About this Event
Event Details:
- Date: April 16, 2026
- Time: 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm
- A brief Q&A with the producer will follow immediately after the screening.
- Location: Upper Perreault Hall, Fuller Laboratories, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Movie Details:
- Language: Mandarin with Chinese and English subtitles
- Running time: 106 minutes
- Year released: 2025
- Film rating: G
We are grateful for the support of the Global Asia Hub at WPI in making this event possible.
Get your free tickets now and join us for an unforgettable evening of film and conversation!
Co-presented with Worcester Polytechnic Institute Global Asia Hub
This event is free and open to the public
Getting Here:
From WRTA Central Hub, you can take the fare-free WRTA buses 3, 30, or 31, which stop at bus stops just a 10-minute walk away from the event venue.
Parking: Guest parking passes provided via email for registered attendees at a WPI parking garage.
In 2019, director Hsiao Chu-Chen was deeply moved by stories shared at the memorial of semiconductor pioneer Hu Ding-Hwa—accounts of engineers who, driven by a sense of national mission, journeyed overseas to acquire the crucial knowledge that ignited Taiwan’s chip industry. Their spirit of sacrifice and collective resolve not only laid the foundation for Taiwan’s semiconductor revolution, but also marked a pivotal chapter in the island’s struggle for survival and global relevance. Directed by award-winning Hsiao Chu-Chen and produced by semiconductor veteran Ben Chen and acclaimed Oscar member Ben Tsiang, this five-year project draws on insights from voices across generations—from early contributors to today’s professionals in the semiconductor industry. A Chip Odyssey traces Taiwan’s journey from humble beginnings to its emergence as a critical pillar of the digital world. Through the eyes of pioneering engineers, female line technicians, frontline policymakers, visionary scientists, and a new generation now facing critical choices, the film reveals how, half a century ago, an entire island came together in a high-stakes gamble to shape its own destiny—and the future of global technology. Though Taiwan accounts for less than 0.02% of the world’s landmass, it has become an indispensable force in the era of AI and advanced chipmaking. As the invisible engines of modern life, chips produced in Taiwan now power everything from smart devices to strategic defense, placing the island at the center of the global technology race. A Chip Odyssey is not only a chronicle of technological ascent; it is a powerful testament to the spirit of a small island that poured its heart and soul into survival, innovation, and global relevance. As tensions rise and the semiconductor race intensifies, the film reminds us that behind every chip lies a human story—and behind every breakthrough, a cross-generational gamble.
About the Producer Ben Tsiang:
Ben Tsiang is a serial entrepreneur and acclaimed film producer. In 1996, he co-founded Sina.com, one of the largest Chinese internet mediacompanies in the world. A decade later, he co-founded CNEX, a leading platform for Chinese documentary filmmaking, where he serves as chairman.
Over nearly two decades, the documentary films he has produced or executive produced have been selected and recognized by major international film festivals—including the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) with Umbrella (2007, Producer); the Golden Horse Awards with KJ: Music and Life (2009, Producer) and Hip-Hop Storm (2010, Producer); the Venice Film Festival with 1428 (2009, Producer); the Busan International Film Festival with Go Grandriders (2012, Producer); the Hong Kong International Film Festival with A Young Patriot (2015, Executive Producer); and the Sundance Film Festival with Plastic China (2016, Executive Producer).
In 2017, Tsiang was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as a member of its Documentary Branch, where he also serves as a jury member. His most recent project, Island In Between (2023, Executive Producer), was nominated at the 96th Academy Awards.
Agenda
🕑: 05:30 PM - 07:20 AM
A Chip Odyssey Screening
Host: Taiwan Film Festival of Boston
Info: Language: Mandarin Chinese
Subtitles: Chinese/English
Genre: Documentary
Running time: 106 minutes
Country of Origin: Taiwan
Directed by Hsiao Chu-Chen
Producers: Ben Chen, Ben Tsiang
An epic documentary tracing Taiwan’s transformation into a global semiconductor leader — a journey that began half a century ago with bold bets and quiet builders who shaped the future.
🕑: 07:20 PM - 07:50 PM
Post-screening Forum with Producer Ben Tsiang
Host: Producer Ben Tsiang
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Upper Perreault Hall, Fuller Laboratories, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 100 Institute Road, Worcester, United States
USD 0.00
