It's somewhat unnerving to have massive eye ball staring at you during a conference. But it's also funny.

Mr. Big Eye, the costumed mascot of the 2009 Taiwanese Film Festival (who consists of an oversized eyeball in the place of a head), flanked by the festival's 13 staff members, posed for photo ops at Vancouver's Taipei Economic and Cultural Office for Vancouver's Mandarin-language media.

The Office's general director Matthew Chou began the presentation in Mandarin by explaining that this is the third annual event organized by the non-profit student club UBC Literature Etc. The first festival was held at UBC, but the second moved downtown to the Vancouver International Film Centre, where it will be held again this year (June 19 to 21).

Due to Vancouver's multicultural composition, he feels the festival is a means for cross-cultural understanding and communication.

City of Burnaby councilor Richard Chang then presented a proclamation to declare Taiwanese Film Awareness Day for the duration of the festival.

Chang, a former filmmaker, explained in Mandarin, that after director Ang Lee won an Oscar, Taiwanese film became recognized internationally, and raised the status of the industry.

The UBC student staff members explained that this year's theme is "we are only human", which is reflected in the film choices that focus on the lives of ordinary people facing universal themes and emotions.

Accordingly, there are a variety of selections that may appeal to different interest groups.

Those interested in historical or war dramas will be interested in the opening night film, 1895, about two Hakka youths who marry just as a Taiwanese resistance movement emerges to fight off the Japanese invasion.

Family drama fans may gravitate towards Artemisia, about a single mother who raised two children by herself, but has to face surprises when her daughter returns from France with news and her son develops an intimate relationship with a male friend.

Last year, Zero Chou's work was highlighted by the Taiwanese Cultural Festival, which Chou also attended to participate in a Q&A session. This year, Chou's Drifting Flowers, a coming-of-age story of three women, including one struggling with her sexual orientation, will be shown.

For a full list of movies and details, visit the TWFF Web site.