The Asian Cinema Fund 2023 Opens Submissions
Ajoomma Is the First Singaporean Film to Launch Exclusively on Prime Video
The TV Anime, “The vexations of a Shut-In Vampire Princess”, will be broadcasted in October 2023
The 28th Busan International Film Festival Opens Submissions
The 16th Asian Film Awards Announces the Winners
2023 CHANEL X BIFF Asian Film Academy to Accept Applications
The 27th Busan International Film Festival Honors the Late Director Jean-luc GODARD, Master of Nouvelle Vague
Guests from Asia Visit the 27th Busan International Film Festival “Stars from All Around Asia Visit Busan”
A Variety of European Cinema and Filmmakers Attends the 27th Busan International Film Festival
Asian Contents & Film Market 2022 Announces Conference Lineup
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CHANEL X BIFF Asian Film Academy 2022 Holds a Successful Opening
The CHANEL X BIFF Asian Film Academy 2022, an educational program of the Busan International Film Festival that has newly returned in partnership with CHANEL, embarks on an 18-day journey with emerging Asian filmmakers beginning September 27 (Tues). With 20 up-and-coming filmmakers from 14 Asian countries, the CHANEL X BIFF Asian Film Academy kicked off the 18-day program with a celebratory opening event at the 'Felix by STX’ Hotel. The lively event was attended by the festival director, Huh Moonyung, along with directing mentor Tan Chui Mui and cinematography mentor Um Hye-jung, the two mentors who will lead the CHANEL X BIFF Asian Film Academy 2022. Opening with festival director Huh Moonyung’s welcome speech, the event introduced the faculty members and fellows, provided a production report on the short films that the fellows will produce, and concluded with a group photo shoot. The Asian Film Academy (AFA), Asia’s leading film education program, supports Asian filmmakers in challenging themselves and furthering their aspirations. In collaboration with CHANEL, a company that has long been dedicated to supporting talented directors in various ways, the CHANEL X BIFF Asian Film Academy will contribute to nurturing the development of Asian talents. This year, there were 407 applicants from 35 different countries, which is the most competitive rate of participation for the Asian Film Academy to date. Over the course of 18 days, from September 27 (Tues) to October 14 (Fri), the 20 participating fellows will produce two short films under the supervision of professionals from various fields, under the tutelage and leadership of Rithy Panh, the dean of the academy and one of the most iconic filmmakers of the era. They will also participate in diverse and practical educational programs, which include workshops, mentoring programs, and special lectures, and be provided with various networking opportunities. The films completed during the CHANEL X BIFF Asian Film Academy 2022 will be officially screened at Cinema 2 in the Busan Cinema Center on October 13 (Thurs) at 19:00 (KST). ■ The 27th Busan International Film Festival: Oct 5 (Wed) – Oct 14 (Fri) ■ The 17th Asian Contents & Film Market: Oct 8 (Sat) – Oct 11 (Tues)
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Announcing Nominees for the 4th Asia Contents Awards (ACA)
Asian Contents & Film Market 2022 (ACFM) announced its nominees for the Asia Contents Awards (ACA), which will be held this coming October 8 (Sat) at the BIFF Theater in the Busan Cinema Center. Asia Contents Awards (ACA) 2022 awards outstanding TV, OTT, and online content from Asia. The awards ceremony presents 12 award categories, including Best Content, Best Asian Animation, Best Actor, New Comer, and Best Writer. It is noteworthy that this year’s ceremony will also include newly established award categories: Best Asian Documentary, Best Supporting, and Best Creator. The anticipation for ACA 2022 is heightened as prominent works are nominated, especially with the ceremony being held on-site for the first time in three years after the COVID-19 pandemic. The Lifetime Achievement Award will be awarded to Tatsuo Kawamura, the chairman of Japanese Agency, K Dash Co., LTD, who dedicated himself to Asian content production. The Achievement Award goes to the President of the Korea Drama Production Association, Song Byeongjoon, for his commitment to improving the Korean drama series production environment. Actress Fan Bingbing, who has been beloved for her solid acting career for the past 20 years, will be receiving the ACA Excellence Award, an award given to an entertainer who has been active in the Asian region. The honorable winners of the ACA Rising Star, an award for notable up-and-coming talents regardless of character of content, consist of actors who showed exceptional performances in TV, OTT, and online content, Ling Man Lung of In Geek We Trust and Kim Minha of Pachinko. For the Best Content, the following works were nominated: Extraordinary Attorney Woo, a drama series which recently dropped its curtains after drawing great popularity, The Journalist, a drama series remake of the 43rd Japan Academy Film Prize winning film, Your World in Mine, Twisted Strings, and The Pavilion. Five production companies of titles that were influential in Asia are also nominated for the Best Creator: Titan Creative Entertainment for Dee’s Talk, Netflix for Hurts Like Hell, TV Asahi Production for One Day of Japanese Host club, The Pinkfong Company, and MEWE for Super Sketch Show. Works of various genres from drama to animation and documentary were nominated for this award. The nominees for the Best Actress are also highly competitive. Ma Sichun of Crack of Dawn, Park Eun Bin of Extraordinary Attorney Woo, Yonekura Ryoko of The Journalist, Liang Yongqi of The Parents League, and Zhanar Aizhanova of A Perfect Bride are nominated for the Best Actress Award. The Best Actor nominees are Png Pierre of This Land is Mine, Dan Yihong of The Pavilion, Suzuki Ryohei of TOKYO MER: Mobile Emergency Room, Im Si-wan of Tracer, and Lee Kangsheng of Twisted Strings. The New Comer for actresses will be awarded among Ishii Anna of FISHBOWL WIVES, Bao Shang En of Love Behind the Melody, Mira of The Pavilion, and Buffy Chen of Twisted Strings. Meanwhile, actors Dew Jirawat Sutivanichsak of F4 THAILAND, Ling Man Lung of In Geek We Trust, Yokohama Ryusei of The Journalist, Choi Hyunjin of The King of Pigs, and Choi Hyun Wook of Twenty Five, Twenty One were nominated for the New Comer for actors. For the Best Asian Animation, The Luoyang, The Orbital Children, and The Pinkfong Company were nominated, while The Atom Araullo Specials: Young Arms, Indian Predator: The Butcher of Delhi, Interview with North Korean Spy, and One Day of Japanese Host Club were nominated for the Best Asian Documentary. Winners of ACA 2022 will be decided by nominations and voting of the ACA Academy, which consists of a group of previous hosts and winners of ACA and professionals in the entertainment industry. While ACA 2022 will be held on-site for the first time in three years on Oct 8 (Sat), there will be online live streaming so that a larger number of global audience can enjoy the ceremony. Anticipation for the event was heightened as actor Jung Hae In and winner of Miss Korea 2019, Kim Saeyeon, were appointed as the ceremony hosts. Soul maestro and saxophonist, Danny Jung, girl group NiziU, and boy group Golden Child will present special performances for the audience. ACA 2022 will be streamed live, beginning at 16:30 (KST), via the Busan International Film Festival’s official YouTube channel, NAVER NOW, and Japan’s PIA LIVE STREAM. ■ The 27th Busan International Film Festival: Oct 5 (Wed) – Oct 14 (Fri) ■ The 17th Asian Contents & Film Market: Oct 8 (Sat) – Oct 11 (Tues)
