Director Lu Po-shun’s debut feature, “Will You Still Be My Friend,” is navigating a successful international festival circuit following its world premiere at the 74th San Sebastián International Film Festival in September 2026. The film, a co-production between Taiwan and Singapore, is currently screening at the 31st BUSAN International Film Festival within the “A Window on Asian Cinema” section.
The narrative centers on the friendship between two 13-year-old boys, Jun and Jasper, whose bond is strained by a socio-political land dispute in rural Taiwan. Set against the backdrop of Yunlin County, the story explores the real-world tension of the “Green Gold” rush, where traditional fishing ponds are increasingly being converted into solar farms. This environmental and economic shift provides the friction for the boys’ coming-of-age journey, bridging the gap between intimate adolescent self-discovery and larger industrial changes.
From Pandemic Short to Feature Narrative
The project originated as a short film titled “When Henge Meets Crescent,” produced in 2021 for a pandemic-era series. Lu Po-shun and co-writer Chen Chia-ping expanded that initial concept into the current feature-length screenplay.
The film has already garnered significant industry recognition, securing two 2026 Golden Horse Award nominations. These include Best Adapted Screenplay for Lu and Chen, and Best New Performer for Jaden Wang, who portrays Jun. Singaporean actor Aloysius Looi stars alongside Wang as Jasper, anchoring the cross-regional production.
The film’s ability to find common ground with international audiences suggests that the specific local conflicts of Taiwan’s “green energy” transition resonate as a universal story of growth and loss.
Following its festival appearances in Spain and South Korea, “Will You Still Be My Friend” is scheduled to begin its theatrical release in Taiwan on December 4, 2026. The film offers a grounded perspective on how global shifts toward renewable energy can disrupt long-standing local communities and the personal relationships within them.
