Community Events

Inaugural Ceremony for Professor Nancy Guy, Chiu-Shan and Rufina Chen Chancellor’s Endowed Chair in Taiwan Studies

The UC San Diego community gathered to celebrate Professor Nancy Guy’s inauguration as the Chiu-Shan and Rufina Chen Chancellor’s Endowed Chair in Taiwan Studies, recognizing her outstanding contributions to music scholarship and Taiwan Studies.

The ceremony, hosted by Jason Chien, Program Analyst and Manager of the Center for Taiwan Studies, opened with Dean Cristina Della Coletta (Dean of the School of Arts and Humanities; Chancellor’s Associates Chair in Italian Literature) welcoming guests and highlighting the importance of endowed chairs in advancing global scholarship.

Pei-Chia Chen, Faculty and Academic Coordinator of the Chinese Language Program, delivered remarks on behalf of Chiu-Shan and Rufina Chen, whose generous endowment made the chair possible. Professor Ping-Hui Liao, Endowed Chair of the Chuan Lyu Foundation and Founding Director of the Center for Taiwan Studies, reflected on the Center’s growth and the enduring value of Taiwan Studies at UC San Diego.

Professor Nancy Guy, Co-director of the Center for Taiwan Studies and Professor in the Department of Music delivered her inaugural address "'I use this song to protest': Music and world shaping in Taiwan." Continuing Guy's long-standing interest in the ecocritical study of music, her talk introduced environmentalist tropes in Taiwanese music, concentrating on works that address the environmental degradation caused by the island's petrochemical industry.

"The ceremony was also graced by the presence of several distinguished Taiwanese American leaders and community representatives. Among them were FAPA National President Dr. Su-Mei Kao, Executive Director Anny Hsiao, California–San Diego Chapter President Alex Hung, and At-Large Board Member Vivian Fu, alongside Isaac Finestone, Program Officer of the San Diego Diplomacy Council. Representing the local Taiwanese community, Dr. Ping Wang and Martha Chen-Falch attended on behalf of the Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce of San Diego, reflecting the strong partnership between UC San Diego and the broader Taiwanese diaspora in advancing cultural and academic exchange. 

November  9th-11th, 14th-15th: 14th Year of Taiwan Film Showcase

For the 14th year in a row, the San Diego Asian Film Festival will be hosting the Taiwan Film Showcase, North America’s biggest showcase of Taiwan’s most critically acclaimed films and cinema. Sponsored by the UCSD Center for Taiwan Studies, the UCSD Chuan Lyu Endowed Chair in Taiwan Studies, and the Taiwan Academy, the showcase will feature films of culture, drama, and entertainment that continue to explore the boundaries of Taiwanese film.

Schedule:

Sunday, November 9th, Price Center Theater

ACCIDENTAL TRIO - Directed by Pai Ching-jui @ 12:30 PM

What seems to be a surface-level commentary and comedy on the concept of “Healthy Realism” promoted by Taiwanese filmmakers in the 1960s and 1970s for a non-communist Taiwan, this film sets its full nuances within juxtaposing elements of the story, music, and storytelling. Join three protagonists, each with their own story to tell, as they venture into the mental contemplation of the will to escape, and what that entails when one digs too deep into the world of temptations and consequences.

DECATHLON: THE CK YANG & RAFER JOHNSON STORY - Directed by Frank Chen @ 2:40 PM

The unification of peoples from different backgrounds has always been that of a heartwarming one, where cultures mingle and differences were set aside to achieve greatness and feats that humanity oneself could never achieve. CK Yang and Rafer Johnson’s story is no different. Following a historical retelling of their meetup, their friendly rivalry, and the conquest for the Olympic medal when all things seemed to go against them, this film retells these perspectives that showcases the brilliance and beautiful relationship between the two athletes from two different worlds.

BLIND LOVE - Directed by Julian Chou @ 4:20 PM

In this heart-wrenching film, we follow the journey of a mother and wife who, despite having everything as what society tells her to have, has all of these blessings come into question with the reencounter of a past  liaison that made her rethink  her life from the ground up. A commentary on the current status of patriarchy and the scope for the story  told through a non-biased lens, this movie simultaneously fulfills the melodrama film theme whilst applying an innovative way in viewing someone’s contemplations and their relation to society and their expectations.

Monday, November 10th, AMC UTC 14

FAMILY MATTERS - Directed by Pan Ke-Yin @ 5:45 PM

Utilizing and weaving symbolism of the ordinary daily life of a Taiwanese family and the drama-heavy and thematic selection of the seasons embedded into the film, the movie details the world-shattering situations of the family, highlighting the weakness and vulnerable challenges that each family member faces. Named after each season, every member is artistically crafted to match both the positive and negative inflections of each season, where the audience gets to see the nuanced completions of human thought, life, and behaviors.