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Actors KWON Yul & HAN Seonhwa to Host the 27th Busan International Film Festival’s Closing Ceremony
Actors Kwon Yul and Han Seonhwa have been confirmed as co-hosts for the 27th Busan International Film Festival Closing Ceremony. The 27th Busan International Film Festival has announced Kwon Yul and Han Seonhwa as hosts for the closing ceremony, which will take place on Oct 14 (Fri). The closing ceremony will hold the red carpet ceremony, the screening of the closing film, A Man, by director Ishikawa Kei, and award ceremonies, such as the Actor & Actress of the Year Award and New Currents Award. Actor Kwon Yul, who will be interacting with the audience as one of the closing ceremony host, visited the Busan International Film Festival in 2014 and 2019 with the films The Admiral: Roaring Currents (2013) and Champion (2017), respectively. On being invited as the host for the 27th Busan International Film Festival’s closing ceremony, he was quoted, “It’s an honor to be able to enjoy the finale of the festival with the audience as host of the closing ceremony. As it is the largest cinematic ceremony in Asia, I will do my best to provide an appropriate finish to the festival.” Actress Han Seonhwa, who is heightening the audience’s anticipation with her first visit to the Busan International Film Festival this year, is steadily building a solid filmography with her performances in both films and drama series. She shared her excitement by saying, “Thank you for inviting me as the host for the closing ceremony on my first visit to the Busan International Film Festival. I will do my best to ensure that the 27th Busan International Film Festival can have a grand finale with the participating film professionals and audience.” Kwon Yul has showcased his versatile acting abilities through diverse characters and genres from Yi Hoe in The Admiral: Roaring Currents (2013), to romance in Let’s Eat 2 (2015), and the chilling villain in Voice 2 (2018) and Voice 3 (2019). Currently, he is showcasing his charisma as Gu Tae-man in Mental Coach Jegal (2022). The Policeman’s Lineage (2021), which premiered in theaters earlier this year, is expected to meet the audience at this year’s BIFF as an official selection of the Korean Cinema Today – Panorama section. Actress Han Seonhwa, who started her acting career in 2013, exhibited delicate and emotional portrayals in the films Cinema Street (2021), A Letter from Kyoto (2022), When Winter Comes (2022), and many others. Han Seonhwa, who has been actively participating in various projects such as Marriage, Not Dating (2014) and Backstreet Rookie (2020), has recently received many accolades from the public for her impeccable portrayal of the beautiful yoga instructor, Han Ji-yeon, in Work Later, Drink Now (2021) The 27th Busan International Film Festival will be held for 10 days from Oct 5 (Wed) to Oct 14 (Fri) at the Busan Cinema Center.
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The 27th Busan International Film Festival Appoints LEE Young-ae and KIM Sangkyung as Jury Members
The 27th Busan International Film Festival, which will be held from Oct 5 (Wed) to Oct 14 (Fri), has appointed Lee Young-ae and Kim Sangkyung as jury members for this year’s Actor & Actress of the Year Award. The ‘Actor & Actress of the Year Award’ is an award dedicated to the discovery of new actors who possess the talent and potential to lead the future of Korean cinema. The Actor & Actress of the Year Award is presented to one new actor and one new actress for their outstanding performance. The nominees are actors and actresses from Korean independent feature films nominated in the New Currents and the Korean Cinema Today - Vision sections. The award is very special in that highly-accomplished actors, who represent Korean cinema, present the award in person to emerging talents who will carry forth the future of Korean cinema. Established in 2014, the following actors and actresses were honored with the Actor & Actress of the Year Award: Choi Woo-shik for Set Me Free (2014) and Cho Soohyang for Wild Flowers (2014), Lee Ju-won for ALONE (2015) and Jang Sun for Communication & Lies (2015), Gu Gyohwan and Lee Minji for Jane (2016), Park Jonghwan for Hit the Night (2017) and Jeon Yeo-been for After My Death (2017), Lee Juyeong for Maggie (2018) and Moon Choi for Our Body (2018), Kim Junhyung and Mun Hye-in for The Education (2019), Lim Seong-mi for FIGHTER (2020), and Kwon Daham for Through My Midwinter (2021) and Im Jee-ho for The Apartment with Two Women (2021). Actress Lee Young-ae, who was appointed as the jury member for the 27th BIFF Actor & Actress of the Year Award, has showcased a range of acting skills through many films, including One Fine Spring Day (2001), Sympathy for Lady Vengeance (2005), and Bring Me Home (2019), and has established herself as a preeminent actress representing Korean cinema. Lee Young-ae, who gained much attention by taking on a challenging role in the drama series Inspector Koo (2021) after a 4-year hiatus, was previously appointed as the jury member for the International Competition section at the 56th Berlin International Film Festival. Lee Young-ae is also expected to interact with the audience this year through the Busan International Film Festival’s Actors’ House program. Actor Kim Sangkyung, who has continued his acting career with his latest drama series Poong, the Joseon Psychiatrist (2022), has built a solid filmography based on his outstanding acting skills that have led various films to light, including Memories of Murder (2002), The Discloser (2017), and The Vanished (2017). Kim Sangkyung has been beloved by the audience for many years for his versatile acting abilities and the characters he has portrayed across all genres. Each of the winners will be granted a cash prize of 5,000,000 KRW, which will be presented by the jury members, Lee Young-ae and Kim Sangkyung, in person, at the BIFF Closing Ceremony on Oct 14 (Fri).
