The 8th Busan Global Webtoon Festival Closes Successfully with Over 6,000 Visitors in Four Days
Brewnanza Fest - Singapore’s Largest Craft Beer Festival is Back and Bigger Than Ever
The National Pavilion of Perù at the 60th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia | 20 April - 24 November 2024
Colourful Public Art Show – “Planet Walala @Harbour City”
KOREA FESTIVAL SINGAPORE 2023 : will be taking place in Singapore for 2 months
deTour 2023, PMQ ADF, Promotes the Spirit of Traditional Craftsmanship Through A Brand-New Design Discovery of "New Know How"
The Enabling Festival 2023/24
Singapore "Wunderground" Festival to Drive Retail / Lifestyle Sector Alliances, Grow Stronger Talent, Internationalisation
World Choir Games - Gangneung 2023, will be held from July 3rd to 13th
The 2022 “Visit Korean Heritage Campaign” ready to get rolling!
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Turning 3/14 (Pi Day) Into a National Pizza Holiday
Americans eat three billion pizzas a year according to recent surveys. That number could go up due to an upcoming promotion from Blaze Pizza, one of the fastest-growing pizza chains in the country. Recently, Co-Founder and Chief Culinary Officer of Blaze Pizza, Chef Brad Kent, participated in a nationwide satellite media tour to discuss turning Pi Day into a national pizza holiday and how people can qualify for $3.14 pizza for the rest of March. Celebrating Pi Day this year is easier than ever before. To take advantage of the Blaze Pizza Pi Day promotion, guests need to download the Blaze Pizza app and sign up for Blaze Rewards. Registration is open through March 14th. Members will receive a one-time reward on their Blaze mobile app for the special $3.14 offer, which can be used in-restaurant or online, through the end of March. This offer applies to any 11-inch pizza, and any amount of toppings. Guests are able to build their own pizza, made with fresh in-house daily dough and high-quality ingredients. Blaze provides guests with endless options for customization. Guests can combine more than 45 different options, including ingredients like roasted peppers, artichokes, roasted garlic, and plant-based chorizo, or keep it simple with a classic pepperoni and cheese pizza. They go the extra mile to make sure every customer’s taste buds are met by providing options like five crusts to choose from, including signature made-from-scratch dough and a Keto crust with 6g net carbs, as well as nitrate-free meats and fresh pizza sauce and drizzles. For more information and to participate in the biggest pizza party of the year, download the Blaze Pizza app or visit www.fire.blazepizza.com/piday2022
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Biamp Announces Title Sponsorship of 2022 PDX Jazz Festival
Biamp, a leading supplier of professional audiovisual solutions, is proud to once again serve as the title sponsor for the 19th annual PDX Jazz Festival, Feb. 17-26. The nine-day festival, held in venues throughout Portland, will welcome to the stage artists who are driving the evolution of jazz alongside Grammy® Award-winning masters. The music begins with a special solo piano performance by 2020 Grammy winner Brad Mehldau. Opening weekend shows set the tone for the coming musical journey. Attendees will enjoy music featuring NEA Jazz Master Ron Carter, Diane Schuur, guitarist Marc Ribot, Carlos Niño and Friends featuring Nate Mercereau and Surya Botofasina, Makaya McCraven, the R&B psychedelia jazz of MNDSGN, Gary Bartz, Flor de Toloache the Grammy-winning all-female Mariachi band, and more. "The PDX Jazz Festival is a great example of extraordinary real-world AV experiences that truly connect us as a community," said Joe Andrulis, Executive Vice President of Corporate Development at Biamp. "For years we've sponsored this event as part of our dedication to celebrating organizations and events that demonstrate our shared passion for AV. We are excited to once again experience a diverse range of exceptional jazz performances." The celebration of live jazz and its evolution is the heart of the PDX Jazz mission. The 2022 PDX Jazz Festival embraces a slate of progressive jazz artists connecting the music across multiple generations. Tickets and more information on the complete lineup are available at pdxjazz.com
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Harbour City joins hands with Disney and Pixar to host Hong Kong’s first Pixar Fest
In celebration of Pixar’s 35th anniversary, Harbour City is joining hands with Disney and Pixar once again to bring to the city the first-ever Pixar Fest from now through 15 August. Leveraging the horizontal and spacious mall layout, Harbour City adopts a new format to organize a large-scale event with installations and check-in points throughout the mall to diversify foot traffic and minimize close physical contacts. In addition, Harbour City creates a series of interactive activities, including augmented reality (AR) check-ins and an online game, connecting the real and virtual world across offline and online platforms, offering guests multidimensional experiences. Memorable scenes featuring 12 Pixar movies are brought to life at different parts of the mall. In addition, the iconic Pixar Ball and Lamp installation, 5.2 meters in height, matching the size as that in its headquarters in California, marks its first appearance in Hong Kong at Harbour City’s observatory deck, “Ocean Terminal Deck” under the backdrop of the stunning Victoria Harbour views. - Event Highlight 1: Photo Spots Inspired by Classic Scenes Throughout the Mall to Embark on a Magical Movie Journey Pixar Ball and Lamp’s First Appearance in Hong Kong Win Surprise Gifts by Social Media Check-Ins on Designated Dates and Scenes Harbour City will take you on an eventful movie journey of Pixar through mesmerizing photo spots featuring 12 of Pixar’s animations across the mall. Instant professional shooting service will be provided on-site at Ocean Terminal Deck, as well as at the Soul and Toy Story 4 check points for you to capture the joyful moments! Entering Ocean Terminal Forecourt, you will discover a 3.4 meters high Pixar logo and a 7 meters high Pixar Fest arch in layering design, painted in the iconic red, yellow and blue colors from Pixar Ball, with images of Pixar’s characters. The iconic Pixar Ball and Lamp installation, 5.2 meters in height, matching the size as that in its headquarters in California, will make its first appearance in Hong Kong at Ocean Terminal Deck, against the 270-degree panorama of Victoria Harbour as the backdrop. Inside the mall, you will also find Toy Story 4’s Woody and Buzz Lightyear, over 4 meters and 3 meters high respectively, ready to soar “to infinity and beyond”! In addition, simply by checking in on social media at designated photos spots on specified dates, you may stand a chance to win themed gifts of respective movies! Gifts are available on a first-come-first-served basis. Make sure to keep up with the flash announcements