Fondazione In Between Art Film | Floating Cinema - Unknown Waters | from August 20, Venice
BIFF, A Special Program: The Best Asian Films by Female Directors, 'Wonder Women Movies'
Asia Contents Awards 2021 Call for Submissions
Louis Siciliano is the composer of the new feature film directed by Dario Argento
The 26th Busan International Film Festival honors the late Lee Choon-yun as a recipient of Korean Cinema Award
GHOST LAB Virtual Premiere, Netflix Hosts Thailand’s first-ever virtual red carpet event
THE END OF THE HEIST IS APPROACHING, Part 5 of the iconic series will be released in two volumes
Filipina Filmmaker and her Award Winning Satire About White Fragility, "ALLY 3000" featured on KOFY House
World Premiere of the Movie Unsinkable: The Secret to Bouncing Back
ILLUMINATE Film Festival in Sedona, Arizona - Grace and Grit - Special Presentation
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ILLUMINATE Film Festival Offers Best of Conscious Cinema at Sixth Annual Event
ILLUMINATE Film Festival, the nation’s premier conscious film festival, returns in both a virtual and in-person format with a stellar lineup of films, premieres, panels, parties, and special events for its 6th annual showcase May 20-26 in Sedona, Arizona. Over seven days, ILLUMINATE will screen 30 films— as well as host signature panels, filmmaker Q&As, luminary conversations, and stimulating immersive workshops—featuring more than 75 filmmakers, guest speakers, and film industry representatives from around the globe. ILLUMINATE showcases ground-breaking narrative features, documentaries, and shorts in the genre of transformational entertainment, including inspirational human journey stories and themes related to wellness, mindfulness, science and spirituality, social and environmental sustainability, human potential, and personal growth. “The festival is designed to help audiences find their true path to well-being,” says festival founder and Executive Director Danette Wolpert. “And with the year we all just had, we feel these films — and the festival — are needed more than ever.” - IN-PERSON FESTIVAL Highlights ILLUMINATE begins Wednesday, May 19 with a FREE Open Air Kickoff Screening of We Are The Thousand, a rousing film about the power of music that follows a group of musicians willing to go the mile to get their favorite band to play in their small town. Luminary Screenings - Deepak Chopra will receive the festival’s 5th annual Conscious Visionary Award Tuesday, May 25 following the world premiere screening of The Way of Miracles at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre (MDF). Chopra’s prolific work over the last few decades in mind-body medicine, highlighted over decades in dozens of documentaries, has paved the way for the return of ancient wisdom and practices into our modern lives and for countless people to move from disease to health. Following the May 25 showing of the touching drama-love story Grace and Grit, a narrative film based on the life of iconic philosopher and “Einstein of Consciousness” Ken Wilber, MDF audiences will revel in an unforgettable Luminary Living Room Conversation with Ken Wilber, Deepak Chopra, Marianne Williamson, and filmmaker Sebastian Siegel. Drive-In Movies & Dance Party - New this year is the festival's pop-up Drive-In, located at the Sedona Airport, playing audience favorites May 21-23 such as Mucho Mucho Amor, a Sundance selection about the inimitable, legendary astrologer and psychic Walter Mercado, and Dreamer, an inspiring ode to living one’s dreams no matter the obstacles. On May 22, attendees are invited to stay after the drive-in screening of the joyous Playing for Keeps for a "LET LOOSE" Drive-In Dance Party in the open air. Attendees are encouraged to bring their glow sticks, hula hoops, roller skates, and dancing shoes, and let loose! Evening Meetups - Area restaurants are inviting festival-goers to meet up for evening fun, food and drink. Select restaurants will offer ILLUMINATE specials on specified evenings throughout the week. Check http://illuminatefilmfestival.com/meet-ups for the locations and times. - VIRTUAL FESTIVAL Highlights ILLUMINATE’s largest-ever lineup features 9 World Premieres, 8 North American, US, or Southwest Premieres, Virtual Gala Screenings & Spotlights, Short Film Programs, and Luminary Tributes. 27 of the 30 films are available on-demand and can be watched anytime over the 7-day festival window. - Gala Films The Opening Film is AWARE: Glimpses of Consciousness, a North American premiere that follows six gifted researchers as they explore the mystery of consciousness. The Festival's Centerpiece Screening will feature the world premiere of The Seeds of Vandana Shiva, which tells the remarkable life story of eco-activist and agro-ecologist, Vandana Shiva, who rose from obscurity to become the most articulate voice for organic food systems. For the Closing Film, ILLUMINATE screens the world premiere of Samadhi Road, a deep exploration of spiritual awakening featuring interviews with Benny Golson, Sonny Rollins, Robert Thurman, and the inimitable Mooji. Filmmaker Q&As - Look no further for inspired wisdom than this year’s nationally renowned guests, including Marci Shimoff, Bob Proctor, Lisa Nichols, Vandana Shiva, Gregg Braden, Bruce Lipton, and Lynne McTaggart. Every day of the festival, audiences can connect directly with filmmakers, film subjects, wisdom teachers, thought-leaders, and healers in our Virtual Q&As. Check the livestream schedule at https://watch.eventive.org/ill... Virtual Event with Lynne McTaggart - Renowned author of The Power of Eight and ILLUMINATE's 2021 Humanitarian Award recipient Lynne McTaggart offers a free historic event on May 21st at 10 am MST to help end polarization in America. Conscious Film Convergence - At ILLUMINATE’s 2021 Conscious Film Convergence, a two-day program of educational panels and spotlight conversations for film industry professionals and aspirants, registrants will delve into live conversations with conscious