Opening Night Film
Special Guests: Director John Hsu and actor Chen Bo-Lin are scheduled to appear in-person to introduce the film and participate in a post-film Q&A
Dead Talents Society (鬼才之道)
Even ghosts have to become influencers to get ahead in the world.
OPENING NIGHT FILM
Taiwan | Supernatural Comedy | 2024 | 110 minutes
In Mandarin w/English Subtitles
Director: John Hsu
Screenwriters: John Hsu, Vincent Tsai
Starring: Chen Bo-Lin, Sandrine Pinna, Gingle Wang, Eleven Yao, Bai Bai, Soso Tseng
Film Source: Mandarin Vision
An Opening Night reception will precede this screening, starting at 6:00 PM.
Actor Chen Bo-lin will be joining us to receive the festival's Bright Star Award, appearing with director John Hsu. They will also participate in a post-show Q&A.
SYNOPSIS:
In the ghost realm, a ghost’s value is determined by the fear they instill in the living. When ghost talent agent Makoto meets a rookie with weak scaring abilities, he convinces his client — forgotten superstar Catherine — to take her in as a disciple to challenge her former protégé.
John Hsu’s follow-up to horror blockbuster Detention is a raucous mash-up of Monsters Inc. and All About Eve. A hilarious satire of influencer culture and horror tropes, as well as a moving ode to underachievers, it won the Audience Award at Fantastic Fest and the People's Choice Award at Sitges Film Festival.
John Hsu, Director
Always interested in digital culture, video games, comedy and sci-fi genres, Hsu won the “Best Director Award” at Golden Bell Awards 2005, the biggest television award in Taiwan, with his TV movie debut Real Online.
Hsu’s feature debut Detention, an adaptation of an internationally-acclaimed Taiwanese indie game, was released in 2019 and became the best-selling Taiwanese film of the year. It was also among the biggest winner at the Golden Horse Awards, with twelve nominations and five wins, including Best New Director, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Visual Effects.
Chen Bo-Lin, Actor
Viewed as one of the most gifted young actors in Asia Pacific, Chen was recognized for his acting debut Blue Gate Crossing. His career climbed toanother height with TV drama In Time with You, which won him Best Leading Actor of the Golden Bell Awards. Recent film works include The Dreaming Man, Trick or Treat, Day Off and Breaking and Re-Entering.
Thursday, March 20, 2025
Opening Night Red Carpet Reception
6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Film Screening & Q&A Session
7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Doors open 30 minutes before screening.
Location:
AMC NEWCITY14
1500 N. Clybourn Ave.
Chicago, IL 60610
OFFICIAL TRAILER