on our official social media! - Event Highlight 2: Immerse in the Movie World at 5 Classic Scene Check Points Incorporated with AR Photo Check-Ins Apart from taking pictures on-site with the movie characters’ statues, you can also capture the hidden characters through augmented reality (AR) at 5 check points, including Finding Dory, Incredibles 2, Monsters University, Toy Story 4 and Up. Immerse in the world of Pixar’s animations by downloading the mobile app “Harbour Cityzen” for free, turning on the “AR Fun” camera, and scanning the movie logos to trigger the characters to show up! Then you can take pictures with them just as you are in the movies! The adventurous Dory and Nemo have made their way to Ocean Terminal Deck. While they are enjoying the serenity of the sea view, their friends' Destiny, Bailey, Hank, and sea otters join the crowds to make their presence at the Deck. Check out their funny moves with the AR camera now! Duplicates of Jack-Jack are found in the seaview balcony! Come babysit the naughty Jack-Jack while looking up Mr. & Mrs. Incredible and the family to help get a hold of Jack-Jack! Mike and Sulley have acquired the “scarer” skills from Monsters University. Are you ready to be frightened by the squad behind the doors? Don’t forget to discover Art with the AR camera! Woody and Buzz Lightyear are ready to soar. Here come their new acquaintances Forky, Ducky and Bunny, who try to steal their thunder! Snap the lovely scenes with the AR camera to capture the precious moments with your friends! Carl is about to embark on his journey up in the air at the lawn. Let’s search for the trace of scout Russel, Dug, and Kevin with the AR camera! - Event Highlight 3: Revisit Pixar’s Movies and Shorts and Reminisce about the Memorable Moments Besides physical photo spots, Pixar Fest is also bringing you the screenings of selected movie clips! Harbour City has hand-picked the iconic scenes from Ratatouille and WALL•E complementing the 3D decorations, putting you in the middle of the movie scenes. Outside the window at the zone of Ratatouille is the beautiful landscape of Paris. And there is a 3D kitchen for your “secret cooking lesson” to become the best chef in town! The zone of WALL•E is decorated in the theme of dumpsite on Earth and the space. Come and embark on a mission to bring lives back onto the Earth with WALL•E and Eve! Grab the time to take snaps at the intervals! In addition to the feature films, Pixar has also created numerous Pixar Shorts which are very familiar to the fans. Come and enjoy these creative theatrical shorts! For the mall to implement crowd controls and monitor numbers, visitors will be required to pre-register online at KLOOK, and will be required to have their body temperature checked and hands sanitized before entering the check point. [Details] Time: 11am – 8pm (30 minutes per session) Location: Shop 2131-2, Level 2, Gateway Arcade Registration Website: https://www.klook.com/en-US/activity/58622 - Event Highlight 4: Online and Offline Interactive Activities 1. Discover Your Soul and Take Pictures On-Site Together In Soul, Joe accidentally discovers that new souls need to undergo training at The Great Before and search for its spark. Within the campaign period, you can create your own little Soul and share it on social media platforms. Your Soul will appear on the big screen on-site along with others as well! Scan the QR code and find your Soul back! Professional shooting has been arranged for your picture time together! [Details] Operating Hours of the Screen: 11am – 8pm Location: Shop 2125, Level 2, Gateway Arcade Game Site: http://event.harbourcity.com.hk 2. Express Your Mood at the Emotion Headquarters While adults tend to share their moods with others on social media, kids can share how they feel at the check point of Inside Out! Just as each character represents a specific mood in the movie, you can pick the respective character’s sticker and put it on the wall! Time: 11am – 8pm Location: Atrium I, Gateway Arcade 3. Race with McQueen at Harbour City Cup The legendary Lightning McQueen is back on track. Come and practice the twists and turns with McQueen at the track! Enjoy the Remote Control “Cars 3” Lightning McQueen Turbo Racer test drive*. Besides the race, kids can get on the McQueen toy cars for photos and be the new legendary racer on track!Details Time: 11am – 8pm Location: Atrium, G/F, Ocean Terminal Fee*: HK$20 Remarks: The game is for kids aged 12 or under. Sessions will be set up while quota will be arranged on a first-come, first-served basis. 4. Go Across the Land of the Dead with Miguel An aspiring young musician, Miguel, is accidentally transported to the Land of the Dead and comes across his skeletal ancestors. Bring your family members to capture the family portrait with Miguel in this magical land, and surprises may appear behind you! Time: 10am – 10pm Location: Ocean Terminal Main Concourse - Event Highlight 5: Two Routes to Make the Movie Journey Even More Memorable Discover the Pixar Character in You and Emboss Your Own Stamps on Thematic Postcards To complete your movie journey with a perfect touch, Harbour City has two routes planned for you. Each Pixar character has its own traits. Have you ever thought of being or feel connected to one of them? You can join the "Which Pixar Character Are You?" Personality Test to discover the Pixar character in you! In addition, you can get a Pixar Fest Postcards Set (total of 12 Postcards), travel around the mall to all Embossing Stamp Station Hotspots to emboss and collect commemorative stamps on different postcards for memories. Upon completion of the route(s), you can redeem extra Pixar premiums! - Event Highlight 6: A Wide Variety of Merchandise Available 1. Pixar Fest Pop-Up Store Selling Over a Thousand Pixar Movies-Themed Merchandise Pixar Fest Pop-Up Store will be selling over a thousand Pixar Movies-Themed Merchandise, including figures, tableware, tote bags, T-shirts and a series of Hot Toys Toy Story Cosbaby And CosRider, along with sweets made by Kingsley Desserts & Gourmandises to keep you cool for the summer. Moreover, there are various photo taking spots including a Jumbo Size Lotso CosRider! (Please refer to the appendixes for detailed product catalogues) In addition, customers with spending of HK$200 or above at Pixar Fest Pop-Up Store can present the original same-day receipt to redeem a pack of Toy Story Cosbaby Stickers at Hot Toys Rebel (Shop 4017, Level 4, Gateway Arcade) and enjoy 5% discount for the Cosbaby series. First-come-first-served, while stock lasts. Don’t miss it! [Details] Time: 12nn – 9pm Location: Ocean Terminal Main Concourse 2. Crossover Merchandise Created with Brands at Harbour City and Exclusive Shopping Privileges Within the campaign period, several brands at Harbour City will offer time-limited thematic merchandise and exclusive shopping privileges. Please visit Harbour City website (https://bit.ly/3qGGI4Q), or ask corresponding shop staff for more details.
