September 20, 2014
No. 68
As part of the government’s efforts to promote cultural exchanges between Taiwan and Latin American and Caribbean countries, the 2014 Latin American and Caribbean Festival is being held on the weekend of September 20-21 at Huashan 1914 Creative Park in Taipei.
The festival had a spectacular kickoff this morning (September 20) with a performance by the dance troupe La Salsa Taipei Dance School. Minister of Foreign Affairs David Lin delivered a welcome speech and was joined by ambassadors and representatives from Latin American and Caribbean countries, thereby further reflecting the theme of the festival—A Touch of Latin and Caribbean Flair in Taiwan.
A special feature event is the Latin American and Caribbean film series, which is being held at the park’s Spot Huashan Cinema September 20-21. All of the 12 original films have either won or been nominated for awards at international film festivals, including El Viento y el Agua from Panama and The Black Creoles: Memories and Identities from Nicaragua, both of which focus on indigenous peoples; the lighthearted De Pez en Cuando from the Dominican Republic; Fantasmas del Huracán from Honduras, depicting a youth’s troubled life; the deeply reflective 6 Femmes d’Exception from Haiti; 21 Days from Saint Lucia, about a drifting ship in the Caribbean Sea; Libertad from Paraguay, about hotheaded youths; and others from Antigua and Barbudas, Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru.
In addition to promoting the film series, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has invited national-level professional performance groups from these countries, including the Pantempters Steel Orchestra from Belize, the Elizabeth Vinader dance troupe from Paraguay, the Mariachi MéxicoSon band from Mexico, the Carlos y Alison Tango group from Argentina, and the PERUEXPRESIÓN dance group from Peru. Some renowned local bands will also add color to this cultural extravaganza.
The festival will also feature booths set up by the embassies and representative offices of Latin American and Caribbean countries in Taiwan to showcase their trade, cultural, and tourism products. To help local visitors deepen their understanding of the history and cultures of Latin America and Caribbean, a variety of articles and demonstrations related to the daily life of the countries represented at the festival will also be available, including piñatas, Caribbean hair-braiding techniques, facial painting, and different flavors of coffee, giving visitors hands-on experience of the essence of Latin American and Caribbean culture and arts.
The 2014 Latin American and Caribbean Festival is an exchange platform introducing the diverse cultures of the region, including their arts, music, dances, and films, to people in Taiwan, thus enhancing an understanding of Latin America and the Caribbean. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs warmly welcomes everyone in Taiwan to visit the festival.