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The 4th Asia Contents Awards (ACA) to be Held
Asian Contents & Film Market (ACFM) 2022 is set to host the ‘Asia Contents Awards (ACA)’ this coming October 8 (Sat) at the BIFF Theater in the Busan Cinema Center. The Asia Contents Awards (ACA), which was established in 2019 to award outstanding TV, OTT, and online content from Korea and Asia, celebrates its fourth year. ACA 2022, co-hosted by the Asian Contents & Film Market (ACFM) and COMPOSE COFFEE, will make a spectacular comeback as an award ceremony by laying out the red carpet and hosting live performances. The 4th ACA will be hosted by actor Jung Haein, and Kim Saeyeon, who won the title of Miss Korea in 2019. Jung Haein has demonstrated a range of charms with his thorough and immersive acting in both film and drama series as well as also being a model for COMPOSE COFFEE. He is revisiting the Busan International Film Festival for the first time in three years for his performance in Connect (2022), a selection invited to the On Screen section, and for his hosting of ACA 2022. Kim Saeyeon, who has been the host since the 1st ACA, will once again lead the ACA event this year with her skillful emceeing talents. The refreshing and dynamic collaboration of these two hosts further heightens expectations for ACA 2022. Directors and actors of nominated works will attend the red carpet ceremony, which will start at 16:00 (KST). Starting with the opening performance, 12 award categories, including the Best Writer Award, the Best Creator Award, the ACA Excellence Award, the Best Actor Award, and the Best Content Award, will be presented. In addition, an extravagant lineup of special performances will welcome the audience as the on-site audience seats are now available for the first time in three years since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The opening performance will be by soul maestro and saxophonist, Danny Jung. There will also be special performances given by Golden Child, the boy band that caught the attention of global fans with their perfected choreographic performance, and NiziU, the girl group that swept the awards in Japan after setting the record as the No. 1 of Japan’s Oricon Chart. Following the awards ceremony, there will be a networking party ‘PGK Night with Asia Contents Awards’ attended by industry professionals, ceremony hosts, award winners, nominees and other main guests of the festival. While ACA 2022 will meet the audience for the first time in three years since the pandemic, there will also be live online streaming available to accommodate the Korean and international audiences, who wish to attend either online or on-site. The live streaming will be available on October 8 (Sat), beginning at 16:30 (KST) via the Busan International Film Festival’s official YouTube channel and Japan’s PIA LIVE STREAM. Tickets for ACA 2022 will be available starting September 23 (Fri) at 14:00 (KST) on the Busan International Film Festival’s official website (https://www.biff.kr/eng/). ■ The 27th Busan International Film Festival: Oct 5 (Wed) – Oct 14 (Fri) ■ The 17th Asian Contents & Film Market: Oct 8 (Sat) – Oct 11 (Tues)
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The 27th Busan International Film Festival Premieres Video Footage of Avatar: The Way of Water
The 27th Busan International Film Festival will premiere a video footage of Avatar: The Way of Water in Korea. Avatar: The Way of Water, sequel to James Cameron’s Avatar (2009), is about to be released worldwide in December, 2022. Its previous film, Avatar, had a global success, grossing $2.8 billion worldwide, and has been maintaining a solid no.1 title of the global box office to this day. It has also attracted over 13 million audiences in Korea and recorded 10 million viewers for the first time among foreign films. Along with the screening of the approx. 15-minute video footage of Avatar: The Way of Water, Jon Landau, the producer of the film, will provide a discussion on pertinent information about the film and its production. Avatar fascinated the audience with its most advanced graphic technology when released in 2009. Thus, Jon Landau is expected to reveal his insights into how he produced the main scenes of Avatar: The Way of Water at the screening. Following the screening, the director, James Cameron, will join Jon Landau via online, to speak with the audience. The screening event will be the first opportunity in Korea to catch a glimpse of Avatar: The Way of Water. The special screening will take place on Oct 6 (Thurs), 14:00 (KST), with an admission fee of 8,000 KRW. Admission revenue from the event will be donated to a charity organization by the Busan International Film Festival and the Walt Disney Company Korea. The 27th Busan International Film Festival will be held at the Busan Cinema Center from Oct 5 (Wed) to 14 (Fri).