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MIART 2021 announces the participating galleries
142 galleries, a third of which operate internationally, have confirmed their participation in the twenty-fifth edition of miart, Milan’s modern and contemporary art fair organised by Fiera Milano and directed this year for the first time by Nicola Ricciardi (17-19 September 2021; VIP preview 16 September ). Operating across 20 Countries besides Italy (Austria, Belgium, Brazil, China, Cuba, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Peru, Poland, United Kingdom, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, South Africa, Switzerland, United States of America, Hungary, Uruguay) and traditionally divided into 5 sections – Established Contemporary, Established Masters, Emergent, Decades, Generations – the selected galleries will display works by established contemporaries, modern masters, and emerging young artists in the fieramilanocity pavilions as well as on a dedicated digital platform. miart remains the Italian art exhibition with the most extensive chronological offering: from the early 20th century to creations by the latest generations, it proposes an itinerary replete with dialogues, discoveries and rediscoveries. The 2021 edition will welcome the return of numerous international galleries that are strengthening their connection with Milan, like Clearing (New York, Bruxelles, Beverly Hills), Corvi-Mora (London), MLF | Marie-Laure Fleisch (Bruxelles), Peter Kilchmann (Zurich), Lange + Pult (Zurich, Auvernier), Lelong & Co. (Paris, New York), Robilant+Voena (London, Milan, New York, Paris), SMAC (Cape Town, Johannesburg, Stellenbosch), Galerie Hubert Winter (Vienna), among others. They will be joined by some interesting gallerist that have chosen miart for the first time, like Piero Atchugarry Gallery (Miami, Garzón), Charim Galerie (Vienna), Edouard Simoens Gallery (Knokke), QG Gallery (Knokke), and more. Many of the most prominent Italian contemporary galleries will also make their return, including Galleria Continua (San Gimignano, Beijing, Les Moulins, Havana, Rome, San Paolo, Paris), Raffaella Cortese (Milan), Monica De Cardenas (Milan, Zuoz, Lugano), kaufmann repetto (Milan, New York), Francesca Minini (Milan), Massimo Minini (Brescia), Franco Noero (Turin), P420 (Bologna), Lia Rumma (Milan, Naples), Schiavo Zoppelli (Milano), Vistamare | Vistamarestudio (Pescara, Milano), ZERO… (Milano). Moreover, a strong selection of galleries active in the promotion of historical positions and post-war art will include: Cardelli & Fontana (Sarzana), Cardi (Milan, London), Cortesi (Lugano, Milan), Frediano Farsetti (Milan), Frittelli (Florence), Galleria d'Arte Maggiore G.A.M. (Bologna, Paris, Milan), Mazzoleni (London, Turin), Montrasio (Milan, Monza), Repetto Gallery (London), Gian Enzo Sperone (Sent, New York), Tornabuoni Arte (Florence, Milan, Forte dei Marmi, Crans Montana, Paris) and many others. As a tribute to the history and tradition of Milan, there will also be space for collectible design, through the work and research of some of the most prestigious Milanese galleries active in this field, such as Galleria Luisa delle Piane (Milan), Galleria Rossella Colombari (Milan) and Nilufar (Milan). Among the curated sections of the fair, Decades — curated by Alberto Salvadori — will explore the history of the 20th century through monographic or thematic booths presenting key moments of a specific decade — from the 1910s to the 2010s. Special consideration will also be given to a new generation of dealers thanks to a renovated Emergent section — curated by Attilia Fattori Franchini — including exhibitors from 13 different countries: Austria, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Polonia, Perù, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Switzerland, and USA. And finally, once again galleries will be paired up and called on to stage interactions and exchanges with artists of different ages in the Generations section. Taking its inspiration and name from the Serbian American poet Charles Simić’s first full-length collection, Dismantling the Silence, published in 1971, miart 2021 will be focusing on poetry to promote fresh dialogues between past and present, history and experimentation, and the blossoming of new forms of communicating in a world of art undergoing radical change. The editorial project And Flowers / Words extends this research through weekly online discussions between Artistic Director Nicola Ricciardi and key Italian cultural figures who share an interest in the written or spoken word, such as: Luca Cerizza, critic and curator; Chiara Costa, Head of Programs, Fondazione Prada; Moira Egan, poet and translator; Massimiliano Gioni, Artistic Director, Fondazione Nicola Trussardi and New Museum (NY); Lorenzo Giusti, Director, GAMeC – Galleria d'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea, Bergamo; Mariangela Gualtieri, poet; Luca Lo Pinto, Artistic Director, MACRO – Museo d'Arte Contemporanea, Rome; Cristiana Perrella, Director, Centro per l’arte contemporanea Luigi Pecci, Prato; Sergio Ricciardone, Artistic Director, Club to Club; Emanuele Trevi, literary critic and writer. Milano Art Week (13th-19th September) will see new partnerships and connections take shape through its extensive calendar of opening ceremonies and original projects organised jointly by miart and Milan’s Office for Culture, which brings the city's main public institutions and private foundations together. The full programme of events will be released in July. Finally, to guarantee visitors, exhibitors and organisers can take part in complete safety, the Fiera Milano Group has drawn up a Protocol for containing the spread of COVID-19 illustrating how events can be organised in full compliance with the health protection regulations and nationally issued protocols. More info on: https://www.fieramilano.it/safetogether/
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Join the creators of Wind, Over the Moon, and Wolfwalkers at SIGGRAPH Asia’s Computer Animation Festival
Asia's premiere computer animation festival, part of the SIGGRAPH Asia 2020 Virtual conference, will showcase the best of this year's works, presented by the creators, who will share their insights and discuss their most innovative projects and experiences with computer-generated animation and visual effects. Celebrating the work of students, young professionals, seasoned professionals, and grizzled veterans, SIGGRAPH Asia’s virtual Computer Animation Festival (CAF) runs between 4-13 December 2020 with an array of entertaining screenings, presentations, and panel discussions. Comprised of a brand-new CAF Winners screening alongside the venerable Electronic Theater and the Animation Theater programs, CAF will take you on a tour of the full breadth of this year’s most innovative and inspirational work in computer animation. From 577 submitted works, 22 films have been selected for the Animation Theater program, which will be accessible for viewing from 4-13 December on the virtual events platform. The top 25 “must-see” projects selected by CAF’s 11-member jury will be screened in The Electronic Theater program from 10-13 December on a separate platform, eventive, and will once again this year be a visual treat you don’t want to miss. In addition, this year, CAF is highlighting the three Award-Winning films in a special screening you can enjoy right alongside the Electronic Theater; at SIGGRAPH Asia 2020, the Best in Show, Best Student Film and Jury’s Special will take center stage for the very first time. CAF Panel & Production Talks includes presentations by experts in the creation of computer animation and visual effects, as well as disclosures from behind-the-scenes of studios and schools, whose works are screened at the festival. Highlights of the CAF Panel & Production Talks include: 1. The Making of Pixar’s Wind From Pixar Animation Studios, Writer and director Edwin Chang, producer Jesús Martínez and supervising technical director Beth Albright will discuss the making of their heartfelt CG animated short film, Wind. Made as part of Pixar’s SparkShorts program, Wind is set in a world of magical realism where a grandmother and her grandson are trapped deep down an endless chasm, scavenging debris that surrounds them to realize their dream of escaping to a better life. A screening of the film will be followed by a “Making Of” presentation and a Q&A. 2. Producing Over the Moon Producers Peilin Chou, Animation Film Producer, Netflix and Gennie Rim, Executive Producer, Glen Keane Productions, will discuss the development and production of the recently premiered Netflix and Pearl Studios animated musical adventure, Over the Moon, directed by SIGGRAPH Asia’s keynote speaker and legendary Oscar winner Glen Keane, and co-directed by Oscar winner John Kahrs. In the film, a bright young girl fueled with determination and a passion for science, Fei Fei, builds a rocket ship to the moon to prove the existence of the legendary Chinese Moon Goddess, Chang’e. After an impossible journey, she ends up in a whimsical land of fantastical creatures. Directed by Keane, animated at Sony Pictures Imageworks, and produced by Rim and Chou for Shanghai-based Pearl Studios, Over the Moon is a musical adventure about moving forward, embracing the unexpected, and believing the impossible is possible. 