"Daughter’s Daughter", which debuted in the Toronto International Film Festival, puts its protagonist through the wringer as a retired woman who must confront her estranged daughter’s sexuality. And, after the younger woman is killed in an accident, the mother becomes responsible for her daughter’s plans to have a child through IVF.

Taiwanese star Sylvia Chang takes the central role and also came to the film’s rescue when the COVID pandemic threatened to stall it at project stage.

Chang, who has won dozens of awards as actor, singer, director and producer for titles including "Aces Go Places" and "Love Education", was on hand at the Far East Film Festival in Italy’s Udine to present the new film and pick up a Golden Mulberry lifetime achievement award. She was also co-star of restored Tsui Hark comedy, "Shanghai Blues", showcased at the festival. 

Speaking to ContentAsia, Chang talked about her responsibility towards younger filmmakers and to women creators in particular. 

“I don’t set out to be an example to others. But I think by keeping on doing things, other people may see this and think that they too can keep going. Don’t give up,” she says.

“I never think about retiring. There’s so much you can do. And that’s why, from acting, I also go behind the camera […] telling a story, sharing stories and making life easier for other people. I hope.”

Chang first became attached to "Daughter’s Daughter" after she was pitched the project by the legendary director-producer Hou Hsiao-hsien on behalf of the director Huang Xi. COVID stalled the project but allowed more time for script development. It also permitted Huang and Chang to first work together on "Twisted Strings", a 2022 Taiwanese drama series that played on streaming platform Catchplay+ and HBO Go.

“This is very much a woman’s story, Because of the way the world is changing, because of the gay issues and because of IVF, which a lot of young people are doing,” Chang says. “This is such a change. Before, when [my generation] were young, we always worry about getting pregnant [by accident]”.

Chang became the film’s executive producer when Hou fell ill and early investors pulled out. Her presence attracted new financiers and the film was greenlit in late 2023. 

While Chang says she was mostly an advisor on "Daughter’s Daughter", she took a more active approach with "Measure in Love", an upcoming fantasy-romance movie with a first-time feature director initiated by the Hong Kong Film Development Council. 

“I knew they did not have enough money, so I went to Taiwan to look for more. This was my first time to finance a young director. But it is an attractive story and we are currently trying to do [rights] sales on it.” "Measure in Love" is expected to reach screens later this year.

While Chang says she has a dream of a Mandarin-language entertainment industry with fewer structural barriers than at present, she won’t sit on the sidelines waiting for it to happen. There are still many stories to tell. 

“I disagree with those people who say that we can only make low-budget films. We should try to find more finance, do co-productions and reach out to more markets. If Taiwan and Hong Kong can get more into China that represents a very big market. Unfortunately, we haven’t been very lucky with the situation now, but I still believe one day we will”.

For 2026, Chang is preparing to direct (but not act in) another film set on both sides of the Taiwan Strait – in her native Taiwan and her adopted Hong Kong. “This time the investors came to me with the project”, she says. 

“When we are young we may take projects simply for the exposure. But gradually, when you become more experienced, you know exactly why you want to do something,” Chang said. “I often ask God, ‘if you don’t want me to keep going, if you think I should retire, just stop giving me films”. - by Patrick Frater