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The 27th Busan International Film Festival Announces 4 Hosts for “Actors’ House”
The Busan International Film Festival is receiving much attention after revealing the line-up for this year’s Actors’ House. Actors’ House is a special talk program in which iconic actors of the Korean film industry meet with the audience to have in-depth discussions about their acting careers and philosophies. In contrast to programs previously provided at the festival that discussed official selections, such as Guest Visits (GV), Actors’ House, which received explosive interest with its launch last year, is made more special as the actors will be sharing unrevealed, in-depth stories about acting on topics ranging from their acting philosophies to their most memorable scenes. This year’s Actors’ House will continue to provide an opportunity for actors to share their intimate stories with the audience. First, actor Gang Dong Won, the main character of the 27th Busan International Film Festival’s official selection, Broker (2022), is set to take part in Actors’ House. Gang Dong Won, who has showcased his versatile acting in various genres, such as The Priests (2015), A Violent Prosecutor (2016), and Peninsula (2020), has left a lasting impression on the audience with his restrained acting in Kore-eda Hirokazu’s Broker. Actors’ House will provide a chance for the audience to hear the full story of Gang Dong Won’s boundless attempts as an actor. Actor Ha Jungwoo, who is garnering much attention with the recently premiered Netflix series, Narco-Saints (2022), has been very beloved over the years due to his strong acting skills and unrivaled charm. Furthermore, as director of two films, Fasten Your Seatbelt (2013) and Chronicle of a Blood Merchant (2015), he will share his rich experiences and thoughts as both actor and director. Han Ji-min, who participated in and is awaiting the first-ever reveal of director Lee Joon-ik’s first sci-fi project, YONDER (2022), at the 27th Busan International Film Festival, has showcased her much respected acting skills by portraying diverse roles in numerous films from Miss Baek (2018) to A YEAR-END MEDLEY (2021). Praised and loved for her meticulous portrayal of emotion, Han Ji-min is expected to share heartwarming stories in the Actors’ House program. Lastly, Lee Youngae, whose attendance at public events has been rare, will also be sharing her story at Actors’ House. Lee Youngae attracted the audience’s attention with the portrayal of her unique character in Sympathy for Lady Vengeance (2005) and went on to further surprise the public with her roles in Bring Me Home (2019) and the drama series, Inspector Koo (2021). Lee Youngae, who has been on screen for many years, will be sharing a special experience with the audience once again through this close interaction in the Actors’ House program. The Actors’ House program is open to the public with an entrance fee of 8,000 KRW. All profits made from the event will be donated to the international relief organization for children, ‘Save the Children’. Details regarding ticket purchases will be announced on the Busan International Film Festival’s official website https://www.biff.kr/eng/
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An animation project called, “Mecha-Ude: Mechanical Arms” begins
Today, an animation project called, “Mecha-Ude” was announced. The previewing version of the original animation, which was self produced, gained great attention when it was released. “Mecha-Ude” is an original animation which was created and directed by the animation creator Okamoto. Okamoto belongs to the animation studio called TriF Studio. TriF Studio is an up and coming animation production company in Japan which is based in the Fukuoka prefecture. The story of the anime revolves around two youths. Hikaru has been enjoying his normal school days in middle school and Alma is a Mecha-Ude Wielder who can be activated when he is attached to human beings. There are exciting adventures and battles following the two of them in the story. In the beginning the project, “Mecha-Ude” was established mainly by animator/ illustrator Okamoto and the creator group called TriF. TriF consists of students and volunteers in Fukuoka. Later, the project was funded successfully by the crowdfunding platform Kickstarter and CAMPFIRE. In 2018, about 25 minute episodes were made as a preview version and released for the anime’s supporters only. Finally, the official anime series of, “Mecha-Ude” was announced to be produced and it started all kinds of exciting projects around the anime. There are comments from the director Okamoto, TriF Studio animation producer Shuichi Aso and producer Tetsuya Kinoshita from PONY CANYON. As one of the anime projects which is planned, a Comicalize work about the story of “Mecha-Ude '' was released as a preceding manga series on LINE Manga and ebookjapan. The series will be published every other week and TriF will create the story and supervise, and the illustration will be done by Yoshino Koyoka who has created the manga series “Aria the secret Ammo”. The illustration is detailed and also powerful and it will portray the world of “Mecha-Ude '' amazingly. The Manga Series “Mecha-Ude” will be released for free from the very first release, which is today. The first 3 stories are all free and the 4th story can be purchased to watch, but it will also be free if you wait longer. We hope that many people will discover the world of “Mecha-Ude” and the adventures of Hikaru and Alma. The promotion movie of the animation studio, called, “TriF Studio” in Fukuoka prefecture which has been creating “Mecha-Ude ', was released on the TriF Studio Official YouTube Channel. In the movie, there are many comments from the creator and every comment will allow people to find out the charm of the TriF Studio. The comments are from an artist, “Eve’ who has created the theme song of the pilot version of the anime, and an artist Masayoshi Oishi who co-worked for creating the Music Video. Furthermore, there is a comment from Hiroshi Matsuyama from the company CyberConnect2 which is located in the Fukuoka prefecture. CyberConnect2 has been creating many legendary games and this firm was responsible for the supervision of “Mecha-Ude” over all. Terumi Nishii who is the key staff for the designing of the character, “Mecha-Ude,” and she was the main director for the anime illustration of “Jujutsu Kaisen,” which she also commented on. Who is the director Okamoto who creates animation with the TriF Studio? The average age of the employees at TriF Studio is 25 years old and it is amazingly young for the animation firms in Japan. What is TriF Studio planning for the future? It is the first attempt to release the official animation series. Why have they been challenged from Fukuoka? The whole picture of TriF Studio, which is creating a totally new era of the anime, will be revealed. We hope that people will find out the secret and message from the firm and also know more about the anime project “Mecha-Ude”. “Mecha-Ude” Original creator and director, Okamoto from TriF Studio - With so many people who have supported us through crowdfunding and who have been encouraging us tremendously to allow us to create the beginning, middle and ending of the stories of the characters from the pilot version. There are new characters including other Mecha-Ude and Mecha-Ude users. I am so happy that the world of “Mecha-Ude” is growing rapidly and is something I personally want to see more! I am eager to share this anime with everyone as fast as I can. Please enjoy it! Animation producer, Shuichi Aso from TriF Studio - The illustrator and animator Okamoto is one of very few rare and real talents. I will never forget the illustration on a sheet of paper one day when we were eating Udon noodles at lunch break. Everything started from that day and the independent animation, “Mecha-Ude” was announced to be created as a series anime. Finally! Finally! This is all owed to the people who have believed in the possibility of “Mecha-Ude” from our first pilot production. Now we, all members of TriF Studio, have been working hard to create this anime by director Okamoto. So, we can now share Okamoto’s amazing world and story with you! Please enjoy it! Producer, Tetsuya Kinoshita from PONY CANYON - I was invited to join the project “Mecha-Ude”. After I watched the pilot version, I really wished to see more of it. Every time I heard the story of “Mecha-Ude” from Okamoto, I wanted to see and know more about the world of “Mecha-Ude”. The story of this anime is literally about mechanical arms. Let’s enjoy watching it together! I hope you will love it!