3. The Making of Wolfwalkers Two-time Oscar-nominated director Tomm Moore (Song of the Sea, The Secret of Kells), Co-founder and Creative Director, Cartoon Saloon, and director Ross Stewart (The Secret of Kells), Painter, Illustrator, Designer, Animation Director and Art Director, Cartoon Saloon, will share creative insights into the making of their latest animated feature film, Wolfwalkers, which premieres worldwide December 11 on Apple TV+. Set in the middle of the 17th century, Wolfwalkers follows the fortunes of young hunter Robyn Goodfellow (Honor Kneafsey) as she joins her father on a mission to destroy Ireland’s last wolf pack. Joining forces with feisty Mebh MacTire (Eva Whittaker), Robyn soon learns her new friend is a member of a pack of shapeshifting werewolves. As she delves deeper into their world of superstition and magic, Robyn risks becoming the prey in her father’s lethal quest. The film is co-produced by the award-winning animation studios Cartoon Saloon and Melusine Productions. 4. Titmouse – Trailblazers in Innovative 2D/CG Animation Chris Prynoski, known in the animation community as Chris P., is the founder and president of Titmouse, one of the most prolific, independent, Emmy Award-winning animation studios in business today. Titmouse leads and supports the unprecedented and explosive growth in episodic 2D/CG animation. Just a few of the hugely popular shows they produce are Big Mouth, Star Trek: Lower Decks, Bless the Harts, The Midnight Gospel, and Tigtone. The animation industry’s tremendous production expansion has been fueled by leading streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon, and HBO Max, as well as more niche streamers like Crunchyroll and Syfy’s adult animation block, TZGZ. The medium of 2D/CG provides an almost unlimited design palette from which creators can run wild. In this “1 on 1” discussion, Chris will discuss his studio’s rich history of embracing practically every 2D/3D/CG/VR technology they’ve gotten their hands on, and how they embrace and leverage animation production technology to tell great stories for kids aged 3 to 83. 5. Harnessing Technology to Tell Your Story: A Talk with Jorge Gutierrez Jorge Gutierrez is an Emmy Award-winning director, animator, writer, and artist, now developing multiple projects at Netflix. He has embraced and taken advantage of 2D, 3D and VR technology at every stage of his career, from his early work with Flash cartoons, to his latest 3D/CG animated limited series, Maya and the Three, a Mesoamerican fantasy epic that will premiere globally on Netflix in 2021. In this candid talk, the director discusses his strategies for harnessing technology to serve his creative vision, sharing colorful behind-the-scenes stories and personal details of how different production technologies mostly helped, and sometimes hindered, his career in animation. 6. Titmouse’s 5 Second Day Snack Chats, 2020 Edition Feast on a selection of 9 byte-sized cartoons from the Emmy Award-winning animation studio Titmouse’s infamous 5 Second Day 2020 Edition screening. A longstanding tradition, on 5 Second Day, the studio closes so that staff can make whatever project is swimming around in their heads. 5 Second Day came about as a way to make cartoons we can all enjoy; since its initiation in 2008, the complexity, length, and creative collaboration across departments has skyrocketed. Some artists will work on ambitious ideas for months. In the end, the artists retain control of the short. To date more than 1,000 unique 5 Second Day cartoons have been created. 7. Reinventing My Filmmaking Career by Pivoting from Live-Action to Animation with Unreal Engine Director Hasraf ‘HaZ’ Dulull from HaZ Film Ltd., will talks about his shift from live-action filmmaking to animated feature films and TV production to stay relevant and proactive in Hollywood. Dulull will showcase how Unreal Engine enables indie filmmakers to tell high concept stories that were previously not possible to achieve except with huge budgets and resources. The director will begin with a pilot proof of concept project, followed by discussion of how he fell in love with real-time graphics, and how that project led to him being tapped to direct the animated feature film Mutant Year Zero, a movie based on the acclaimed video game. Dulull will share how his pilot was created entirely inside Unreal Engine as final pixel renders. A candid deep dive into the process, the project is visually driven, presented with tons of behind the scenes footage, to break down the scenes in Unreal Engine. The talk will be followed by Q&A.
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The Award Winners of the 23rd Asian Project Market Unveiled
The 23rd Asian Project Market(APM), held virtually for 3 days from Oct 26th to 28th, announced the award winners. This year’s winners include Tick It by director Tran Thanh Huy and Who Created Human Beings by director Le Binh Giang, which show the notable growth of the Vietnamese film industry. Other awardees include Nowhere To Hide Ⅱ directed by Lee Myungse and Commodity directed by Kislay, which was recognized as a highly-anticipated film project of artistic quality. 193 professionals from 36 countries have virtually participated, and 461 business meetings have been made. Although the number of selected projects decreased from that of the previous year’s to 21 projects, this year’s APM consolidates its position as the largest investment and co-production market in Asia with a high rate of business meeting arranged per project despite entirely virtual events. This year’s APM gathered high anticipation for including many projects by directors who have made great achievements at the Busan International Film Festival. ■ Asian Project Market 2020 Award Winners (*Project / Director / Country) ○ [Busan Award]: Commodity /Kislay / India Busan Metropolitan City sponsors the Busan Award committing $15,000 USD to a project chosen from the official APM line-up. Busan Metropolitan City administers additional annual funds to lend stronger financial support to promising filmmakers participating at APM. ○ [CJ Entertainment Award]: Tick It /Tran Thanh Huy / Vietnam CJ Entertainment Award commits 10,000USD in cash to an international project. The 'First Look Option' regarding production, investment, sales and distribution of the awarded project may be bestowed by CJ ENM through discussions between the winner and CJ ENM before presenting the award. ○ [ArteKino International Prize]: Who Created Human Beings /Le Binh Giang / Vietnam, Singapore ARTE Kino awards 6,000EUR in cash to a project chosen from the official APM line-up. The winner may allow the screening of the film on the ARTE Kino Festival website (internet non-exclusive rights with a restrictive number of viewings for 30 days). ○ [MONEFF Award]: Nowhere To Hide Ⅱ / LEE Myungse / Korea MONEFF Award commits 20,000 USD in post-production service and facilities, especially editing or VFX to a project chosen from the official APM line-up.
