To convey the importance of habitat conservation, the Marine National Park Headquarters of the Ministry of the Interior National Park Service (hereinafter referred to as "Marine National Park Headquarters") commissioned director Shou-i Yang to produce the documentary "Enduring space and time: the vitality of South Penghu Marine National Park", which won the Gold Award in the Nature & Wildlife (Film &Video Prdns.) category at the 57th WorldFest-Houston. The Marine National Park Headquarters hopes to promote the cultural and ecological stories of the Southern Four Islands in Penghu internationally and to convey the precious value of basalt habitats through marine environmental education.
Two Years of Exploring Islands and Seas, Capturing Precious Scenes
The magnificent basalt landscape of the " South Penghu Marine National Park " has earned the reputation of a "natural geological classroom" and serves as an important habitat for rich ecosystems. To raise public awareness about the importance of habitat conservation, the Marine National Park Headquarters planned the production of a documentary that showcases the unique natural and cultural landscapes of the South Penghu Marine National Park through the perspective of basalt. Director Shou-i Yang led a professional filming team to explore the four islands of south Penghu across all four seasons, spending two years capturing stunning visuals, such as the "blue hole" at Xijiyu, where stove-like formations gush water mist, and the rare scenes of terns nurturing their chicks. The documentary also uses animation to depict the long journey of ancestors courageously crossing the Black Ditch (the Taiwan Strait), narrating the story of life and rocks.
Director Shou-i Yang stated that through the opportunity to film, they were able to explore the islands and dive into the sea, witnessing the magnificent corals and schools of fish, as well as the terns, like white lightning, feeding their chicks. This experience profoundly highlighted the importance of protecting the national park's ecosystem. Through the lens and editing, he hopes to allow more people to appreciate the beauty of the four islands of south Penghu.
International Film Festival Recognition, Advancing Marine Education
The "Houston International Film Festival", first held in 1961 in Houston, Texas, USA, is considered the world's longest-running independent film festival. Each year, it attracts thousands of film and documentary submissions from around the globe. The Marine National Park Headquarters submitted the documentary "Enduring space and time: the vitality of South Penghu Marine National Park" to the 57th Houston International Film Festival and won the Gold Award in the Nature & Wildlife category, bringing the cultural and ecological stories of the national park to the international stage.
The Marine National Park Headquarters actively promotes marine-themed environmental education by training seed teachers. Between March and April this year, they brought the documentary " Enduring space and time" along with a dedicated environmental education program to 17 schools across the Penghu region, conducting 23 on-site screening sessions. Their efforts reached various locations, including Xiyu, Baisha, Huxi, Niaoyu, Hujing, Wang’an, and Qimei.
The Marine National Park Headquarters stated that marine education should start from a young age. In addition to the frontline management and operations of national parks, they will continue to promote marine-themed environmental education. Taking advantage of the recognition received at the international film festival, they plan to organize special screenings and arrange additional school tour sessions outside of the Penghu region. This will strengthen cooperation with schools at all levels. They invite everyone to visit the national parks, listen to local stories, and join efforts in protecting the magnificent marine ecology.
