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PIFF Plans New Project to Advance Its Global Status

Just two weeks to go until the Pusan International Film Festival, otherwise known as PIFF.
Besides the lineup of new movies from around the world, the head of the festival's organizing committee says PIFF is launching a new project this year, aimed at bringing Asian cultures and movies industries together.
Son Heekyung has this preview.

The countdown has begun.
With only two weeks to go before the Pusan International Film Festival or PIFF kicks off its nine-day run, organizers are hustling to put the final touches to a whopper of a movie fest.
In an interview with Arirang News, festival director, Kim Dong-ho said though the festival is now recognized as Asia's most prestigious film event, there is still room for improvement.

RECORDED: "For the festival to develop into one of the world's dynamic film events what's important is the next 10 years. We have to prepare to compete with the Cannes, Berlin and Toronto international film festivals. The aim for this year is to advance the festival to a higher level".

For one, as part of a new plan, the annual festival has launched an ambitious, but risky project.

SON HEEKYUNG, REPORTER: "A new project called "Asian Film Market" is in its inaugural run. By bridging diverse cultures and industries, the project hopes to act as a stepping stone for Korean movies to advance further across the world".

The move comes in line with efforts to help the Korean film industry boost sales to other Asian countries.
And, to support Asian actors, to star in films in different Asian regions.
With PIFF entering its eleventh year, filmgoers will have an opportunity to enjoy 245 films from 63 countries.
Some of the movies in the lineup will make their world premieres next month in the southern port city of Busan.

MOVIE CRITIC: "Among these world premieres are films by some fairly famous directors and they could have chosen to open their films in other festivals but they chose Pusan because it does provide a lot of publicity for a film. It's surprising that they have so many premieres because Pusan comes right after big festivals like Toronto and Venice".

The opening film will be Korean director Im Dae-sung's "Trace of Love", a melodrama about a man who loses his fiancee one month before their wedding in a department-store collapse.
The festival closer will be "Crazy Stone" from China, a story about a group of men who try to steal jade from a factory.
Another highlight is a section called "Midnight Passion", where moviegoers can watch a selection of films straight through the night.

Son Heekyung, Arirang News.

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