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The 14th Asian Film Awards Winners Announced
The Asian Film Awards Academy (“AFAA”) announced the winners of the 14th Asian Film Awards (“AFA14”) today. Given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the awards presentation is broadcast online on AFAA's website and YouTube channel and Busan's Asian Contents & Film Market website. Wilfred Wong, Chairman of AFAA and the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society congratulated all winners. "I would like to thank especially this year’s jury for their time and effort. Although we could not hold an award ceremony in-person, I hope we can gather together to celebrate the 15th Asian Film Awards next year," said Wong. Lee Yong-kwan, Chairman of Busan International Film Festival, said "As the organiser of this year’s Asian Film Awards, we are happy to receive support from internationally renowned filmmakers Koreeda Hirokazu, Lee Chang-dong, Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit, Anthony Chen, and world acclaimed film talents Yakusho Koji, Samal Yeslyamova, Yang Ik-joon, Kara Wai and Johnny Huang Jingyu to announce the winners. In such difficult times, I am happy to see the unity of Asian cinema." Ando Hiroyasu, Chairman of Tokyo International Film Festival explained, "As Shakespeare put it: 'The night is long that never finds the day.' The power of cinema enriches our daily lives and gives us courage to overcome the pandemic. Thank you everyone involved for their contribution to make AFA14 a special one." The Best Film award was made to Parasite, which also won Best Screenplay for co-writers Han Jin Won and the film’s director Bong Joon Ho. The film also won for Best Production Design and Best Editing totaling four awards. "I am grateful to all the people involved with the Asian Film Awards for making it possible that Parasite could become part of AFA's legacy. I strongly believe that we will meet in person next year at the Asian Film Awards, shake hands, and enjoy talking with one another without masks…I believe that nothing can stop us from continuing to make films,” said Bong. Wang Xiaoshuai’s sensitive and emotionally powerful three-hour drama, So Long, My Son earned him Best Director. Wang said, "As a director, I advocate creating freely and thinking independently. Under the intense social and political pressure, I hope that I can always stand by the side of the ordinary to make the vulnerable powerful. We, as Asians, have different national backgrounds, films can present such diversities, but can also deliver a mutual message of humanity, of love, respect and dignity." HIKARI from Japan was named the Best New Director for her feature debut on a disabled person facing and overcoming society’s prejudice in 37 Seconds. "We made this film hoping to open people's hearts and minds to show that despite our differences on the outside, we are the same on the inside. There's love, desires, and we all have stories to tell. All we need is to lean in, and listen to one another and I truly hope, really hope, that our film will inspire you to do so." HIKARI said. The Best Actor award was given to Lee Byung-hun for his outstanding performance as assassin of former Korean President Park Chung-hee in the political thriller The Man Standing Next. "First, I would like to thank the AFA for the Best Actor award, and the actors and crew of The Man Standing Next. The chemistry between the actors in this film was a big part of why I am able to receive this award. Please stay safe, and I’m sure we’ll all be able to meet at the movies again soon," said Lee. Better Days stars Zhou Dongyu and Jackson Yee won Best Actress and Best Newcomer for their outstanding performances. Zhou and Yee thanked all for recognizing their performances in the film and thanked producer Jojo Hui Yuet Chun, director Derek Tsang Kwok Cheung and everyone in the Better Days team. “I am grateful to every jury member for their encouragement, and I look forward to seeing you all in the near future,” said Zhou. “I will keep working hard to achieve more outstanding performances in the future,” said Yee. Kase Ryo won the Best Supporting Actor in the Japan-Uzbekistan-Qatar co-production, To the Ends of the Earth. Kase thanked the AFAA and the jury for giving him the award, "To be honest, I was surprised when I heard about the nomination because my role in this film was rather low key, my performance there was a fairly quiet one. So, it's encouraging for me to be reminded the fact that there still are people who appreciate that kind of thing in films," he says. Samantha Ko received Best Supporting Actress award for her subtle and emotional performance in A Sun. "First I would like to thank the judges for giving me this award. I also would like to thank the director Chung Mong-Hong for trusting me. 2020 is difficult year for everybody, but I still believe that love can change everything. Be humble, be grateful to give love. Peace to everyone!" Ko says.
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The 25th Busan International Film Festival Unveils Full Video Congratulating the Festival Opening!
Although the 25th Busan International Film Festival did not proceed with the Opening Ceremony and the Red Carpet due to the impact of COVID-19, it unveiled the video message from filmmakers all over the world congratulating the opening of the festival before the screening of the opening film. The Busan International Film Festival is held onsite with strengthened preventive guidelines and safety precautions. The special video includes congratulatory messages from filmmakers, introduction by the directors of the opening film Septet: The Story of Hong Kong, and message of appreciation for the audience who has come to see the film. The 25th Busan International Film Festival opens on October 21st (Wed) and is held for ten days until the 30th (Fri) at the Busan Cinema Center.
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The Second Video Message from Master Filmmakers to the Busan International Film Festival and Filmmakers Unveiled
Following the video messages from Lee Chang-dong and Koreeda Hirokazu, the second video message is revealed from Asian Cinema Ambassadors directors Kurosawa Kiyoshi, Kawase Naomi, Jia Zhang-Ke, Tsai Ming-Liang and actors Zhao Tao and Lee Kang-Sheng, along with filmmakers all around the world. The videos from these internationally renowned filmmakers representative of Asia convey not only messages of hope in overcoming the COVID-19 crisis, but also words of fortitude and comfort to all those passionate about cinema to keep going forward. These messages are in step with the Busan International Film Festival’s spirit which, as a hub of Asian cinema, has been discovering new Asian filmmakers and introducing them to wide audiences. Their messages will have a reach beyond Asian filmmakers and will strike a chord with anyone passionate about films. The video messages are available on the Busan International Film Festival’s official YouTube channel. The videos are sponsored by Genesis, who supports filmmakers. Filmmakers around the world added their voices to the Asian Cinema Ambassadors’ message of hope as well. Friends of the Busan International Film Festival who sent their video messages of support, transcending social distancing in the COVID-19 era, include: Thierry Frémaux, the General Delegate of the Cannes Film Festival; Christian Jeune, the Director of Film Department and Deputy General Delegate of the Cannes Film Festival; Carlo Chatrian, the Artistic Director of the Berlin International Film Festival; Alberto Barbera, the Director of the Venice International Film Festival; Elena Pollacchi, the Program Director of the Venice International Film Festival; and Serge Toubiana, the President of Unifrance. The 25th Busan International Film Festival opens on October 21st (Wed) and is held for ten days until the 30th (Fri) at the Busan Cinema Center.
