The world premiere of Demon Hunters, the first-ever feature film co-produced by Taiwan and India, marked the opening of the 2025 Taiwan Film Festival in New Delhi on December 12.
The two-day festival, organised by Taiwan’s Ministry of Culture, seeks to strengthen cultural and cinematic ties between the two countries. The programme includes film screenings, interactions with filmmakers and post-screening discussions aimed at encouraging greater collaboration between the film industries of India and Taiwan.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mumin Chen, Representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre in India, highlighted the significance of cross-border creative partnerships. He said such collaborations help audiences better understand each other’s cultures, especially given the vastly different scales at which the two film industries operate.
This year, the festival is showcasing three Taiwanese films that reflect the island’s changing cinematic landscape. Organisers said the selection is intended to introduce Indian audiences to contemporary Taiwanese cinema while also opening doors for future joint productions.
Demon Hunters stands out as a key highlight of the festival. Shot in both India and Taiwan, the film follows a Taiwanese paranormal YouTuber and an Indian tech engineer who are forced to join hands to tackle a supernatural threat. The film blends storytelling styles from both countries and even features Bollywood-style dance sequences.
Actor Arjan Bajwa, who stars in the film alongside Taiwanese actors JC Lin and veteran Jack Kao, said being part of the project was a proud moment for him. He noted that the film moves beyond typical romantic storylines and represents a meaningful step in bilateral film collaboration.
Apart from fiction, the festival also includes the documentary A Chip Odyssey, which looks at Taiwan’s technological rise and its role in the global supply chain. Another film, Hunter Brothers, is an indigenous-themed drama that explores the clash between tradition and modern life in Taiwan’s native communities.
The 2025 Taiwan Film Festival concludes on December 13 with further screenings and interactive sessions featuring filmmakers and guests from both India and Taiwan.