Produced by the Hakka Public Communication Foundation (HPCF), the Hakka children animation “An Illusory Joy (捉蝶仔个人)” won Best Animation Film at the 2022 Big Apple Film Festival (BAFF).

(Image: Hakka News)

The Hakka animation “An Illusory Joy” is inspired by a diplomat’s life story. When the diplomat was a child, there were numerous beautiful butterflies flying in her hometown’s valley. At that time, many children would catch butterflies for sale to earn pocket money. Hence, the diplomat regarded these butterflies as something valuable that could be traded for better material life. 

After the diplomat’s retirement, however, she returned to her hometown and found that thousands of butterflies in the valley almost vanished because of damage to the natural environment. The disappearance of the beautiful image in her childhood motivated the diplomat to restore the butterflies in the valley. The scene of countless butterflies fluttering in the valley is portrayed with the dream-like style in the animation. 

Being proud that the animation is internationally recognized, HPCF will continue to increase the visibility of the Hakka soft power in Taiwan, allowing the Taiwanese Hakka culture to shine on the global stage. 

Named one of MovieMaker Magazine's top "25 Coolest Film Festivals," the Big Apple Film Festival has been striving to showcase and promote “the highest quality films from the New York City independent film community, as well as additional specially selected films from across the country and around the world.” Moreover, the festival commends “a variety of New York City based filmmakers, writers, actors and artists who have played an influential role in the growth of independent filmmaking in the Big Apple,” according to BAFF’s website statement.