[BIFF] Busan Dives Into the Sea of Film
Asia′s biggest film festival, the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), raised its curtains with a bang on October 4.
Busan announced the start of the festivities this day with its opening ceremony.
In the red carpet event held before the actual event, Lee Byung Hun, Jung Woo Sung, Park Si Yeon, Han Ga In, Oh Ji Ho, Im Chang Jung, Jo Jeong Seok, Lee Je Hoon, Cho Min Soo, Lee Jung Jin, Gong Hyo Jin, Yoo Ji Tae, Kang Yea Won, Kim Yoon Hye, Kang Ji Hwan, Lee Bum Soo, Lee Ki Woo, Kim Hyung Jun, Park Shin Hye, Kang Sora, Lee Yeon Hee, Jo Yeo Jeong and more walked the red carpet in their own styles.
Moon Jae In, presidential candidate for the Democratic United Party, appeared with actor Moon Sung Geun and head of the Korean Film Producers Association Cha Seung Jae. Park Geun Hye, presidential candidate for the Grand National Party, followed shortly after in red.
The opening ceremony was hosted by Ahn Sung Ki and the Chinese actress Tang Wei, well known in Korea for her acting in the film Lust, Caution. She was the first foreign actor to host the ceremony in BIFF history. The event then added to the festivities with a performance by Yang Bang Eon and the Busan Philharmonic Orchestra as well as a bout of fireworks.
Following the ceremony came the screening of the festival′s opening film, Cold War. Cold War is a criminal action piece, and is the debut film of Hong Kong director Longman Leung and Luk Sunny. It stars Ryu Deok Hwa and Hong Kong actors Aaron Kwok and Tony Leung Ka Fai. Aaron Kwok and Tony Leung Ka Fai even attended the press roundtable held this day for BIFF.
The closing ceremony will screen the closing film Television, a satirical piece by the Bangladesh director Mostofa Farooki.
This year′s BIFF will take place for one more extra day compared to other years, meaning it will exit on October 13. A total of 304 films from 75 countries have been invited; out of those films, there are 93 world premieres, films being revealed for the first time in the world, and 39 international premieres, films being screened outside of their home countries for the first time.
Seven films from five countries have been invited for the ′Gala Presentation′, which introduces new pieces by famed directors, world premieres or issue-making pieces. Four Korean films, including Doctor, El Condor Pasa, National Security and B.E.D, and Dangerous Liaisons, the film that stars Jang Dong Gun, Zhang Ziyi and Cecilia Cheung will be screened through this program.
′A Window on Asian Cinema′, the corner which introduces Asian film trends, will screen 49 pieces from 11 countries. ′New Currents′ will screen 13 films from 15 countries to introduce new talents in Asian film.
′Korean Cinema Today - Vision′ introduces low budget independent films that have shown great potential. It will introduce 10 pieces, including Mai Ratima, directed by actor Yoo Ji Tae.
11 programs other than those mentioned will continue to entertain movie lovers staying in Busan for the festival.
The presence of such foreign actors as Simon Yam, Kase Ryo, Sato Takeru, Arata, Victoria Mérida Rojas, Cecilia Cheung and Zhang Ziyi will prove the festival stretches across Asia, and singers such as Psy, Big Bang′s T.O.P and Super Junior will spice up the mood.
Most of the tickets for BIFF films have been sold out, but 20 percent of the seats can still be found on on-the-spot booths in Busan.
Photo credit: Hea Jung Min
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Reporter : Oh, MiJung (omj0206@cj.net)
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