Global Voices, Local Stories: “See Hualien Through Global Eyes” Workshop Wraps Up

(中央社訊息服務20260604 16:01:02)The Hualien County Government successfully concluded its “See Hualien Through Global Eyes” International Short Video Workshop, held from May 30 to 31, 2026, at the Jianguo Campus of Tzu Chi University. The two-day intensive event brought together 26 international and local students from 12 countries. Through icebreakers, group collaborations, and thematic discussions, participants shared their authentic observations of living, studying, and exploring Hualien from diverse cultural perspectives.

The workshop kicked off with Robert Schmidt, a Canadian expat living in Hualien, who shared his firsthand experiences and spoke warmly about the city’s unique charm for international residents. The core curriculum was led by renowned short-video producer Ryan Lin, who guided students step-by-step through the entire production pipeline—from concept development and storyboarding to on-location filming, editing, and post-production. By the end of the weekend, the hands-on training bore fruit: students teamed up to produce five original short videos, which were showcased during an energetic final screening where each group presented their creative concepts.

During the showcase, participants reflected on their breakthroughs. Julio Dimas from Mozambique noted that he had always struggled with how to structure video intros and conclusions, but the workshop gave him the clarity he needed to promote campus activities on social media. Virginia Scott, a Canadian expat who runs an international tour business in Hualien, admitted that video production had always been a weak point, making the hands-on insights incredibly valuable. Meanwhile, Muhammad Fathur Reza from Indonesia used a dramatic storytelling approach to highlight Hualien’s safety and convenience, leveraging a creative “reverse marketing” angle to vividly portray the city’s welcoming atmosphere for foreigners.

The Hualien County Government expressed its delight in seeing young people from around the world choose Hualien as their subject, capturing the city’s everyday life and vibrant charm on camera. International students and residents are the most authentic witnesses to the county’s character and its most persuasive ambassadors. Moving forward, the local government will continue to foster an internationally friendly environment and encourage more foreign residents to share their Hualien stories, transforming the concept of “local is international” into a driving force for global city exchange.

The workshop serves as a direct springboard for the “See Hualien Through Global Eyes” International Short Video Contest, which features a total prize pool of NT$95,000. Submissions are open until August 21, 2026. Online registration is free and available now via the official form (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeQUujFLyQTJfC0ZKjhsKllaTHGNX-nfXBeSUES_ovCh3Kilg/viewform). For contest inquiries, please contact the event coordinator, Hualien Echo Integrated Marketing Co., Ltd. (Attn: Mr. Liu; Tel: +886-3-8580008; Email: hualienecho@gmail.com).