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Asian Contents&Film Market 2022 Launches ‘Festival Zone'
Asian Contents & Film Market (ACFM) 2022, which will be held for 4 days from Oct 8 (Sat) to Oct 11 (Tues) at the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center (BEXCO), has organized ‘Festival Zone’, where a variety of projects and IPs discovered at the 5 Korean film festivals (The Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, the DMZ International Documentary Film Festival, the Jeonju International Film Festival, the Busan International Kids and Youth Film Festival, and the Busan International Short Film Festival) will be presented at one place. ACFM is a market where professionals in the film, audiovisual, and entertainment industries gather together to conduct copyright sales, carry out business, network, and promote their content. This year, approximately 1,800 officials from 50 countries will participate. ACFM, which is celebrating its 17th year, has been growing as Asia’s largest film and audiovisual sales market. Celebrating its 17th year, ACFM 2022 will introduce ‘Festival Zone’, an event where various works selected by the 5 domestic film festivals are featured. ‘Festival Zone’ is significant as it provides opportunities to further promote K-content, which is currently becoming more popular globally, to the world. Moreover, ACFM will assume the role as an intermediary between domestic content and overseas industry officials. In addition, the Asian Contents & Film Market will support active on-site operations by presenting the industry events of each film festival, promoting the different film festivals for the coming year, and holding on-site meetings with Korean and international officials to establish a differentiated sales market. Specifically, the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival’s Goedam (Strange Tales) Campus, a creative support program for strange tales, will showcase 8 new creators’ strange tale projects at the Busan Story Market. The festival will also recruit participants for ‘Work In Progress’ of ‘B.I.G (BIFAN Industry Gathering)’, a platform for genre films, as well as promote ‘Digital November’ for its XR Program, Beyond Reality, at the ‘Festival Zone’ booth. The DMZ International Documentary Film Festival will announce the DMZ Docs Fund and the official selections of the DMZ Docs Pitch program for the ‘DMZ Docs industry’, which is an industry platform that supports each stage of documentary production. The Jeonju International Film Festival will show selections from its industry programs, which include the ‘JEONJU Cinema Project: Next Edition’, 'JEONJU lab', and 'RoughCut Monitoring', and advertise next year’s open call projects. The Busan International Kids and Youth Film Festival and the Busan International Short Film Festival will also join the market. These 5 Korean film festivals will have opportunities for on-site meetings with officials from domestic and foreign film festivals and the film industry, and for the pre-promotion of their upcoming festivals in 2023. As expectations heighten from the global success of K-content, including Parasite (2019) and Squid Game (2021), ACFM plans to expand its function and strengthen its position as an industry-leading market by launching ‘Festival Zone’, which aims to bring together the selected projects of the five Korean film festivals. ■ The 27th Busan International Film Festival: Oct 5 (Wed) – Oct 14 (Fri) ■ The 17th Asian Contents & Film Market: Oct 8 (Sat) – Oct 11 (Tues)
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Actors RYU Jun-yeol and JEON Yeo-been Chosen to Host the Official Opening Ceremony of the 27th BIFF
The 27th Busan International Film Festival has confirmed actors Ryu Jun-yeol and Jeon Yeo-been as the opening ceremony hosts. Actors Ryu Jun-yeol and Jeon Yeo-been have been confirmed as the co-hosts for the 27th Busan International Film Festival’s opening ceremony, which will be held on Oct 5 (Wed) at the Busan Cinema Center. Previously, Ryu Jun-yeol has met with the audience in Busan after being invited to the 20th Busan International Film Festival’s Korean Cinema Today – Panorama section with One Way Trip (2015). Meanwhile, Jeon Yeo-been won the Actress of the Year Award at the 22nd Busan International Film Festival with After My Death (2017). Both actors, who have continued their close relationship with the Busan International Film Festival over the years, will host the opening ceremony which is being held without social distancing for the first time after three years of the pandemic. Actor Ryu Jun-yeol made his mark with a solid performance in his debut film Socialphobia (2014). Since then, he has continued on a versatile career path both in films and dramas by portraying preeminent characters, such as those in Reply 1988 (2015-2016), Lucky Romance (2016), Believer (2017), and A Taxi Driver (2017). In Alienoid (2022), released this July, the actor expanded his acting range with his character portrayal of ‘Mureuk’, a master who tries to get his hands on the divine sword. Drawing rave reviews from the media and critics for her stunning acting skills in After My Death (2017), actress Jeon Yeo-been not only swept awards at major film festivals, but has also demonstrated her eclectic abilities as an actress through films and drama series including Night in Paradise (2019), Be Melodramatic (2019), and Vincenzo (2021). She established her impressive filmography one project at a time. Ahead of the release for the drama series A Time Called You, Jeon Yeo-been will greet the audience with Glitch (2022), a selection invited to the Busan International Film Festival’s On Screen section. Making its start with the opening ceremony on Oct 5 (Wed), the 27th Busan International Film Festival will be held for 10 days from Oct 5 (Wed) to Oct 14 (Fri) at the Busan Cinema Center.
