TAPETUM LUCIDUM 2025 – The 9th Taiwan International Cat Film Festival

Curated by Ming-Yu Lee and Yung-Hao Liu, Cat Film Festival 2025 marks the 9th edition of Taiwan’s pioneering festival dedicated to the intersection of cats, cinema, and contemporary art.

As the first festival of its kind in both Taiwan and Asia, this year’s edition once again features a lineup of distinguished artists.

Among them is Gérard Courant, whose Cinématou (1990-2025) will be screened in Taiwan for the first time. Courant, a significant figure in French cinema, is best known for his Cinématon portrait film series—recognized as the longest film in the world, spanning over 200 hours and featuring more than 3,100 portraits of filmmakers and artists. Cinématou, a playful twist on Cinématon, substitutes the suffix with “matou” (French for “cat”), reflecting both a conceptual shift and a humorous wordplay. In addition to this series, Courant has been producing diary films (Les Carnets filmés) since 1969 and has published numerous films and poetry collections.

Curators are also honored to welcome two Japanese experimental filmmakers: Yoichiro Serizawa and Yasuko Miyata. Known for his sharp and insightful approach to cinema, Serizawa presents Rabbit, Run and Synthetic Human in Osaka—both premiering in Taiwan. Meanwhile, Yasuko Miyata will showcase four films: Cat-e-gory, Cat-e-logue, Seventeen Summer, and Shirajira( 白々), all making their Taiwan debut. These works promise to be a must-watch for cinephiles and cat lovers alike.

The festival have also invited John Howarth, an English teacher currently based in Italy, along with his cat Alan. Through the lens of learning English, audiences will get a glimpse into Alan’s daily life.

Artists

• Gérard Courant (France)
• Yoichiro Serizawa (Japan)
• Yasuko Miyata (Japan)
• John’s English Page + Alan (Italy)

For more information, please refer to the festival website.