Editorial | Film award snub is an opportunity lost
- The mainland movie industry not taking part in Taiwan’s Golden Horse Awards denies the opportunity to win the hearts of film fans across the strait
With Tsai gearing up for re-election in January, stepping up criticism against the mainland and using Hong Kong’s turmoil for scoring political points, Beijing may think it needs to toughen the stance accordingly. But the boycott and travel ban come with a price. The travel ban is estimated to cut visitor numbers by as many as 700,000 over the next six months, amounting to NT$28 billion (HK$7 billion) in lost revenue.
While the damage inflicted on the island’s economy cannot be ignored, the mainland travel industry is expected to suffer as well. In the case of the film award, the damage appears to be even more one way. Not only does it hurt the professional pride and honour of mainland moviemakers and performers, the platform to win the hearts and minds of the Taiwan public is also lost.
Politics and arts are sometimes inseparable. But the latter certainly thrives without the former. Given the language of film can transcend politics and unite the people, the mainland film industry has much to gain by reaching out to a wider audience. Disengagement can never be conducive to fostering mutual understanding and trust, without which cross-strait relations cannot be improved.