Pusan film fest kicks off with gala events
Published on | Source
Chinese director Feng Xiaogang's Assembly opened the 12th Pusan International Film Festival on the Haeundae outdoor theater in Busan yesterday.
Assembly is the latest film from Feng, who gained nation-wide fame in China after making such films as "The Banquet", "A World Without Thieves", and "A Sigh".
PIFF, one of Asia's biggest film festivals, features 247 films from 64 countries along with various events designed to raise awareness about innovative Asian filmmakers and nurture new talents.
Director Jang Joon-hwan and award-winning actress Moon So-ri hosted the opening ceremony attended by special guests from all over Asia. Congratulatory programs included a harmonica performance by Jeon Jae-deok, who has emerged as the country's top-rated musician after overcoming a physical handicap. Jeon played together with the Busan Symphony Orchestra, featuring famous cinema sound tracks, including scores by Ennio Morricone, who also participated in the opening ceremony.
Numerous Korean actors demonstrated their continued support for the country's biggest film festival at the ceremony. Actors who treaded the red carpet included Kim Bo-yeon, Kim Jae-ok, Yoon Yang-ha, Kang Soo-yeon, Ryoo Seung-bum, Soo-Ae, Uhm Jung-hwa, Lim Soo-jung, Jang Hyuk, Joo Jin-mo, Ji Jin-hee and Ha Jung-woo.
Other international stars on hand included Daniel Dae Kim, an actor known for his role in the U.S. television series "Lost", and Japanese actor Masaya Kato.
Other Asian stars, notably Takuya Kimura, a top actor and singer in Japan, are also set to visit Busan to promote their new films and increase their exposure to Korean and other Asian fans.
Meanwhile, organizers announced that the French government named Kim Dong-ho, the festival director, as the Officier de l'ordre des Arts et des Lettres, another formal recognition of his achievement. Kim spearheaded efforts to promote PIFF from its beginnings, and is widely credited for boosting the festival's presence worldwide.
Kim previously received the Chevalier title several years ago, and a higher order, Officier, marks the fourth honor Kim received from the French Government, including the Deauville City Medal and The City of Paris Medal. The award ceremony is to take place at the French Night event to be held today.
PIFF, which will run through Oct. 12, is playing a bigger role in the world's film industry, Kim told The Korea Herald in a recent interview.
About 2,000 international guests and visitors, including 500 journalists, are expected to join the 12th PIFF this year.
Organizers expect more deals to be made during the festival period, thanks to the heightened role of the Asia Film Market, a marketplace the festival set up last year. Some 800 film buyers are set to visit the booths to explore new film projects.
This year, PIFF's theme is "Beyond Frame", referring to the importance of breaking down barriers and walls that divide the world's film industry. Although progress has been made to bridge the gap, much has to be done, festival director Kim said.
PIFF has increased the number of world premieres to 66 and that of international premieres (formal introductions outside of films' home countries) to 26.
About 180,000 visitors, including 20,000 from abroad -- chiefly from Japan -- are expected to hit Busan during the festival period.
To increase accessibility for the fast-growing festival goers, organizers have overhauled the ticketing system, allowing movie fans outside Busan to purchase tickets online via Naver.com or GS25 convenience stores.
Newly added screening sections include Gala Presentation, with its focus placed on rediscovering new works by master artists and the year's most talked-about films. This year, the section will feature the latest works by Lee Myung-se, Royston Tan and Hou Hsiao Hsien. There will be one screening per day during the festival period, making the section "a festival within a festival"
Flash Forward, another new section, offers much-needed exposure to young, aspiring filmmakers who stand out in the industry. This year, Kriv Stenders's "Boxing Day", Serge Bozon's "France", and Michael Kang's "West 32nd" will be featured along with eight other innovative films by young directors.
The nine-day event will close with "Evangelion 1.0: You Are (Not) Alone", a Japanimation by Hideaki Anno, Kazuya Tsurumaki, and Masayuki. The film is a big-screen adaptation of the 1995 TV animation series, "Neon Genesis Evangelion" that won die-hard fans and enjoys long-standing popularity.