media trailblazers such as: . Pete Docter, Pixar Animations Studios Chief Creative Officer, Oscar-winning director (Soul, Inside Out, Up, Monsters, Inc.) and recipient of ILLUMINATE’s 2021 Inspiration & Impact Storyteller Award; · Regina K. Scully, Artemis Rising Foundation founder, pre-eminent conscious film financier, and recipient of ILLUMINATE’s Trailblazer Award; · Christopher Vogler, screenwriter, educator, author of The Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers; · And 15 others! Take Twenty Industry Mentoring - All-Access pass holders can land 20 minutes of one-on-one time with up to three of the festival’s 20 nationally respected film industry mentors, including Kino Lorber CEO Richard Lorber, Gathr Films CEO Scott Glosserman, Seed & Spark CEO Emily Best, and The Urban Monk Pedram Shojai, among others. Special Events - ILLUMINATE hosts special online events offering a group experience, including 2 virtual parties and an all-new 9-day LIFE-QUEST led by Sonia Ricotti - Festival Experience featuring 7 curated films, 5 live masterclasses, and a community forum. - NINE WORLD PREMIERES Nine documentary films are slated to make their world debuts at the 2021 ILLUMINATE Film Festival. “It’s a testament to the universal quest for connection, and why we created the festival as a home and launching platform for conscious films,” said Danette Wolpert. “We’re honored that a growing number of films choose to show here before anywhere else.” World premieres have more than doubled since the festival’s inaugural installment in 2014. Part of a world-class film line-up, the nine world premiers join a festival gaining increasing recognition not only for the quality and intent of its films but also as a “destination festival” and conscious experience in itself. ILLUMINATE was selected by The Huffington Post as a “top festival to revitalize the soul.” In addition to those mentioned above, world premieres include Ama’ara: the Song of the Whales, Day of A Stranger, LOTUS, The Calling, Touched: A Massage Story, and Unsinkable: The Secret to Bouncing Back. The full lineup of films can be found at https://illuminate2021.eventiv... & PASSES Individual tickets ($12-$25) and festival passes ($149-$333) can be purchased at www.illuminatefilm2021.com. Conscious Film Convergence passes are $60. Major sponsors include Spirituality & Health Magazine, Sedona Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau, Mangurama, Chocolate Organic Oasis, Saturday Night Alive, Jess Magic, Global Coherence Pulse, and Sedona Arts Academy. ILLUMINATE 2021 takes place May 20-26 online and in Sedona, Arizona at the Mary D. Fisher Theater, the Sedona Airport Drive-In, and The Collective Sedona. The festival is dedicated to ensuring our audiences feel safe and will therefore comply with recommended CDC guidelines, including socially distanced seating, air and surface sanitizing, and mask-wearing where appropriate. Safety protocols can be viewed on our website.
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Asian Project Market 2021 Call for Applications
Applications for the Busan International Film Festival’s Asian Project Market (APM) are now open until Tuesday, June 15. Initiated in 1998 as the Pusan Promotion Plan (PPP), APM links new film projects by emerging and established directors with global film investors, producers and distributors. Every year, creative feature film projects selected by APM are given the opportunity to take their new projects forward with potential investment and co-production partners. At an unprecedented crisis due to COVID-19, APM put a high priority on safety and health of audiences and film industry professionals, having done the event online last year. APM celebrated last year’s edition by arranging 463 official business meetings with the participation of 193 related guests from 36 countries and have clarified its place as the international co-production market. APM has selected 619 projects for over the last 23 years, and about 250 projects have been completed, having been showcased in leading film festivals as well as in the Busan International Film Festival. Projects from previous editions have shown great achievements. In Korea, a number of APM projects recently introduced have been completed and released in theaters. It includes Illang: The Wolf Brigade (2018) directed by Kim Jee-woon, Herstory (2018) directed by Min Kyu-dong, A French Woman (2019) directed by Kim Hee-Jung, The House of Us (2019) directed by Yoon Ga-eun and Three Sisters (2020) directed by Lee Seung-won. My Missing Valentine by director Chen Yu-hsun (Taiwan) has been invited to the Busan International Film Festival 2020 and awarded for Best Feature Film, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Visual Effects and Best Film Editing at the Golden Horse Awards 2020, and Any Crybabies Around? by director Sato Takuma (Japan) won the Jury Prize for Best Cinematography at the San Sebastian Film Festival 2020 and nominated in the New Directors Competition section at the Chicago International Film Festival 2020. Fan Girl directed by Antoinette Jadaone (Philippines) was officially invited to the competition section at Tokyo International Film Festival and Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival in 2020. More than 5 projects discovered by APM were completed and received well-deserved recognition at international film festivals last year. To discover new and striking film projects for APM 2021, APM is now accepting submissions at its official website until June 15. To learn more about submission process, visit http://apm.biff.kr/eng. APM 2021 will be held from October 12 to October 14 for 3 days online. The 26th Busan International Film Festival will be held from October 6 to October 15, 2021 Asian Contents & Film Market (ACFM) 2021 will be held from October 11 to 14 Asian Project Market (APM) 2021 will be held from October 12 to 14
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Busan International Film Festival BIFF Ontact #An-yeong_Project ‘Last Letter’ Video Release
