Pusan Film Fest Unveils Record Line-up
Published on | Source
Asia's biggest film festival rolls out the red carpet on Oct.8,2009, buoyed by more funds, a new home and a determination to remain the premier springboard for regional talent to attain global recognition.
The world's financial woes have forced many film festivals to scale back operations this year due to budget restraints. But there seem to be no such worries in the bustling South Korean port city of Busan.
The focus of the PIFF is introducing new films and first-time directors, especially those from Asian countries. Another notable feature is the appeal of the festival to young people, both in terms of the large youthful audience it attracts and through its efforts to develop and promote young talent. In 1999, the Pusan Promotion Plan was established to connect new directors to funding sources.
The October 8-16 Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF), which uses the city's old spelling, will this year unveil its first major prize for international films.
It will be housed in the plush surrounds of the Shinsegae mall in Centum City, a purpose-built suburb which the city hopes will soon become an Asian hub for both pre- and post-film production.
'Many independent and artistic films from Asian regions have been presented here and have gone on to achieve worldwide attention. Of course there are many other factors as to why this has happened but we, in some part, have contributed to the recent success of Asian cinema as a whole'.
This year's Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) in South Korea will feature a record 355 movies from 70 countries including 98 receiving their world premiere, organizers said.
"Good Morning President", a South Korean film starring Korean Wave actor Jang Dong-gun, will open the 14th PIFF in the southern city of Busan, formerly known as Pusan, next month.
It marks the first time in four years that Jang, one of the stars who led the swelling popularity of Korean pop culture in recent years, has returned to the big screen.
The world's financial woes have forced many film festivals to scale back operations this year due to budget restraints. But there seem to be no such worries in the bustling South Korean port city of Busan.
The focus of the PIFF is introducing new films and first-time directors, especially those from Asian countries. Another notable feature is the appeal of the festival to young people, both in terms of the large youthful audience it attracts and through its efforts to develop and promote young talent. In 1999, the Pusan Promotion Plan was established to connect new directors to funding sources.
The October 8-16 Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF), which uses the city's old spelling, will this year unveil its first major prize for international films.
It will be housed in the plush surrounds of the Shinsegae mall in Centum City, a purpose-built suburb which the city hopes will soon become an Asian hub for both pre- and post-film production.
'Many independent and artistic films from Asian regions have been presented here and have gone on to achieve worldwide attention. Of course there are many other factors as to why this has happened but we, in some part, have contributed to the recent success of Asian cinema as a whole'.
This year's Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) in South Korea will feature a record 355 movies from 70 countries including 98 receiving their world premiere, organizers said.
"Good Morning President", a South Korean film starring Korean Wave actor Jang Dong-gun, will open the 14th PIFF in the southern city of Busan, formerly known as Pusan, next month.
It marks the first time in four years that Jang, one of the stars who led the swelling popularity of Korean pop culture in recent years, has returned to the big screen.
Advertisement