Five-day creative challenge invites filmmakers to capture the natural wonders and cultural richness of Hualien and Taitung TAIWAN — The East Longitudinal Valley National Scenic Area Headquarters, Tourism Administration, Ministry of Transportation and Communications, has launched the official website and opened worldwide online applications for the “East of Taiwan 23.5°N International Tourism Film Limited-Time Challenge.” Taking the Tropic of Cancer at 23.5°N, which crosses Hualien and Taitung counties, as its geographic and creative point of departure, the competition invites young creators, vloggers, and film and television professionals from around the world to take part in five days of on-location production. Teams will explore both counties, capturing the distinctive appeal of the East Longitudinal Valley and Taiwan’s eastern coast to introduce the region’s landscapes and cultural heritage to international audiences. ## Two-stage selection seeks stories with international reach Applications are open until December 31, 2026. Creators aged 20 and above may form teams to enter, regardless of nationality. In the first stage, a panel of Taiwan-based professionals will review written applications and is expected to shortlist six teams. The second stage, involving on-location filming and editing, is scheduled for March 7–12, 2027. A jury of international and Taiwanese experts will assess creative storytelling, tourism marketing impact, and visual execution to select works with strong potential to engage audiences worldwide. ## Hosted stays and dedicated local support for finalists To help finalists experience Hualien and Taitung in depth, the Headquarters will provide comprehensive local support. The six teams advancing to the final will receive fully covered accommodation and meals during their on-location production stay in Taiwan, along with dedicated staff, vehicles for transfers throughout the programme, and filming guidance arranged by the organizer. Working in a safe and well-supported setting, teams will travel between the mountains and the sea across both counties. Filming themes include the blue waters of the eastern coast, striking geological formations, natural ecosystems, red oolong tea-growing communities, hot spring experiences, and Indigenous cultures, offering opportunities to tell stories rooted in the region’s landscapes and people. The competition offers a total prize pool of NT$100,000: NT$50,000 for the Gold Award, NT$30,000 for the Silver Award, and NT$20,000 for the Jury Special Award. Official trophies will also be presented. Winning works will be used in international tourism promotion for Hualien and Taitung, with opportunities to represent the region at overseas tourism film festivals and across a range of promotional platforms, extending the international reach of the East of Taiwan tourism brand. ## One website for applications, competition rules, and filming guidance The newly launched official website brings together online registration, downloadable competition rules, and a thematic filming guide. Before travelling to the region for production, shortlisted teams must discuss their scripts with the organizer to ensure that their films bring together the natural ecosystems, local revitalization initiatives, and mountain and coastal cultures of Hualien and Taitung in ways that support tourism promotion and faithfully convey the local landscape. “East of Taiwan 23.5°N is more than a filmmaking competition; it is an invitation to travelers around the world to discover the region in greater depth,” said Hsu Tsung-Min, Director of the Headquarters. “Through the lenses and diverse storytelling approaches of creators worldwide, we hope to convey an authentic picture of ‘Hualien and Taitung through my eyes.’ We want to introduce international audiences to the counties’ rich geology and ecology, tea-growing communities and hot springs, Indigenous cultures, blue Pacific waters, and magnificent eastern coastline, so the world can discover eastern Taiwan’s sustainable appeal and natural wonders.”