BIFF Ontact ‘An-yeong Project’ has been completed releasing the last episode ‘Last Letter’ in series of last 5 episodes opened to the public since 1st of January this year. This project has started with the actress Kim Sae-byuk and the actor Iwase Ryo of A Midsummer’s Fantasia last January, and followed by the director Kawase Naomi and the actress Moon So-ri, the stars of the film Extreme Job, Ryu Seung-yong, Lee Hanee, Jin Sun-kyu, Lee Dong-hwi and Gong-myoung, the cast of The Asian Angel, expected to be released soon, Ikematsu Sosuke, Choi Hee-seo and Odagiri Joe, the actress Bang Min-a of the film Snowball and the actress Ahn Hee-yeon from Young Adult Matters. Snowball and Young Adult Matters were official selection of the Busan International Film Festival 2020. The project presents scenes of everyday life of filmmakers who are going on these difficult times regardless the distance. Busan International Film Festival has hosted this project to wish for everyone’s wellbeing as there were not physical events at the festival due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The project is particularly special revealing behind stories on set and talking about the films in depth. BIFF Ontact ‘An-yeong Project’, released through Busan International Film Festival’s official social channels, will contribute to domestic/international film industry going through the difficult times of COVID-19. Each Like, Comment and Share will be raised 1,000 KRW and donated to the film industry. The 5 serial projects were sponsored by luxury automotive brand Genesis and Busan International Film Festival will continuously proceed these meaningful projects in the second half of the year. Busan International Film Festival will be held with Opening Ceremony on the 6th of October to 15th October 2021 for 10 days making special movements such as ‘An-yeoung Project’. *안녕(An-yeong) is a Korean way to say hello which means ‘at peace without any trouble’.
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Asian Project Market 2020 Opens Virtual Event
Asian Project Market (APM), which is the biggest market for investment and co-production in Asia, will be held online for 3 days from Oct 26th (Mon) to 28th (Wed). APM will be held online this year for local and international participants who cannot physically be present at onsite business meetings due to the COVID-19 outbreak. This year marks the 23rd edition of APM, a business platform introducing aspiring worldwide film projects to industry professionals and providing an exemplary opportunity to invest and co-produce. Since its foundation in 1998, APM has presented 585 projects in total, with more than 250 completed into films. Twenty-one projects will explore new possibilities through this year’s APM. Among this year’s projects, there are 6 Korean projects including The Survivor by Kim Seungwoo; A Thousand Years Together by Ahn Jaehuun; A Bite of the Cosmos by Shin Dongseok; Flowers of Mold by Shim Hyejung; Nowhere To HideⅡ by Lee Myungse; and A Taegueki Boy by Jeong Heejae. Other notable projects are Tick It by director Tran Thanh Huy, winner of Busan International Film Festival's New Currents Award 2019 for Rom, and A River in the Mirror by director Tashi Gyeltshen, FIPRESCI International Critics' Award 2018 winner for The Red Phallus. In addition, film projects that seek co-production opportunities including LOVE LIFE directed by Fukada Koji and LAVA directed by QU Youjia are also noteworthy. On October 28th, APM 2020 will announce awardees for Busan Award, CJ Entertainment Award, ArteKino International Prize and MONEFF Award. For further information about APM, please visit the official website https://apm2020.biff.kr
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Asian Contents & Film Market 2020 Announced the Winners of Asia Contents Awards
On October 25th (Sun), the Asian Contents & Film Market announced the winners of the 2nd Asia Contents Awards online. The Asia Contents Awards recognizes outstanding TV and OTT dramas across Asia. 10 Awards categories are ▲Best Creative▲Best Asian Drama▲Best Actress ▲Best Actor ▲Best Writer▲Newcomer▲Technical Achievement Award▲Best Rising Star▲Lifetime Achievement ▲ Excellence Award. A list of the Winner of Asia Contents Awards 2020
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The 25th Busan International Film Festival Holds Master Class with Director Mira Nair
The 25th Busan International Film Festival holds a master class by renowned filmmaker Mira Nair. Nair is the head juror of this year’s New Currents section. Master class is an opportunity for aspiring filmmakers and film industry professionals to study the oeuvre of acclaimed filmmakers and gain their insights. Unlike in the previous years, this year’s master classes are held online due to the impact of COVID-19. Mira Nair was born in India and studied filmmaking in the United States. She afterwards continued making films in India, United States, and East Africa, creating a unique oeuvre with her point of view on each region’s culture and identity. Nair received over 25 awards including the Caméra d’Or at the 41st Cannes Film Festival with her debut film Salaam Bombay! (1988), and she received the Golden Lion Award at the 58th Venice International Film Festival with Monsoon Wedding (2001). Through topics such as, “Talk about her life as a filmmaker living in different places,” and “Living between worlds,” participants will be able to take a look at director Mira Nair’s life and films. Master class with Mira Nair will take place online for about an hour on October 22nd (Thu) from 11pm KST with the 25th Busan International Film Festival selection directors and filmmakers. Hwang Hei-rim, a research fellow at the Busan International Film Festival’s Jiseok Film Institute and a producer at film studio Metaplay, is the moderator of the master class. Master class videos will be made available on the Busan International Film Festival’s official YouTube channel.