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The 27th Busan International Film Festival Announces 9 Selections for On Screen
The 27th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), which will be held for 10 days from Oct 5 (Wed) to Oct 14 (Fri), has unveiled 9 selections for the On Screen section. On Screen is a program section at the Busan International Film Festival that screens highly anticipated drama series, which will be released on various platforms, including, but not limited to, online video streaming platforms (Over-the-Top, OTT), as world or Asian premieres. The On Screen section seeks to embrace the changing flows and values of cinema and reflect the changes in the film industry, which has been expanding beyond the big screen to online platforms. Newly established last year, the On Screen section gained widespread attention from the press and audience by pre-releasing 3 drama series for its first edition; this year, the section has significantly increased its number of selections to a total of 9 works. A number of major works that are to be released on various domestic and international online platforms, such as Disney+, Netflix, TVING, WATCHA, and Wavve (in alphabetical order), have been invited to this year’s On Screen section. This year’s pool of selections, which includes the new and challenging projects of renowned directors, as well as the much-talked-about works by talented directors, raises the bar of anticipation. First, bold, challenging projects by renowned directors will be introduced to the audience. YONDER (2022), the first Sci-Fi series directed by Lee Joon-ik, is a work of keen insight into life and death, and memory and happiness. The participation of numerous outstanding actors, including Shin Ha-kyun, Han Ji-min, Lee Jung-eun, and Jung Jin-young, is garnering much anticipation. Somebody (2022), the first drama series directed by Jung Ji-woo, tells the story of four women and one man whose lives become entangled through a social media app. Actor Kim Young-kwang, and newly emerging actors, Kang Hae-lim, Kim Yong-ji, and Kim Soo-Yeon, have contributed to complete this comprehensive yet frightening thriller. Director Miike Takashi’s first cooperation with Korean actors and production crew takes place on the set of Connect (2022), which is based on the Korean webtoon of the same name, and highlights the director’s signature characteristic of destructive imagination and expression. The harmony and chemistry of the cast, including Jung Haein, Ko Kyungpyo, and Kim Hyejun, are also noteworthy. The Kingdom Exodus (2022), directed by Lars von Trier, is the final edition of the popular TV series from the mid-90s, The Kingdom (1994). Lars von Trier, who has captivated the international audience with his shocking and provocative narratives throughout his career, is expected to present one final project of extraordinary horror before putting an end to his long-lasting series. Appealing works by talented filmmakers are also in line. Gin Han-sai, screenwriter of the acclaimed series, Extracurricular (2020), completed his second well-written masterpiece, Glitch (2022). This work is garnering much expectation with the participation of director Roh Deok, who has become accomplished in various genres including romance, thrillers, and Sci-Fi, throughout his career with projects Very Ordinary Couple (2013) and The Exclusive: Beat the Devil's Tattoo (2015), in addition to working with recognized cast that include actors Jeon Yeo-been and NANA. Moreover, BARGAIN (2022), directed by Jeon Woo-sung, is a series adaptation of the same-titled short film by Lee Chunghyun, which depicts an intense story of escape and disaster. The film is expected to attract the audience with performances by the cast of prominent actors, such as Jin Sun-kyu, Jun Jong-seo, and Chang Ryul. Director Kimo Stamboel, who was invited to the Midnight Passion section for Headshot (2016) at the 21st Busan International Film Festival, will revisit BIFF with his new work Blood Curse (2022), which portrays a sudden curse fallen upon a peaceful family and two characters who track down the cause. Weak Hero Class 1 (2022), directed by You Su-min, is a coming-of-age action drama with unpredictable, exciting storylines and the appearance of rising actors, such as Park Ji-hoon, Choi Hyun-wook, Hong Kyung, Shin Seung-ho, and Lee Yeon. Furthermore, Han Jun-hee, director of D.P (2020), participated in the project as the creative director. Recipe for Farewell (2022), directed by Lee Hojae and starring Han Seokkyu and Kim Seohyung, is a touching story of a man who writes a kitchen diary for his wife, whose days are numbered, in a simple but delicate tone. The 27th Busan International Film Festival, which is garnering much attention with its expanded selection of carefully selected projects, will be held for 10 days from Oct 5 (Wed) to Oct 14 (Fri) at the Busan Cinema Center.
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The 27th Busan International Film Festival Announces Jury Members for BIFF Mecenat, Sonje Awards
The 27th Busan International Film Festival, which will be held from Oct 5 (Wed) to Oct 14 (Fri), has confirmed the jury member lineup for the BIFF Mecenat Award and the Sonje Award. - Directors Representing Asian Cinema of Today! WANG Bing, Ossama MOHAMMED, KIM Il-rhan to Serve as the BIFF Mecenat Award Jury The BIFF Mecenat Award is awarded to the best Korean and Asian feature documentary in the Wide Angle competition section. The BIFF Mecenat Awards aims to discover and support talented and emerging documentarists. The jury members consist of three directors of different nationalities to highlight new Asian directors across the continent. Each of the two selected winners will be granted 10,000,000 KRW. Chinese director Wang Bing, who has brought about a paradigm shift in the world of documentaries, has been appointed as the jury president for the 27th Busan International Film Festival’s BIFF Mecenat Award. In addition, director Ossama Mohammed, who documented the current situation of Syrian society with a keen eye through the camera lens and who was also invited to several of the world’s leading film festivals, and director Kim Il-rhan, who shines a spotlight on unseen, socially marginalized people, will also be joining as jury members. - The Sonje Award Searching for the Best Asian Short Film! Saeed ROUSTAEE, HAYAKAWA Chie, and YOON Gaeun Appointed as Jury Members The Sonje Award is given to the best Korean and Asian short films in the Wide Angle competition section. Each of the 2 best short films, which will be carefully selected by the 3 jury members, will be awarded a cash prize of 10,000,000 KRW. This year’s jury includes Saeed Roustaee, winner of the FIPRESCI award at the 75th Cannes Film Festival for Leila’s Brothers (2022), Hayakawa Chie, winner of the Golden Camera Special Mention at the 75th Cannes Film Festival for Plan 75 (2022), and Yoon Gaeun, director of The World of Us (2016) and The House of Us (2019). The 27th Busan International Film Festival will be held at the Busan Cinema Center from Oct 5 (Wed) to 14 (Fri). ■ The 27th Busan International Film Festival: Oct 5 (Wed) – Oct 14 (Fri) ■ The 17th Asian Contents & Film Market: Oct 8 (Sat) – Oct 11 (Tues)