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The 25th Busan International Film Festival Selections
The 25th Busan International Film Festival, which opened on October 21st (Wed), screens its selections School Town King (Thailand) and Sister Sister (Vietnam) simultaneously in Busan and the local countries. It also has a special event where audiences in both countries can converse together through the online GV (Guest Visit). The Busan International Film Festival creates a new type of GV in the COVID-19 era that transcends boundaries between cities and countries. It was organized for festival audiences to have a special experience with the local audiences, as filmmakers of selected films cannot come to Busan due to limited international travel. This year’s Wide Angle section selection School Town King, scheduled to screen at the Busan Cinema Center on October 21st (Wed), 1 PM KST, will be played simultaneously at the Thai Film Archive’s theater. The film is an exciting music documentary that centers on a young man who strives to become the best rapper in Thailand. After the screening, there will be an online GV with director Wattanapume Laisuwanchai and crew, where they will talk about the film with audiences in the two countries. A Window on Asian Cinema section selection Sister Sister is directed by Vietnamese-American actress Kathy Uyen. The film, which released last year in Vietnam, set the box office record in the country. Film industry professionals and invited audience members in Vietnam will be viewing the film simultaneously when it is screened at Busan on October 21st (Wed) 8PM KST. The audiences in the two countries will be able to converse together through the online GV after the screening, in which director Kathy Uyen will participate. Although the Busan International Film Festival was planning on simultaneous screenings with countries such as Myanmar and Philippines as well, they were unfortunately canceled as theaters were shut down due to the worsened local COVID-19 situations. The 25th Busan International Film Festival, which leads the future of Asian cinema, will be held at the Busan Cinema Center from October 21st (Wed) to October 30th (Fri).
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Master Filmmakers Send Messages of Support to the Busan International Film Festival and Asian Filmmakers
The 25th Busan International Film Festival unveils messages of support by Asian filmmakers and master filmmakers. The film industry worldwide was heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many international film festivals are canceled, and most films have halted their productions. Even films already finished are struggling to find screening opportunities. With the Busan International Film Festival, renowned Asian directors and actors have stepped up as Asian Film Ambassadors and sent messages for young Asian filmmakers who have kept up their passion for cinema under these difficult circumstances. Nine Asian Master Filmmakers as Mentors! Korean directors Lee Chang-dong and Park Chan-wook; Japanese directors Kurosawa Kiyoshi, Koreeda Hirokazu, and Kawase Naomi; Chinese director Jia Zhang-Ke and actress Zhao Tao; and Taiwanese director Tsai Ming-Liang and actor Lee Kang-Sheng sent messages to young Asian filmmakers as Asian Film Ambassadors. “Filmmakers should stand in solidarity and share courage with one another.”(Lee Chang-dong), “Even a pandemic cannot stop our passion for communicating through cinema.”(Jia Zhang-Ke), “Filmmaking itself is always difficult and full of adventures.”(Tsai Ming-Liang), “The history of film has always been one of overcoming huge challenges and obstacles.”(Park Chan-wook), “I strongly believe that films made under these difficult circumstances are masterpieces.”(Kurosawa Kiyoshi), “I do not believe we will stay disconnected like this. We will be reconnected in any shape or form.”(Koreeda Hirokazu), “Please keep making films so that we make a world with many brilliant points of view.”(Kawase Naomi), “Embrace cinema, embrace the screen, and embrace audiences.”(Zhao Tao), “Continue to work towards your goals and dreams.”(Lee Kang-Sheng) The messages contain determination and hope for overcoming these difficult times. The video messages are available from October 20th (Tue) on the Busan International Film Festival’s official YouTube channel. The videos are sponsored by Genesis, who supports filmmakers. Messages of Support from All over the World! The directors and programmers from the three major film festivals—Cannes, Berlin, and Venice—sent their support for filmmakers and the Busan International Film Festival, which is held on-site. Thierry Frémaux, the General Delegate of the Cannes Film Festival, showed special fondness towards the Busan International Film Festival: “In its 25th year, the Busan International Film Festival plays an important role in Korea, a blessed land of cinema.” Including Carlo Chatrian, the Artistic Director of the Berlin International Film Festival, who commented, “I will miss your beautiful town, the talking with the filmmakers, [and] the thrill of watching films along with local audiences”; Christian Jeune, Director of Film Department and Deputy General Delegate of the Cannes Film Festival; Alberto Barbera, Director of the Venice International Film Festival; and Serge Toubiana, the President of Unifrance, expressed their regret at not being able to be together this year and promised for next year. Director Bong Joon-ho who has not made official appearances in awhile since the Academy Awards earlier this year, also sent his message of support and congratulations on the festival: “I am especially proud of this year’s Busan International Film Festival for coming to audiences without change.” The Busan International Film Festival is first revealing video messages from directors Lee Chang-dong, Bong Joon-ho, and Koreeda Hirokazu. The rest of the videos will be released sequentially on the Busan International Film Festival’s official YouTube channel. The 25th Busan International Film Festival, which screens all its 192 selections in theaters, opens on October 21st (Wed) and is held for ten days until the 30th (Fri) at the Busan Cinema Center.
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The 25th Busan International Film Festival Holds ‘Forum BIFF,’ an Intellectual Hub of Dynamic Discussions
All Sessions Free for Audiences The Busan International Film Festival holds Forum BIFF, centered around the Jiseok Film Institute, online from October 22nd (Thu) to October 27th (Tue). Jiseok Film Institute was launched to cherish the memory of late deputy director Jiseok Kim and promotes interdisciplinary study, education, and archive of Asian cinema. This year’s Forum BIFF conducts 12 sessions on diverse timely topics: changes in the culture and film industries in the post-COVID-19 era; the past, present, and future of film festivals as “contact zones” in celebration of the Busan International Film Festival’s 25th anniversary; recent societal debates on gender and feminism; and the history of resistance and the future of democracy in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the Gwangju Democratic Uprising. Due to the impact of COVID-19, this year’s Forum BIFF is held online without charge on the Busan International Film Festival’s YouTube channel (http://youtube.com/busanfilmfest). Audiences around the world can participate online through live streamings and interact via comments in lieu of the in-person experience. Additionally, the videos will be up for 7 days after the end of the event in order to share Forum BIFF with more audiences. Life and Films in the Post-Covid-19 Era Forum BIFF prepared sessions to explore problems posed by COVID-19 and possible ways to overcome them. Under the key theme “Post-Covid-19 Era,” scholars, filmmakers, and experts in topics such as “lifestyle and cultural changes,” “film,” and “film festivals,” will come together to share ideas. Min Kyu-dong, the director of Herstory (2018), and Park Tae-hoon, the founder and CEO of online video streaming service Watcha, are on the panel to comprehensively discuss current questions in the film industry. Film Festival as a Contact Zone Film festivals are “contact zones” in which diverse cultures and values interact and coexist. Within the fast-changing media technology environment, Forum BIFF reexamines film festivals as contact zones and seeks new directions to take in the post-COVID-19 era. The session entitled Media Technology and the Future of Film Festivals, which features the film programmer of a premier multimedia arts festival South by Southwest (SXSW), is also worth looking forward to.