HAUNTED MOUNTAINS: THE YELLOW TABOO - Directed by Tsai Chia-ying @ 7:55 PM

A contemporary spin on the Taiwanese urban legend, The Yellow Taboo, it retells of the grief of a couple that lost a friend to the woods. Jia-Ming, the boyfriend of the couple, planned to propose to his girlfriend before she succumbs to death. However, Jia-Ming gets stuck in a time loop, connecting himself to his girlfriend’s inevitable death, the disappearance of his friend, and The Yellow Taboo. This movie combines the traditions of the urban legend with dynamic horror and romance to create a one-of-a-kind film.

Tuesday, November 11th, AMC UTC 14

THE WAVES WILL CARRY US - Directed by Lau Kek-Huat

In this identity-defining film, this movie tells the story of Yao, the main character that returned to his homeland of Malaysia from Taiwan to his captured father, arrested by religion police for his father’s relation to Islam. The film continues to detail and unravel the past of Yao’s family, learning and following the secrets buried under his family as he embraces and drives a new path for his lineage to follow. Yao’s journey discovers concepts of self-identity, and the will to change one’s destiny.

BACK HOME - Directed by Tsai Ming-liang @ 8:10 PM

Taking place in the a village in Laos, the director revolutionizes the way that film itself is conceived and how the art form itself is processed to the audience. Having very little subtitling, camera angles that focus much on the raw aspects of nature and the village, and processing sounds and media that not only include dialogue from the people of the village, but focusing its’ attention on surrounding sounds created by nature, this film changes the landscape of what film is defined as, and how even the simplest and raw forms of media can create artistic masterpieces.

Friday, November 14th, UltraStar Cinemas Mission Valley

DECATHLON: THE CK YANG & RAFER JOHNSON STORY - Directed by Frank Chen

The unification of peoples from different backgrounds has always been that of a heartwarming one, where cultures mingle and differences were set aside to achieve greatness and feats that humanity oneself could never achieve. CK Yang and Rafer Johnson’s story is no different. Following a historical retelling of their meetup, their friendly rivalry, and the conquest for the Olympic medal when all things seemed to go against them, this film retells these perspectives that showcases the brilliance and beautiful relationship between the two athletes from two different worlds.

HAUNTED MOUNTAINS: THE YELLOW TABOO - Directed by Tsai Chia-ying @ 7:55 PM

A contemporary spin on the Taiwanese urban legend, The Yellow Taboo, it retells of the grief of a couple that lost a friend to the woods. Jia-Ming, the boyfriend of the couple, planned to propose to his girlfriend before she succumbs to death. However, Jia-Ming gets stuck in a time loop, connecting himself to his girlfriend’s inevitable death, the disappearance of his friend, and The Yellow Taboo. This movie combines the traditions of the urban legend with dynamic horror and romance to create a one-of-a-kind film.

Saturday, November 15th, UltraStar Cinemas Mission Valley

LEFT-HANDED GIRL - Directed by Shih-Ching Tsou @ 7:00 PM

An inspiring and telling of the women of Taiwan, the film tells the story of a single mother in her endeavors in taking care of her children while simultaneously finding freedom and safety with the passing of her ex-husband. Showcasing a humorous but real inflection of the life of Taiwanese families, this film explores themes of not only what the day-to-day life of Taiwanese women are in contemporary times, but the strength of what Taiwanese women have in the onslaught of societal expectations and economical struggles.

Directions

UC San Diego Price Center, Price Theater - 3135 Matthews Ln, La Jolla, CA 92093, Map

AMC UTC 14 - 4425 La Jolla Village Dr Suite # H-60, San Diego, CA 92122

UltraStar Cinemas, Mission Valley - 7510 Hazard Center Dr #100, San Diego, CA 92108

All screening entrees (excluding UltraStar Cinemas) is FREE for UC San Diego students, faculty, and staff with a valid UC San Diego ID!

The festival is back! The Center for Taiwan Studies is proud to present the second ever rendition of the event hosted by Taiwanese American Professionals! Come join us as we revitalize the fun spirit of Taiwan through demonstrations of dance, music, food, and so much more! Last year, with efforts in conjunction with San Diego's sister city, Taichung, the event broke 800+ attendees! Continue to be on the lookout as more news and updates on the event as the festival continues to grow bigger and bigger!

When: August 16, 2025

Where: Naval Training Park, San Diego

Celebrating the heritage and identity of Taiwanese people surely can't leave out one of the most important sport in both Taiwanese and American history right? The San Diego Padres has dedicated their game against the Red Sox towards the celebration of Taiwanese heritage! This theme package includes an exclusive Padres baseball cap with the theme of Taiwan, featuring a stylish design of Taipei 101. 

When: August 10, 2025

Where: Petco Park, San Diego

 
National Boba Day

Taiwan Regional Club: Triton 5k Hike