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The 27th Busan International Film Festival Announces the Selections for New Currents
The 27th Busan International Film Festival has announced 10 selections for New Currents that showcase the future of Asian cinema. - 10 Selections for New Currents, Announced! Emerging Directors Who Will Lead the Future of Asian Cinema New Currents, a main competition section at the Busan International Film Festival, has been discovering shining new Asian films and emerging directors, becoming the gateway for capable directors for the past 26 years. Many of the directors featured in this section not only made their mark on the global stage, but also paved the way for new Asian cinema. This year, the 27th Busan International Film Festival showcases 10 New Currents selections by talented, emerging directors from across various regions of Asia. The selected films for New Currents will be nominated for several awards including the New Currents Award, the FIPRESCI Award, the NETPAC Award, and the KB New Currents Audience Award. Thousand and One Nights (2022) by Japanese director Kubota Nao, is a story about people who have already lost or are losing someone, and unravel the secret of time in a unique way. No End (2022) by Nader Saeivar depicts the story of a man who becomes exposed to tremendous violence as a result of a trivial lie, and demonstrates the strength of Iranian cinema by exquisitely interconnecting the beginning and the end. With its thoroughly structured plot and fast-paced development, A Place Called Silence (2022) by Malaysian director Sam Quah is a masterpiece that portrays the scenes, and behind-the-scenes, of a serial murder through bold and delicate directing. Two Indian films have also been selected for New Currents selection. These include Jaishankar Aryar’s debut film, Shivamma (2022), which persistently traces the struggles of a poor, uneducated, middle-aged woman along its distinguished narratives, and Aamir Bashir’s The Winter Within (2022) that depicts the suffering and agony of a woman, with the Kashmir region as its backdrop, where large and small clashes and terrors are frequent. Ajoomma (2022) directed by He Shuming, who has earned widespread recognition by winning several awards for short films, will also be presented as a New Currents selection this year. It is also raising more expectations due to the dynamic interaction of the cast, including Hong Huifang, Singapore’s most prominent actress, Yeo Jin Goo, Jung Dong-Hwan, and Kang Hyung Suk, as another highlight. Thai screenwriter, Thapanee Loosuwan, seeks to expand as a director with Blue Again (2022), a biographical film possessing sophisticated senses that stand out. Marcus Vu Manh Cuong, a former film journalist, has also begun his cinematic journey by directing MEMENTO MORI: EARTH (2022), a film that beautifully captures the profound topic of life and death. Two Korean films, director Lee Jeong-hong’s a Wild Roomer (2022) and Lim Oh-jeong’s Hail to Hell (2022), are also ready to meet the audience. a Wild Roomer (2022), tells the story of a man who makes a living as a carpenter and the people around him, and a mystery that makes them fall into curiosity, with an intriguing pace and memorable scenes. Hail to Hell (2022) traces the adventure of two girls who set out to get revenge on the wicked who tormented them, and its whimsical organization and imagination add to the film’s expectations. The 27th Busan International Film Festival, which is creating a flurry of thundering excitement from the unveiling of its 10 New Currents selections, will be held at the Busan Cinema Center from Oct 5 (Wed) to 14 (Fri).
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The 27th Busan International Film Festival Announces the First-Ever Reveal of Nakdong River (1952)
The digitally remastered film, Nakdong River (1952), produced during the Korean War era, will be revealed for the first time at the 27th Busan International Film Festival, which will be held for 10 days from Oct 5 (Wed) to Oct 14 (Fri). - Valuable Project Coming to BIFF 2022! History Preserved through Video and Sound Nakdong River (1952), a feature film that recorded the battlefield of the Korean War, holds significant value for the Korean film and music industry as well as historical value for the nation. Based on a poem of the same name by Lee Eun-sang, who received the National Academy of Arts Award and the Main Award in the Arts and Sciences section of the 5·16 National Award, this film, directed by Jeon Chang-keun, is a semi-documentary that contains video clips from the Korean War. The original film file of director Jeon Chang-keun’s Nakdong River (1952) was recently discovered by the Korean Film Archive and digitally remastered in 4K. The film, which was restored after 70 years, is the third film to be preserved among the 14 films that were produced during the Korean War. It holds significant historical and artistic value as the only Korean War film in existence with no loss in video or sound, and it is generating much excitement after the announcement of its first-ever reveal at the 27th Busan International Film Festival. Nakdong River (1952) dynamically shows the urgent situation of that time through a reenactment of the Nakdong River Defense Line Battle, which lasted for 55 days from August 1 to September 24, 1950. The film was able to heighten the sense of reality while simultaneously informing the audience, who were refugees at the time, by inserting real footage of the battle into the film. Filmed during the war and premiering in Busan in February of 1952, the film offered solace and encouragement to the audience, who had suffered greatly from the pain of war. The film holds a historical significance, not only due to its production period, but also with the film’s premiere in refuge cities such as Busan and Daegu in South Korea. - Unreleased Song by World-renowned Composer, Yun I-sang, Revealed! Collaboration of Contemporary Culture Artists The passion for artistic creativity of contemporary culture artists, such as composer Yun I-sang, poet Lee Eun-sang, and dancer Cho Yong-ja, is