo, Ni Chui Do, Wo Chui Si(Tutti) tells the story of Rong-Chen, a girl who struggles with playing the recorder but wants to stay in the ensemble, and Shao-Yu, a boy who is losing motivation and considering quitting. Through musical and emotional exchanges, the two help Rong-Chen find the key to playing, while Shao-Yu discovers a friendship far more valuable than technical skill. The story is inspired by the director’s own childhood memories. Zhuang shared, “I was that student who was bad at playing the recorder and often scolded by teachers. But the moments of making music with friends in the recorder ensemble are among my most cherished memories.” Through this film, he hopes to pass on this precious growth experience and the power of ‘enjoying the process’ to today’s creators and children.

Since launching the momo mini Incubator in 2018, the Fubon Cultural & Educational Foundation has brought together Taiwanese creators to develop children’s content, integrating international perspectives on children’s storytelling and nurturing a new generation of Taiwanese children’s content producers. The program aims to move away from portraying children as passive figures in audiovisual works, and instead create more high-quality children’s content from a child-centered perspective. The momo mini Incubator ’s works have achieved remarkable results in recent years: in 2024, the incubated short film The Boy in the Secret Forest was selected for the  International Short Film Festival Oberhausen; Together by the Sea! won the Jury Award at the PSAROLOCO International Film Festival in Greece; the documentary programs Having Fun In the Mountains and By the Sea won first and second prizes respectively in the 7–10 age category at the PRIX JEUNESSE INTERNATIONAL 2024; Whispers- The Match received the Children’s Jury Favorite Award at the Kaohsiung Film Festival as well as the Taiwan Award at the Taiwan International Children’s Film Festival(TICFF).

Director General Ice Leng of  the Fubon Cultural & Educational Foundation also shared her reflections on promoting momo mini Incubator: “To be able to emerge on the international stage in just a few years is not, in my view, a matter of coincidence or luck. What I see is the boundless potential of young creators, the selfless dedication and professionalism of the incubation team—from internal staff to external mentors—and the strong support of international children’s content experts. I believe that in the future, while continuing to discover local values and create original content, Taiwan’s children’s content will also be able to step confidently onto the global stage.”