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The Busan International Film Festival GV Made Together with Film and Audiences
Day 1 of the 25th Busan International Film Festival was full of diverse meetings with audiences. Although the 25th Busan International Film Festival is not holding events such as Open Talk or Outdoor Greeting, it comes to audiences with diverse and new forms of GV. - Simultaneous Screening & GV Across Borders in Thailand and Vietnam School Town King in the Wide Angle section and Sister Sister in A Window on Asian Cinema section conducted simultaneous screening and GV in Thailand and Vietnam respectively. The events were met with success as audiences in both countries avidly interacted online after the screenings. In addition, although directors Michel Franco of New Order and Imanol Rayo of Death Knell could not greet the audiences in person, they sent videos introducing the films and expressing messages of appreciation to the audiences. - Hybrid GV Held Online and Offline A Korean Cinema Today-Panorama section selection Peninsula held a hybrid GV, where producer Lee Dongha and actor Kwon Hae-hyo participated onsite while director Yeon Sangho participated online. The audience was able to interact with director and the cast online and offline by sharing their comments and questions via the open chat room. The Busan International Film Festival is creating new ways with film and audiences through these difficult times.
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Asian Contents & Film Market 2020 Announces Online Event with E-IP Selections from Taiwan and Japan
Asian Contents & Film Market (ACFM) goes entirely online this year, from October 26th to 28th, for three days, due to the COVID-19 impact. Asian Contents & Film Market Goes Entirely Online Asian Contents & Film Market, which opened at BEXCO annually, will be held entirely online this year. Both domestic and international agencies and buyers will communicate through online booths and be provided with online screenings. Various programs, in the form of web seminars, will be held as well. ACFM’s original copyright trading zone, the Entertainment Intellectual Property (E-IP) Market, was initially planned to be held partly on site this year for domestic participants; however, the format has changed entirely to an online platform due to the continuing COVID-19. E-IP Market participants can conduct their transactions via business video meetings. E-IP Market pitching will go online as well. Marking its second year, the Asia Contents Awards (ACA) will also be held virtually. ACA is dedicated to recognizing distinguished TV and OTT drama series across Asia. Nominees will be disclosed in late September, and the winners will be awarded for the 10 sections through an online ceremony on October 25th. Further details on the ACFM 2020 will be available soon at the website(www.acfm.kr). 18 E-IP Market Selections from Taiwan and Japan Announced Asian Contents & Film Market announced 18 E-IP Market selections from Taiwan and Japan. Starting this year, the E-IP Market will partner with the Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA) and the Visual Industry Promotion Organization (VIPO) and present original IPs selected by the two institutions. TAICCA is a subsidiary department under the Ministry of Culture, supporting Taiwan’s contents industry: film, TV production, music, and fashion. A total of 10 Taiwanese original IP selections will be introduced in the first year of the E-IP market participation. The selections range diverse genres and platforms, selected in regards to uniqueness, the feasibility of visualization, and the prominence of original authors. VIPO supports the Japanese content industry, including film, TV production, music, publication, character, and games. This is the first year VIPO has joined the E-IP Market, selecting 8 selections from various platforms: manga, book, web novel, and radio drama. In addition to the selections, 25 original IPs that share the equivalent quality will also be presented. A total of 35 original IPs, 17 selections from Korea, 18 from Taiwan and Japan, will be presented at the Asian Contents & Film Market, held October 26th to October 28th.
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The 25th Busan International Film Festival Official Poster Reveal
The 25th Busan International Film Festival, held from Oct 21st (Wed) to Oct 30th (Fri), reveals its official poster. On September 11th (Fri), the Busan International Film Festival announced at its board meeting that it will not proceed with events such as the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, Red Carpet, Outdoor Greeting, and Open Talk in order to prevent crowds from gathering. The decision was made with the safety of audiences and citizens in mind. The Busan International Film Festival plans to focus on film screenings in strict compliance with the government’s preventive guidelines and ensure the safe operation of the festival. The 25th Busan International Film Festival’s official poster, announced under these circumstances, embodies the spirit of perseverance. The sculpture, representative of the Busan International Film Festival, stands tall above the Busan seashore and watches over the cinematic frontier. It is also reminiscent of a film projector, whose unwavering beam shines on despite hardships. The blue twilight that shrouds the poster represents all of us who awaken the new day with renewed hope. The poster was created by director Kim Sang-man. It is significant that this year’s poster is the first to be designed by someone currently active in Korean cinema. Kim wears many hats in the film industry: director, art director, and poster artist. Kim started out as the poster artist for The Contact (1997) and continued to create memorable posters for A Good Lawyer’s Wife (2003), Sympathy for Lady Vengeance (2005), and The Host (2006). He art directed Happy End (1999) and Joint Security Area (2000); and he directed Girl Scout (2008), Midnight F.M. (2010), and The Tenor – Lirico Spinto (2014). He recently gained attention for his poster design for Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite (2019). The 25th Busan International Film Festival will be held for 10 days from October 21st (Wed) at the Busan Cinema Center.
