From acclaimed filmmaker Yung Chang (UP THE YANGTZE) comes this celluloid valentine to a childhood memory. With lyrical imagery, Chang re-creates a poignant experience: A family expedition by train is punctuated with a breathtaking sunrise that emerges from behind the peaks of Ali Shan, a legendary mountain in Taiwan.

Filmmaker Q&A

Introduce yourself:
Yung Chang is a filmmaker currently based in Montreal, where he graduated in film from Concordia University in 1999 and is a graduate of the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York City. His award-winning film UP THE YANGTZE has played at numerous festivals including in official competition at Sundance and was one of the top-grossing documentary box office releases in 2008. The film has won top awards from USA to Taiwan. Yung Chang received the Charles E. Guggenheim Emerging Artist Award; the Yolande and Pierre Perrault award for most promising filmmaker; and the Don Haig Award.

What inspired this film?   How did you find your subjects?
ALI SHAN was inspired by a childhood visit to this sacred mountain in Taiwan in 1987. I wanted to recreate the experience of climbing the mountain to watch the majestic sunrise.

What were some of the biggest challenges/surprises?
I spent four days with my collaborator Michael MK Siu on the mountain. We had to wake up at 4:00am for four days to hike up the mountain to film the sunrise. The weather conditions were unpredictable. We had two days of rain and two days of sunshine.

I didn't expect that the subjects I would encounter would be wearing facemasks (mostly for warmth). This added to the surrealism of the pilgrimage.

Who are some of your favorite filmmakers? 
Fellini, Hou Hsiao Hsien, Edward Yang, Herzog, Cassavetes...

What is your all time favorite documentary?
 It changes day-to-day. This year thus far, my favorite doc is BIG RIVER MAN.

What other projects are in the pipeline?
I am currently developing my next feature documentary about the fruit underworld based on the book “The Fruit Hunters” and writing my first feature tentatively titled EGGPLANT, about a wedding photographer in China. 

Why did you become a filmmaker?
My parents put me in an aptitude test when I was in high school and it was determined that I would be a filmmaker. True story.  

What are some of your creative influences?
Listening to music, reading books and newspapers and traveling. 

Did you go to film school?
Yes.

What do you shoot on?
Super 16mm.

What has been the most unexpected thing to happen since taking the film on the festival circuit?
That this little short film will be playing before ACT OF GOD by a couple of my favorite filmmakers: Jennifer Baichwal and Nick DePencier.  

Why did you want to screen your film at SILVERDOCS?
SILVERDOCS is one of the pre-eminent film festivals in North America. The programming is impeccable.