Filmmaker S. Leo Chiang was born in Taiwan, grew up in the United States, worked extensively in China and now lives in Taipei. This mix of experiences has given him a front-row seat to the complex, decades-long dance between these nations. In his short documentary Island in Between, Chiang reflects on his relationship with Taiwan, the U.S. and China from the islands of Kinmen, just a few miles from mainland China.
Kinmen, also known as Quemoy, is a group of islands governed by Taiwan that were the front lines of the first and second Taiwan Straits Crises decades ago. They lie just a few miles from mainland China, and these days, locals are unsure what escalating tensions mean for the future.
Island in Between, part of the New York Times' Op-Docs series was recently announced on the short list for the 2024 Academy Awards, in the category of Documentary Short Film.
Watch it here:
Chiang says he made this documentary to show life in Taiwan through the eyes of the people who live there, including himself -- the voices who are often drowned out by Chinese and American narratives and overhsadowed by global power plays.
"Few people outside the region understand what life is actually like for the Taiwanese people caught in between two superpowers," Chiang says. "At this moment, as we struggle to make sense of the horrors of war, I hope this documentary can play a small part in advocating for peace.