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The 14th Asian Film Awards Nominations Announced
The Asian Film Awards Academy (“AFAA”) proudly presents the 14th Asian Film Awards (“AFA14”). For the first time ever the awards presentation will align with the Busan International Film Festival. AFA14 will present 16 awards recognising artistic and technical achievements in Asian cinema. The nominations were released today, and winners will be announced and presented with awards on 14 October. Given the ongoing COVID- 19 pandemic, the awards presentation will be broadcast online. All guests and viewers will be able to watch the show on YouTube. Lee Yong-kwan, Chairman of the Busan International Film Festival, says, “We are delighted to host the prestigious Asian Film Awards in Busan, Asia’s first UNESCO Creative City of Film. AFA14 sees its more intense competition in years since the nominees were drawn from all Asian films in 2019 and the first half of 2020. A total of 39 films from 11 countries and regions are nominated for awards. Despite limitations due to the global pandemic, we anticipate sharing the joyful moments with all award winners.” The top nominees are Bong Joon-ho’s Oscar-winning Parasite with 10 nominations, followed by So Long, My Son by Wang Xiaoshuai and A Sun by Chung Mong-hong, which have both been nominated in 7 categories. Other nominated films include Japanese novel-adapted youth story Listen to the Universe, Golden Bear- winning Iranian film There is No Evil, and Indian social Drama Thappad. Dr. Wilfred Wong, Chairman of AFAA and the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society, says, “This year, AFAA has taken a ground-breaking step to relocate the AFA14 award presentation to Busan. Though we are facing unprecedented challenges brought by the global coronavirus outbreak, we continue to do our best to connect everyone and express our commitment towards the Asian film industry. I look forward to another edition of celebration and wish AFAA continuing success in providing platforms for nurturing talents and facilitating cultural exchanges in the film industry.” “Despite all the hardships as a result of COVID-19, we are pleased that AFA 14 will take place in Busan for the first time, and I pay my heartfelt respects and gratitude to all those who are involved. I hope that the Asian film industry will further strengthen cooperation through AFA in the future," says Ando Hiroyasu, Chairman of Tokyo International Film Festival. Announcement of the winners will be broadcast on our “Asian Film Awards Academy” YouTube Channel on 14 October (Wednesday) in English and subtitled versions will be available from November.
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Asian Contents & Film Market Unveils Plans for 2020 Edition and E-IP Market Selections
Asian Contents & Film Market Runs as a Combined Virtual and Physical Event The Asian Contents & Film Market (ACFM), which had its name changed from Asian Film Market in last May, will run as a combined virtual and physical event from October 12th (Mon) to 14th (Wed). The Film Market, which previously took place at BEXCO, Busan will be held entirely online. ACFM will host an online market booth and screening to sales companies on a web-based platform free of charge. These proactive changes will facilitate easy communication between sales agents and buyers from all over the world. Market participants and buyers can quickly access sales companies’ line-up and online screening. Entertainment Intellectual Property (E-IP) Market, a trading zone for a variety of original content, will be a combined online and onsite event. The physical component of the E-IP Market will be held at Exhibition Center 2, BEXCO in compliance with proper safety protocols and quarantine guidelines set by central and local governments. ACFM 2020 online enhancements will effectively spur business meetings for local and international film industry professionals who cannot physically be present due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Further details will be announced on the ACFM website (www.acfm.kr). E-IP Market Announces 17 Selections from Korea This year, industry professionals are introduced to E-IP Market projects, which integrated Book To Film and E-IP Pitching, selections of original books and web content, respectively. E-IP Market will present all original IP (books, webcomics, web novels, and stories) selections regardless of category and operate as an integrated event. Included in the E-IP Market selections are 17 Korean projects of the diverse genre. In particular, the sci-fi and fantasy genre based on unique storylines, comedy and drama highlight lively characters, action themes and noir genre as told through dynamic narrations. E-IP Market will also present diverse original content by cooperating with the Japanese organization, the Visual Industry Promotion Organization (VIPO), and the Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA). E-IP Market selections from Japan and Taiwan will be announced soon. E-IP Market selections have resulted in positive achievements by successfully finalizing a number of copyright agreements. Book To Film 2019 selection Abyss (INDIEPAPER) finalized a copyright contract for film production with RED PETER - the production house of the 2017 and 2020 official selections for the Cannes Film Festival, Train to Busan and Peninsula, respectively. E-IP Pitching 2019 selection It’s Mine (YJ Comics) made a contract with Studio Dragon, and Goldfish (TOYOU’S DREAM), currently under film co-production by Studio N and C-JeS Entertainment. E-IP Market is expected to uplift the possibilities of adaptation for diverse content and revitalize the overall content market. It will take place at Exhibition Center 2, BEXCO from October 12th (Mon) to 14th (Wed), and will merge an online business meeting and scheduling platform for local and international industry professionals who cannot physically participate in the market.