By Yang Sung-jin
Assembly is the latest film from Feng, who gained nation-wide fame in China after making such films as "The Banquet", "A World Without Thieves", and "A Sigh".
PIFF, one of Asia's biggest film festivals, features 247 films from 64 countries along with various events designed to raise awareness about innovative Asian filmmakers and nurture new talents.
Director Jang Joon-hwan and award-winning actress Moon So-ri hosted the opening ceremony attended by special guests from all over Asia. Congratulatory programs included a harmonica performance by Jeon Jae-deok, who has emerged as the country's top-rated musician after overcoming a physical handicap. Jeon played together with the Busan Symphony Orchestra, featuring famous cinema sound tracks, including scores by Ennio Morricone, who also participated in the opening ceremony.
Numerous Korean actors demonstrated their continued support for the country's biggest film festival at the ceremony. Actors who treaded the red carpet included Kim Bo-yeon, Kim Jae-ok, Yoon Yang-ha, Kang Soo-yeon, Ryoo Seung-bum, Soo-Ae, Uhm Jung-hwa, Lim Soo-jung, Jang Hyuk, Joo Jin-mo, Ji Jin-hee and Ha Jung-woo.
Other international stars on hand included Daniel Dae Kim, an actor known for his role in the U.S. television series "Lost", and Japanese actor Masaya Kato.
Other Asian stars, notably Takuya Kimura, a top actor and singer in Japan, are also set to visit Busan to promote their new films and increase their exposure to Korean and other Asian fans.
Meanwhile, organizers announced that the French government named Kim Dong-ho, the festival director, as the Officier de l'ordre des Arts et des Lettres, another formal recognition of his achievement. Kim spearheaded efforts to promote PIFF from its beginnings, and is widely credited for boosting the festival's presence worldwide.
Kim previously received the Chevalier title several years ago, and a higher order, Officier, marks the fourth honor Kim received from the French Government, including the Deauville City Medal and The City of Paris Medal. The award ceremony is to take place at the French Night event to be held today.
PIFF, which will run through Oct. 12, is playing a bigger role in the world's film industry, Kim told The Korea Herald in a recent interview.
About 2,000 international guests and visitors, including 500 journalists, are expected to join the 12th PIFF this year.
Organizers expect more deals to be made during the festival period, thanks to the heightened role of the Asia Film Market, a marketplace the festival set up last year. Some 800 film buyers are set to visit the booths to explore new film projects.
This year, PIFF's theme is "Beyond Frame", referring to the importance of breaking down barriers and walls that divide the world's film industry. Although progress has been made to bridge the gap, much has to be done, festival director Kim said.
PIFF has increased the number of world premieres to 66 and that of international premieres (formal introductions outside of films' home countries) to 26.
About 180,000 visitors, including 20,000 from abroad -- chiefly from Japan -- are expected to hit Busan during the festival period.
To increase accessibility for the fast-growing festival goers, organizers have overhauled the ticketing system, allowing movie fans outside Busan to purchase tickets online via Naver.com or GS25 convenience stores.
Newly added screening sections include Gala Presentation, with its focus placed on rediscovering new works by master artists and the year's most talked-about films. This year, the section will feature the latest works by Lee Myung-se, Royston Tan and Hou Hsiao Hsien. There will be one screening per day during the festival period, making the section "a festival within a festival"
Flash Forward, another new section, offers much-needed exposure to young, aspiring filmmakers who stand out in the industry. This year, Kriv Stenders's "Boxing Day", Serge Bozon's "France", and Michael Kang's "West 32nd" will be featured along with eight other innovative films by young directors.
The nine-day event will close with "Evangelion 1.0: You Are (Not) Alone", a Japanimation by Hideaki Anno, Kazuya Tsurumaki, and Masayuki. The film is a big-screen adaptation of the 1995 TV animation series, "Neon Genesis Evangelion" that won die-hard fans and enjoys long-standing popularity.
By Yang Sung-jin
Advertisement