Taiwan Submits Golden Horse Award Winner ‘Dear Ex’ to Oscar Race

By Rebecca Davis

LOS ANGELES (Variety.com) – Taiwan has chosen the 2018 film “Dear Ex” as its submission for the upcoming Oscar race for Best International Feature Film.

Directed by newcomers Mag Hsu and Hsu Chih-yen and starring Roy Chiu, Hsieh Ying-hsuan and Chen Ru-shan, it was nominated for eight Golden Horse Awards last year and won three, including best actress for leading lady Hsieh. 

The drama tells the story of a woman who discovers that her late ex-husband’s life insurance policy is to be collected by his male lover, driving a further wedge between her and her son. It has been available to stream on Netflix since earlier this year.

Tensions are at a high between the democratic, independently governed island of and Communist Party-ruled mainland China, which considers it a renegade province. The two are prepared to butt heads in late November, when the mainland’s Golden Rooster Awards has been scheduled for the same day as Taiwan’s , traditionally the most prestigious film awards in the Chinese-speaking world. Beijing has forbidden mainland films and industry professionals from attending what has been known as “Asia’s Oscars.”

has not yet announced its Oscar submission.

On Wednesday, Taiwan warned residents against travel to the mainland or Hong Kong after a person from the island was detained in China on state security charges.