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24th Busan International Film Festival Awards Announced
1. New Currents Award Winner 1: Rom | TRAN THANH Huy | Vietnam Winner 2: Haifa Street | Mohanad HAYAL | Iraq Special Mention: Just Like That | Kislay KISLAY| India 2. Kim Jiseok Award Winner 1: Circus of Life | Sarmad Sultan KHOOSAT | Pakistan Winner 2: Market | Pradip KURBAH | India 3. BIFF Mecenat Award Winner 1: Underground | KIM Jeong-keun | Korea Winner 2: Noodle Kid | HUO Ning | China 4. Sonje Award Winner 1: Hello | JIN Seong-moon | Korea Winner 2: Dragon′s Tail | Saeed KESHAVARZ | Iran 5. Actor & Actress of the Year Winner 1: The Education | KIM Junhyung | Korea Winner 2: The Education | MUN Hye-in | Korea 6. KNN Award Winner: An Old Lady | LIM Sun-ae | Korea 7. Busan Bank Award Winner: Fabulous | Me?lanie CHARBONNEAU | Canada 8. FIPRESCI Award Winner: Running to the Sky | Mirlan ABDYKALYKOV | Kyrgyzstan 9. NETPAC Award Winner: Moving On | YOON Danbi | Korea 10. KTH Award Winner 1: Lucky Monster | BONG Joon-young | Korea Winner 2: Moving on | YOON Danbi | Korea 11. KBS Independent Film Award Winner: LUCKY CHAN-SIL | KIM Cho-hee | Korea 12. CGV Arthouse Award Winner: LUCKY CHAN-SIL | KIM Cho-hee | Korea 13. Directors Guild of Korea Award Winner 1: Moving on | YOON Danbi | Korea Winner 2: LUCKY CHAN-SIL | KIM Cho-hee | Korea 14. CGK&SamyangXEEN Award Winner: Kyungmi’s World | Cinematographer KIM Gilja | Korea 15. Citizen Critics’ Award Winner: Moving On | YOON Danbi | Korea 16. Busan Cinephile Award Winner: Que Sea Ley (Let It Be Law) | Juan SOLANAS | Argentina/Uruguay
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24th Busan International Film Festival Vision's Night Award Announcement
FIPRESCI Award Film Title: Running to the Sky Director: Mirlan ABDYKALYKOV (Kyrgyzstan) NETPAC Award Film Title: Moving On Director: YOON Danbi (Korea) KTH Award Film Title: Lucky Monster Director: BONG Joon-young (Korea) Film Title: Moving On Director: YOON Danbi (Korea) KBS Independent Film Award Film Title: LUCKY CHAN-SIL Director: KIM Cho-hee (Korea) CGV Arthouse Award Film Title: LUCKY CHAN-SIL Director: KIM Cho-hee (Korea) Directors Guild of Korea Award Film Title: Moving On Director: YOON Danbi (Korea) Film Title: LUCKY CHAN-SIL Director: KIM Cho-hee (Korea) CGK&SamyangXEEN Award Film Title: Kyungmi’s World Cinematography: KIM Gilja Citizen Critics' Award Film Title: Moving On Director: YOON Danbi (Korea) Busan Cinephile Award Film Title: Que Sea Ley (Let It Be Law) Director: Juan SOLANAS (Argentina)
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Asian Film Market 2019 Final Report: Successful Closing of the 14th Asian Film Market with the Great Attention
On October 8th, the Asian Film Market 2019 successfully completed its 4-day journey. This year saw many increases; 2,188 professionals from 983 enterprises located in 56 countries participated and actively engaged in production, investment, acquisition, distribution and sales for film, broadcasting and original content rights. The number of enterprises participating in booths has increased by 17% from the previous year, to promote and sell a wider range of content and copyrights. Its record-breaking number of arranged meetings affirms growing attention towards 48 promising original IPs from Korea and Asia (Japan and Taiwan) presented through Book To Film, E-IP Pitching and Asian IP Showcase. In particular, Link of Cine-Asia led by the Busan Film Commission, and promotional booths from the Asian Film CommissionsNetwork (AFCNet) were set in BEXCO. Various pitching and technical seminars, including Story to Film organized by the Korean Creative Content Agency (KOCCA) and Comics & Film Pitching Show 2019 also added richness and color to the 14th Asian Film Market. In addition, this year's newly established Asia Contents Awards raised interest in dramas, actors and writers representing 14 Asian countries who wish to expand business boundaries in the Asian Film Market. - More Korean Broadcasting companies newly joined, film sales companies outperformed, record-breaking participating of European Sales agencies The Asian Film Market’s foremost mission for 2019 was to invite broadcasting companies and license purchasers to make broadcasting copyright deals through agreements with the Korea Broadcasting Channel Promotion Association. CJ ENM, JTBC, MBC+, and KBS N have newly joined the Asian Film Market 2019 with booths, recording over $2 million worth of involvement from Japan, Taiwan, and Southeast Asian countries. A total of 36 sales companies affiliated with the European Film Promotion (EFP) made vigorous attempts at business deals, the largest participation of European sales agency ever. Among many brilliant Korean titles, Man of Men, The Battle: Roar to Victory from ShowBox, KIM JI-YOUNG, BORN 1982 of LOTTE Entertainment, the closing film of the 24th Busan International Film Festival Winter Moonlit from Finecut and Battle of Jangsari received special attention from buyers - Book To Film and E-IP Pitching Selections Closing the Deal For its 5th edition, a total of 30 selections from Korean contents and 18 publications from Japan and Taiwan were introduced in the E-IP Market. The Event Room at BEXCO was filled with 600 industry professionals, from home and abroad involved in film, TV, OTT and 568 meetings were arranged during the 3-day, which can be translated into the most number of meetings for all years, proving the growing attention towards the sale of rights for original content. A total of 3 original contents from 2019 selections are now closing contracts forfilm and TV adaptation. Freemasonry in Seoul by MACARON (KYOBO BOOK CENTER) has signed a contract with HELLO I AM NEWTOPIA for its film adaptation right, while The Girl Who Looks After the Dead by HANKYOREH PUBLISHING COMPANY made a deal with COPUS KOREA for drama adaptation. It’s also been decided that Goldfish by TOYOU’S DREAM will be made into film under the co-production of the production houses Studio N and C-JeS