'Demon Hunters' India screening: A passport to the cinematic universe of Taiwan

Demon Hunters lands in Delhi not just as a genre film, but as a statement. A rare Taiwan-India co-production, the supernatural action-comedy folds shared mythologies, contemporary anxieties and cinematic bravado into a story about collaboration as much as conflict.

Directed by Taiwanese filmmaker Chen Mei Juin, the film pairs a Taiwanese paranormal YouTuber with an Indian engineer descended from an exorcist lineage, forcing their belief systems and film cultures to collide.

Its irreverent energy makes it an apt entry point into a festival increasingly defined by exchange rather than exhibition. With its playful genre experiments and international cast, Demon Hunters sets the tone for a festival that is increasingly about dialogue rather than display.

That spirit of exchange sits at the heart of the Taiwan Film Festival’s return to Delhi, organised by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre in India (TECC) in collaboration with Taiwan’s Ministry of Culture, and hosted once again at PVR Priya Vasant.

The festival positions itself not merely as a showcase of Taiwanese cinema, but as a platform for a sustained India-Taiwan cultural conversation. The emphasis this year is unmistakable: collaboration over curation and shared narratives over standalone screenings, making the Indo-Taiwanese nature of Demon Hunters especially emblematic of the festival's larger vision.

The 2025 edition also marks continuity after disruption.

Its revival builds on the momentum of the 2022 edition, when the TECC, led by Representative Baushuan Ger, relaunched the festival after the pandemic pause, re-establishing itself with films such as Listen Before You Sing and Long Time No Sea, both rooted in indigenous Taiwanese narratives.

This year builds on that foundation, widening its scope to include genre cinema and global technology narratives while also maintaining a commitment to cultural depth. The presence of TECC Representative Mumin Chen reinforced the festival's long-term diplomatic and cultural intent.

Within this expanded frame, Demon Hunters stands out for its ambition. It marks one of the most intriguing Asian film collaborations in recent years—a Taiwan-India co-production that blends supernatural action, irreverent comedy, and cross-cultural mythology.

Chen Mei Juin's film pushes beyond the typical genre boundaries, using fantasy as a vehicle for an unusually international story.

The cast underscores the project’s transnational scale: Indian actor Arjan Bajwa joins Taiwanese stars J.C. Lin, Regina Lei, and veteran performer Jack Kao. This dual-industry ensemble ensures the film speaks across markets and carries the energy of two cinematic cultures meeting at full speed.

Visually, the film fuses folklore with spectacle. Shot by acclaimed Hong Kong cinematographer Tony Cheung, Demon Hunters balances kinetic action with surreal ritual sequences, toggling between eerie atmospherics and comedic chaos.

The supernatural elements draw from both Indian spiritual traditions and Taiwanese Taoist lore, handled with research-driven respect for Indian and Taoist spiritual traditions rather than exotic shorthand, giving the fantasy world a lived-in, believable texture.

The filmmaking team consciously integrated these elements into the narrative logic of the story, making the supernatural world feel lived-in and respectful of the origins it draws from. This cultural grounding enhances the broader theme of Demon Hunters: cooperation across differences and the shared human confrontation of fear, loss, and belief.

At a time when Asian cinemas often operate in parallel rather than in collaboration, Demon Hunters feels like a pointed counterexample: a film built on shared myths, shared anxieties, and the shared thrill of supernatural storytelling. It's a spirited, ambitious step toward a more interconnected film future.

After unveiling early footage at the Cannes Film Market, Demon Hunters has secured Taiwanese theatrical distribution through Vie Vision Pictures and is slated for release in Taiwan on December 31, 2025.

As of now, there is no confirmed India release date, though discussions around international distribution— including circulation in other festival circuits and potential OTT pathways—are ongoing. For Indian audiences, the festival screening serves less as a final stop, and more as a first encounter.

Complementing Demon Hunters are two films that also anchor the festival in depth and reflection.

Hunter Brothers, directed by Su Hung En, explores guilt, land, and reconciliation through the story of two Indigenous brothers separated by a tragic accident.

A Chip Odyssey, Hsiao Chu Chen’s documentary, traces Taiwan’s rise as a global semiconductor powerhouse through deeply personal testimonies.

Together, they frame Taiwanese cinema as both emotionally intimate and globally consequential.

In conclusion, the 2025 Taiwan Film Festival in Delhi isn’t just a film event: it acts as a cultural connector between India and Taiwan.

By bringing Taiwanese cinema, stories, and the first Taiwan-India co-production to Indian audiences, the festival widens cultural exposure and encourages deeper engagement with Taiwan’s creative landscape. It fuels conversations between filmmakers and viewers, showcases shared values across societies, and reinforces Delhi’s status as a growing centre for international cultural exchange.

Beyond the screenings, it also sparks curiosity about Taiwan’s culture, tech narratives, and tourism, laying the groundwork for future collaborations and long-term cultural partnerships between the two regions.