70-year-old master painter wins Taipei Film Award for 60 years of movie posters

Veteran painter Li Hsi-chien, a national treasure at 70, accepted the Taipei Film Award for Outstanding Technical Achievement for his work on the film "Kung Fu." Li, who has dedicated 60 years of his life to painting movie posters, made his way to the stage in a simple outfit and delivered his acceptance speech in Taiwanese, moving many in the audience.

During his acceptance, Li briefly thanked "Kung Fu" director Giddens Ko, the production team, and the art directors. He reminisced about his long career, stating, "Making movies is a fun thing, very interesting, that's why I could do it for so long."

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Making movies is a fun thing, very interesting, that's why I could do it for so long.

Despite the industry's ups and downs, Li expressed hope for Taiwan's cinematic future. "Although this line of work is feast or famine, Taiwan's film industry has great hope," he said. "Young people are working very hard, so our Taiwanese film has great hope. The main shortage is funding, no money!" His candid remark about the industry's financial struggles drew laughter from the crowd.

Li's win highlights the enduring craft of traditional movie poster art, a skill that has been a significant part of Taiwan's film history. His recognition underscores the importance of technical artistry in filmmaking and celebrates a career dedicated to the visual storytelling of cinema.

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Although this line of work is feast or famine, Taiwan's film industry has great hope. Young people are working very hard, so our Taiwanese film has great hope. The main shortage is funding, no money!