Entertainment. - E-IP Award 10 Selections Awarded As Showbox and Union Investment Partners newly joined the E-IP Market as corporate sponsors to the Book To Film and E-IP Pitching, 8 works were given honor of award in the 10 categories (a total of 70 million KRW cash prize) including long-time corporate sponsor Tory Comics Award. A Christmas with Jam by WISDOMHOUSE MEDIAGROUP INC. was awarded both the Showbox Choice Award and the Tory Comics Award. A Killer Lives Next Door by CABINET (ALL THAT STORY) won the Showbox Choice Award as well as the popularity based E-IP Audience Award that is decided by industry professionals involved in pitching. - The 1st Asia Contents Awards Held, All Seats Sold Out The Asia Contents Award, held for its first time on October 6th at Sohyang Theater, Dongseo University transferred the heat of the red carpet to interest in award-winning Asian dramas, actors, and creators. Among the 17 dramas from 14 countries, The Hormones, The Series (Thailand) won the Best Asian Drama Award and New Comer Award. Faculty (Singapore) also won the Best Asian Drama and the Best Rising Star Award. Netflix-distributing The Naked Director (Japan) received the Best Actor and the New Comer Award. Mr. Sunshine (Korea) won the Best Creative Award, which is given in honor of a producer who has delivered the most notable achievement in the Asian region for that year. * 2019 E-IP Awards Winners (Title / Company / Author/ IP) Showbox Choice Award – (Book To Film) A Killer Lives Next Door / CABINET (ALL THAT STORY) / KIM Seonghui Showbox Choice Award – (Book To Film) Mak-rye Park – I Can’t Go Just Yet / WISDOMHOUSE MEDIAGROUP INC. / PARK Mak-rye, KIM Yura Showbox Choice Award – (E-IP Pitching, Webtoon) Designer / JAEDAM MEDIA / Hatchling Showbox Choice Award – (E-IP Pitching, Webtoon) A Christmas with Jam / WISDOMHOUSE MEDIAGROUP INC. / Lucid Tory Comics Award – (E-IP Pitching, Webtoon) The Flower Bloomed by the Cloud / DAEWON C.I. INC. / Bionwho Tory Comics Award – (Book To Film) Press Jump to End the World / SAFEHOUSE / SHIM Neoul Tory Comics Award – (E-IP Pitching, Webtoon) Mr. 2 / STORYCOMPANY / PARK Bum Soo (Story) & CHEON Jin Hui (Art) Tory Comics Award – (E-IP Pitching, Webtoon) A Christmas with Jam / WISDOMHOUSE MEDIAGROUP INC. / Lucid Union SuperIP Award – (E-IP Pitching, Webtoon) It’s Mine / YJ COMICS / Lucks E-IP Audience Award – (Book To Film) A Killer Lives Next Door / CABINET (ALL THAT STORY) / KIM Seonghui * Asian Film Market 2019 Results in Numbers Market Badge: 983 companies from 56 countries, 2,188 participants Sales Booth: 200 companies from 34 countries, 86 sales booths Market Screening: 37 companies from 11 countries, 62 films presented, 72 screenings (47 market premiers) *Webtoon refers to a Korean web-comic
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Award Winners of the 22nd Asian Project Market Announced
The 22nd Asian Project Market (APM), the largest investment and co-production market in Asia, successfully closed with the APM Award Ceremony, held at Paradise Hotel Busan on October 8th. A total of 8 projects received awards out of 29 creative and original projects, ranging from commercial to low-budget amateur films, with the potential to be completed into films. As well as numerous advanced meeting reservations, a great number of the on-site meetings were made. During the APM period, a record number of 796 meetings were successfully held between project participants and key industry players, firmly establishing itself as the largest co-production market in Asia. This year’s award-winning films are from young Asian directors with high quality from diverse countries including Korea. Also, new projects by female directors representing their countries such as Boo Jiyoung from Korean and Antoinette Jadaone from the Philippines won the award. [Asian Project Market 2019 Award Winners] (*Project / Director / Country) [Busan Award] Topography of Solitude / NAKAI Noemie / Japan Supported by Busan Metropolitan City, the Busan Award is awarded to Topography of Solitude, receiving 15,000 USD for project funding. [MAS Award] The Courier Always Knocks Twice / HU Jia / Daniel YU / China Committing 20,000 USD, the MAS Award is awarded to Hu Jia of The Courier Always Knocks Twice. [CJ Entertainment Award] Boldstar / Antoinette JADAONE / Philippines Awarded to an international project from the official APM line-up, the CJ Entertainment Award is awarded to Boldstar by Antoinette Jadaone (Philippines) [LOTTE Award] About Dauther / BOO Jiyoung / Korea Committing to a Korean project from the official APM line-up, LOTTE Award is awarded to director Boo Jiyoung’s About Daughter. [KOCCA Award] Winter Worm, Summer Grass / KANG Sang-woo / Korea Korea Creative Content Agency selected Winter Worm, Summer Grass among Korean projects from the official APM list with 10 million KRW. [ArteKino Award] Mother Tongue / Zhannat ALSHANOVA / Kazakhstan Arte France selects a project from official APM projects and underwrites with 6,000 Euros. The completed film will screen in ArteKino Festival, an online film festival. [Sørfond Award] Skin of Youth / Ash MAYFAIR / Vietnam The winner of Sørfond Award is invited to Sørfond Pitching Forum in Oslo, Norway. [Moneff Award] The Child / KANG Donghun / Korea Moneff selects a project from official APM projects and provides 20,000 USD worth of editing or VFX service. The 24th Busan International Film Festival will be held from Thursday, Oct 3 to Saturday, Oct 12 Asian Film Market 2019 will be held from October 5 to October 8, 2019
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The Asian Film Market 2019 Opening Announced