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The 25th Busan International Film Festival Holds Guest Visit with Passion for Films
The 25th Busan International Film Festival, which takes place from October 21st to October 30th, holds the Guest Visit event for audiences’ full enjoyment of the official selections. Onsite for Korean Selections and Online for Foreign Selections Guest Visit is an event in which individuals involved in the making of the film, such as the directors and actors, freely talk with members of the audience to share in-depth conversations and aid their understanding of the film. This year, Guest Visits will be held onsite for the Korean selections and online for the foreign selections. As a safety precaution, the question and answer session will be conducted through the open chat system. Audiences can enter the chat room by scanning the QR code shown on the screen after each film screening. Guest Visits for Various Films in Appreciation of Audiences' Enthusiasm The 25th Busan International Film Festival is scheduled to hold Guest Visits for 140 films out of the total of 192 selections in appreciation of audiences’ support of the festival in these difficult times. Directors and actors of films selected for sections such as Korean Cinema Today-Panorama, Korean Cinema Today-Vision, and Wide Angle will visit Busan to take part in a total of 45 Guest Visits. A number of notable filmmakers are also joining the Guest Visits online, overcoming physical barriers. MINAMATA Mandala's Hara Kazuo, City Hall's Frederick Wiseman, Swimming Out Till the Sea Turns Blue's Jia Zhang-Ke, and True Mother's Kawase Naomi are some of the big names that will meet with audiences online.
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The 25th Busan International Film Festival Ticketing Schedule Announced
The 25th Busan International Film Festival announced the ticketing schedule. It will be available online and mobile web, starting from Oct 15th (Thu), 2:00 pm (KST) to 30th (Fri). In compliance with the government social distancing measure, the off-line ticket box will not be operated. All tickets will be booked through the Busan International Film Festival's official website and application ‘BIFF’. For this year, a paper ticket will not be issued. Tickets are issued only as an electronic ticket for mobile devices and an electronic ticket holder is allowed to enter the theatre. For further information, please visit the Busan International Film Festival official website or contact BIFF Call Center. In order to ensure safe operation of the theatre, the Busan International Film Festival will take strict preventive measures in compliance with the governmental guidelines. The Busan International Film Festival prioritizes the safety of the audience above all.
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The 25th Busan International Film Festival Introduces Open Cinema Selections
The 25th Busan International Film Festival introduced 6 Open Cinema selections, which to be screened at the BIFF Theater located in Busan Cinema Center from October 21st to 30th. Open Cinema is a section that features a collection of new and internationally acclaimed films that offer both its cinematic quality and popularity. This year’s Open Cinema selections include quality films from diverse genres. The Asadas, inspired by photographer Asada Masashi’s photography books; DAEMUGA, a film on bizarre stories involving shamans; the Asian Project Market 2001 official selection returning to Busan after a 19-year hiatus, My Missing Valentine; Disney and Pixar’s Soul, a film that will make you contemplate some of life’s most important questions; Summer of 85, a sensitive and mysterious coming-of-age story by François Ozon, adapted from Aidan Chambers’ novel Dance on My Grave; and The Ties, the opening film at this year’s Venice International Film Festival that portrays a couple who are tied together even after their separation and divorce. [ Open Cinema Section Screening List ] The Asadas Director | NAKANO Ryota | Japan The Asadas was inspired by photographer Asada Masashi’s photography books. Nakano Ryota, who has told stories of families in Her Love Boils Bathwater and A Long Goodbye, once again delivers consolation and warmth with humor through The Asadas. DAEMUGA Director | LEE Hanjong | Korea DAEMUGA is a film that consists of four main characters, starting with an incident in which a professional shaman named Shin Nam unexpectedly becomes involved. The unpredictable genre, anomalies, and variations of the ‘excitement’ are the charm of DAEMUGA. My Missing Valentine Director | CHEN Yu-Hsun | Taiwan My Missing Valentine is a story about Xiao Chi, who is always a step ahead and her first love who is always a step behind, finally meeting after 20 years apart. Combining reality and fantasy and free-flowing time, this lovely romantic comedy is brought to life through rookie actor Patty Lee’s charming performance. A project of the Asia Project Market 2001, Chen Yu-hsun returns to Busan after a 19-year hiatus. Soul Director | Pete DOCTER, Kemp POWERS | United States Disney and Pixar’s Soul is the story of Joe Gardner, a middle school band teacher who gets a chance to play the best jazz club in town. But one small misstep sends him to the cosmic realm, where he discovers the answers to some of life’s most important questions. Summer of 85 Director | François OZON | France Adapting Aidan Chambers’ novel Dance on My Grave, which was one of the outstanding readings of his youth, François Ozon wrote a sensitive and mysterious coming of age story. This autobiographical part makes Summer of 85 a very touching movie, which is also a dive into the music and fashion of this period. The Ties Director | Daniele LUCHETTI | Italy The opening film of the Venice International Film Festival 2020 follows a couple over a span of 30 years who cannot let go of each other even after separation and divorce. Crossing between Rome and Naples, the present and the past, Luchetti unfolds an intimate story of a desolate home, a cat, and a secret box.