The Asian Film Market 2019 opens from October 5th to 8th during the 24th Busan International Film Festival at Exhibition Center 2, BEXCO. Established in 2006, marking its 14th edition this year, the Asian Film Market continues to serve as a trading zone covering all stages of film industry from investment, production, film and original copyright sales, and distribution to post-production. This year, in particular, the Asian Film Market takes a new leap to extend its business boundaries into broadcasting industry fields. It’s a B2B event where an admission to the main venue and the Market events are open to industry professionals, those who hold Market badges or a Day Pass issued by the Asian Film Market. Various events such as the Asian Project Market (APM), Entertainment Intellectual Property Market (E-IP Market), and the Asia Contents Awards will be held for this year’s Asian Film Market. The number of pre-registered participants exceeded last year’s number by approximately 7%, amounting to 1,436 industry professionals. The number is expected to increase with the on-site sales. The Market screening presents 62 screenings of 37 companies from 11 countries. A total of 17 films are official selections at the 24th Busan International Film Festival and 47 films are market premieres. Celebrating the first Asia Contents Awards, the Asian Film Market extends its business boundaries into broadcasting industry fields The newly established Asia Contents Awards of the Asian Film Market, which will be held on Sunday, October 6th, are to reward the finest TV dramas produced throughout 14 Asian countries including Korea, China, Japan and ASEAN countries. There are 8 Award categories and a number of magnificent works representing its nation are set to visit Busan. The Asia Contents Awards will be held at Sohyang Theatre, Dongseo University in Centum City with a red-carpet treatment for the honored guests and celebrated performances. Promotional booths will be set up in the Asian Film Market to connect every major industry player with broadcasters participating in the Asia Contents Awards. Asia Contents Awards, in its first year, hopes to grow in reputation and become a significant event including all aspects of content from OTT-originated original series at home and abroad, and original contents presented in the Entertainment Intellectual Property (E-IP) Market, a trading zone for IP rights. For more information on the Asian Film Market, visit www.asianfilmmarket.org The 24th Busan International Film Festival will be held from October 3 to October 12, 2019 Asian Film Market 2019 will be held from October 5 to October 8, 2019
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The Asian Film Academy 2019 Starts their Journey
Asian Film Academy (AFA), celebrating the 15th anniversary this year, has embarked on an 18-day journey from Thursday, September 26th to Sunday, October 13rd starting with the AFA 2019 Opening event at the Busan Youth Hostel ARPINA. In the midst of growing attention, the Asian Film Academy has begun with the participation of promising 24 filmmakers who have enormous potentials to become future leaders in Asian cinema. The AFA 2019 Opening event, which kicked off at 18:00 on September 26, was joined by festival director Jay Jeon, directing mentor Mouly Surya, cinematography mentor Karina Kleszczewska and cinematography mentor, Kim Young-Ro. Sung Jihae, the Director of BIFF Film Academy, delivered opening greetings, as a representative of a newly-established department in the Busan International Film Festival that will provide high quality and sustainable educational programs along with practical support to Asian filmmakers. Later, 24 fellows introduced themselves and gave a presentation about the short films that will be made during AFA 2019. AFA 2019 Opening event ended with a group photo of all participants. Under the close direct mentorship of cinematography mentors, fellows will join various programs including workshop, mentoring program, and clinic that are related to film production. After doing pre-production work which includes location hunting and creating the storyboard, fellows will shoot the short films for 3 days from Thursday, October 3rd. The two completed short films will be screened at the 24th Busan International Film Festival. - Abundant Opportunities for Promising Asian Filmmakers This year’s AFA faculty consists of Mouly Surya as the directing mentor along with Karina Kleszczewska and Kim Young-Ro as cinematography mentors. Mouly Surya has been widely praised at many prestigious film festivals around the world for her film Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts. Karina Kleszczewska has a name for herself in the Polish film industry as director of photography, in addition to working as the lighting director for theatre plays. Kim Young-Ro is a cinematographer, stereographer, and professor with an abundant experience in traditional and 3D films. The addition of one more cinematography mentor to the new faculty will provide enhanced opportunities for AFA participants to learn widely-used cinematography techniques. AFA’s support to foster young Asian talent does not stop in the experience of making short-films but also continues with exceptional benefits after the training program. ARRI, the world’s leading manufacturer of professional motion picture equipment, will provide the ARRI Scholarship, to eligible participants in the ARRI training program. MPA Award lets winners have the opportunity to attend industry events including the Film Immersion Program in Los Angeles and the Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA) in Brisbane. This year, in particular, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Poland and Korea, the Adam Mickiewicz Institute, under the Polish Culture Ministry will present an AMI Special Award for cinematography fellows to visit the prestigious Polish Lodz Film School and provide networking opportunities with Polish film industry figures. In addition, AFA graduates will become eligible to apply for the AFA category of Asian Cinema Fund’s Script Development Fund. The AFA 2019 is co-organized by the Busan International Film Festival, Busan Film Commission and GKL Foundation. The 24th Busan International Film Festival will be held from October 3 to October 12, 2019 Asian Film Market 2019 will be held from October 5 to October 8, 2019