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2nd Chungju International Martial Arts and Action Film Festival to Open on October 22, 2020
The 2nd Chungju International Martial Arts and Action Film Festival is scheduled to be held for 5 days, October 22~26, 2020, in Chungju, South Korea. Held for the first time in August last year in Cheongju and Chungju in a significant success as the only film festival in martial arts and modern action genre in Korea, the inaugural Chungju International Martial Arts and Action Film Festival was applauded by many martial arts and action film fans. Due to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic, period of the 2nd Festival is postponed from August to October, and films will be screened both online and offline via Wavve, an online screening platform, as well as at drive-in theaters and cinemas in the city. And, for safety and comfortable viewing of the audience, the Executive Committee of the Festival is taking all necessary preventive measures against the epidemic. To enhance unique identity of the Chungju International Martial Arts and Action Film Festival, the Executive Committee recently redesigned its emblem based on the three-legged crow, an auspicious bird in imagination. The new emblem is arranged with formative characteristics of film that symbolize movies along with a symbol of the three-legged crow. It expresses materialization of phantasies into films. The official poster of the Festival is created based on three keywords; dynamicity, continuity and availability. It is designed with an intention to create an identity of the Festival that satisfies all of these key words – dynamicity that represents martial arts with kinesthesia and sense of beating which touches the heart, continuity which represents rolls of films that are created by connecting numerous image cuts and the film festival that is continued every year, and availability that can be flexibly used at various contact points which apprise of the film festival, while maintaining consistency. Under the slogan of ‘The Spirit of Martial Arts, Blossom into a Movie’, a large number of martial arts and action films, which are yet to be introduced in Korea, will be shown in collaboration in programs with other international film festivals in martial arts and action genre, including ‘The Fighting Spirit Film Festival’ in the United Kingdom and the ‘Universal Martial Arts Film Festival’ in France. And the Festival will screen more than 70 martial arts and action films from many countries, including ‘Fist of Fury’ and ‘The Way of the Dragon’ featured by Bruce Lee, the icon of action, as well as family action films that can be enjoyed altogether by family members. These works will be shown in 6 sections, such as ‘Korean Action Films: Hall of Fame’, ‘Special Show in Honor of Bruce Lee’, ‘World Action Films’, ‘Action! Indi-days’, ‘Family Action Films’, and ‘Programmer Choice’. As the opening film to be unveiled for the first time in the world (world premiere) at the forthcoming Festival, ‘Dragon Inn’, which looks like an ordinary Chinese restaurant, deals with story of a civil militia that serves justice on cases in which justice couldn’t be served by the judicial authority. This film is produced by Director Choi Sang-hun who directed ‘The Therapist Fist of Tae-baek’ which was nominated as one of competitors in the Korean Fantastic Category at the 24th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival. Honored with the award for best direction, award for best actor and audience award at the Rincon International Film Festival, the closing film ‘The Man from Kathumandu’ directed by Director Pema Dhondup will be screened for the first time in Korea (Korea premiere). Featuring anecdotes of a Nepal-ancestored main figure who visited Kathumandu to look for his father, the film depicts his experiences in contacting his country’s tradition, culture and root. Kim Yun-sik, Senior Programmer, said that the Chungju International Martial Arts and Action Film Festival selected a world premiere film and a Korea premiere work as the opening and closing film, respectively, because it aims to demonstrate its direction growing as an internationally competitive film festival that discovers and publicizes diversified martial arts and action films hidden in each country. Having been organized in June this year, the Executive Committee of the Chungju International Martial Arts and Action Film Festival has been working on preparation for the Festival. Director Lee Du-yong who led growth and transformation of the film industry in Korea in the 1970s and 1980s with works, including ‘The Last Witness’ and ‘The Hut’, was elected as the Chairman of the Executive Committee following last year and Prof. Kim Gyeong-sik at Cheongju University was named as the Vice Chairman of the Committee. In addition, a host of prominent specialists who are active in a range of film and culture fields joined as members of the Committee. New committee members include Jo Dong-gwan, President of Korea Society of Cinematographers; Jo Chang-hi, Director of Korea Culture and Arts Management Research Institute; Ahn Tae-geun, President of Korea Bruce Lee Foundation; Jeong Seong-il, film critic; Jang Cheol-su, film director; Pak Hyo-geun, President of Chungju Chapter of Federation of Korea Filmmakers; Kim Yong-cheol, division director at SBS; and Kim Dong-won, Vice President of Taewon Entertainment. And those who were entrusted again this year include Prof. Lee Se-chang at Far East University who led the last year’s festival in a stable manner; Kim Woo-seok, an action actor who is well known as ‘Bruce Khan’; and Kim Eun-seob, President of Korea Savate Federation. Actor Oh Ji-ho was designated as the honorary ambassador for the Festival this year. Oh Ji-ho demonstrated impressive actions in daily soap operas ‘Fantastic Couple’ in MBC TV and ‘The Slave Hunters’ in KBS2 channel, and he showed splendid actions in films, ‘The Prisoner’ and ‘The Therapist Fist of Tae-baek’, this year. Having featured in the opening film, ‘Dragon Inn’, he is closely related to the Festival, and he is expected to actively take part in a variety of publicity activities for the Festival.
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Asia Contents & Film Market 2020 Announces Nominees for the 2nd Asia Contents Award
The Asian Contents & Film Market announces nominees for the 2nd Asia Contents Awards, which will be held on October 25th. This year’s Asia Contents Awards will be broadcast online due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The Asia Contents Awards recognizes outstanding Asian content from TV, OTT and other diverse platforms. Open calls for applications have been made this year with 75 submissions accepted from 17 countries. Preliminary and final selections have selected 28 works from 12 countries to compete in 7 categories. In addition, the three categories including the Lifetime Achievement Award, Excellence Award and Best Rising Star will be announced without nominees on the day of the ceremony. The nine jurors for the final selection include Yao Chen, the winner of Best Actress in the Asia Content Awards 2019; Stephen Fung, a Chinese director and actor; Joo Chulhwan, a professor at Ajou University in Korea; and Terawaki Ken, a professor at Kyoto University of the Arts. This year’s Asia Contents Awards nominees contain Korean dramas that have attracted many international and local viewers including The World of the Married, Crash Landing on You, When the Camellia Blooms, Kingdom S2, Hospital Playlist, Extracurricular and Hyena. International nominees include Taiwanese drama The Victims' Game (five nominations), a story about a forensic detective with Asperger’s syndrome, and The Bad Kids (four nominations), a Chinese breakout OTT series released in the first half of 2020. Other nominated works from Asia include Japanese TV series Nagi’s Long Vacation and Solitary Gourmet S8; Singaporean TV series Last Madame; and Thai TV series One Year and In Family We Trust. The Asia Content Awards will strictly comply with government social distancing measures. To safely hold the ceremony, only the hosts and performers will be on the onsite venue; in addition, international and local awardees and recipients will attend online. Broadcasting online is expected to present a new aspect of the award in the era of the New Normal. The ceremony will be hosted by Nichkhun, actor and a member of Korean boy band 2PM, and Kim Sae-yeon, the previous-year’s host and winner of the Miss Korea 2019 title. Performances to celebrate the awards will be given by Korean girl band Lovelyz and Kim Jae-hwan, who sings the original sound track from Crash Landing on You. The 2nd Asia Contents Awards will be broadcast online at the official YouTube channel of the Busan International Film Festival on Oct 25th, 4 pm - 6pm (KST).