found throughout the movie, Nakdong River (1952). Dancer Cho Yong-ja’s movements, with the Nakdong River as the backdrop, powerfully captures the film’s ambience. In addition, world-renowned composer, Yun I-sang, participated in the film score. The score used in the movie draws attention as it is a similar theme melody to composer Yun I-sang’s unreleased orchestral piece, ‘The Poetry of Nakdong River’. The handwritten score, ‘The Poetry of Nakdong River’, which was discovered in 2017, is presumed to be the source for the score of the 1952 film, Nakdong River. The first-ever premiere of Nakdong River at the Busan International Film Festival is made even more special as the original score, ‘The Poetry of Nakdong River’ will also have its first-ever reveal. Furthermore, the choral song, ‘Nakdong River’, which is found at the beginning and end of the film, combines the words of poet Lee Eun-sang’s poem as lyrics to the orchestral piece of composer Yun I-sang, which further increases the grandeur of the movie. The 27th Busan International Film Festival will be held for 10 days from Oct 5 (Wed) to Oct 14 (Fri) at the Busan Cinema Center. ■ The 27th Busan International Film Festival: Oct 5 (Wed) – Oct 14 (Fri) ■ The 17th Asian Contents & Film Market: Oct 8 (Sat) – Oct 11 (Tues)
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The 27th BIFF Launches New Sections: ‘Jiseok’ & ‘Korean Cinema Today – Special Premiere’
The 27th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), which will be held for 10 days from Oct 5 (Wed) to Oct 14 (Fri), has launched its new sections, ‘Jiseok’ and ‘Korean Cinema Today – Special Premiere’. - 8 Films from the ‘Jiseok’ Section Announced, Including Alteration and December! 20th Century Girl and The Boys Were Selected for the ‘Korean Cinema Today – Special Premiere’! The 27th Busan International Film Festival boosts expectations as it announces the addition in its program of the new sections, ‘Jiseok’ and ‘Korean Cinema Today – Special Premiere’. Until now, the Kim Jiseok Award was given to ten selected films from ‘A Window on Asian Cinema’, a section that introduces the latest and most-talked-about films from Asian directors. Starting this year, the Kim Jiseok Award nominees have been sorted into a section of their own, namely the ‘Jiseok’ section. Also, Korean films will be included in the 'Jiseok' section. This program section aims to both reinforce the spirit and determination of the late Program Director Kim Jiseok, who devoted himself to the growth and support of Asian films, and direct attention to the nominated works. The two best films will be carefully selected from the new films of Korean and Asian directors who have produced more than three films, and be awarded the Kim Jiseok Award with a cash prize of 10,000 USD each. Thus, the Jiseok section is expected to be recognized as a competition section that represents the Busan International Film Festival along with the New Currents section. Invited to the newly established Jiseok section are a total of 8 films: Yalkin Tuychiev’s Alteration, Anshul Chauhan’s December, Ali Ghavitan’s Life & Life, Hadi Mohaghegh’s Scent of Wind, Prithvi Konanur’s Seventeeners, M.L. Bhandevanov Devakula’s Six Characters, Ananth Narayan Mahadevan’s The Storyteller, and Lee Kwangkuk’s A Wing and a Prayer. Director Yalkin Tuychiev, who has consistently produced films as commentary on the history and society of Uzbekistan, speaks through Alteration to discuss the impact of participating in the Afghanistan war, the resulting rapid changes that occurred in Uzbekistan’s political situation, and how they affected an individual’s life. December by director Anshul Chauhan is a story about a family starting over after having been devastated by the death of a daughter. The film throws out a somber question about redemption, much like the director’s previous work, Kontora (2019). Director Ali Ghavitan’s Life & Life portrays the story of a teacher who goes on a search for the home of a student who was absent from online classes during the COVID-19 pandemic. A beautiful drama unfolds in this film, with the desolate, COVID-19 stricken world as its backdrop. Scent of Wind, directed by Hadi Mohaghegh, features characters with disabilities, or those who are faced with obstacles and do not know what to do; the film creates unforgettable sceneries by simply showing scenes of people helping others. As presented in the director’s previous film, WHERE IS PINKI (2020), Prithvi Konanur’s Seventeeners cleverly builds up a process in which a small occurrence is gradually contextualized, socially, hierarchically, and according to gender. Director M.L. Bhandevanov Devakula’s Six Characters, an adaptation of Luigi Pirandello’s Six Characters in Search of an Author, is a film about six uninvited guests turning up out of the blue to a filming location and the director being fascinated by their secrets. Based on a short story of the legendary film director Satyajit Ray, director Ananth Narayan Mahadevan’s The Storyteller unfolds a story as a wealthy mogul, who suffers from insomnia, hires a storyteller; the story becomes more intriguing as twists are added to it. Director Lee Kwangkuk’s A Wing and a Prayer is a film about new encounters and relationships between two friends who travel to the East Sea, and a glimpse of the director’s very own talent and energy can be seen. ‘Korean Cinema Today – Special Premiere’ is a section that selects and premieres a handful of unreleased Korean commercial films that are appealing. The section is noteworthy as it was established to inform the audience about the latest Korean mainstream and commercial films of the generation. Bang Woo-ri, who won the 35th Blue Dragon Film Awards for Best Short Film with Mrs. Young (2014), returns with her feature debut 20th Century Girl, and the masterful director of Korean Cinema, Chung Jiyoung, who directed influential films such as Unbowed (2011) and National Security (2012), returns with The Boys. Director Bang Woo-ri’s feature debut, 20th Century Girl, is a film about a girl and a boy’s pure love set in the year of 1999, and the revelation of the same love told again in the 21st century. All of the actors, including Kim You-jung, Byeon Woo-seok, Park Jung-woo, and Noh Yoon-seo, portray lovable characters and raises expectations for the nostalgia they will present to the 20th century youth and for the excitement they will offer to the 21st century youth. The Boys, directed by skilled director of Korean Cinema, Chung Jiyoung, tells the story of a head detective who reopens the case of three boys who were accused of robbery and murder at a supermarket in a small town. Actors Sul Kyung-gu, Yu Jun-sang, Jin Kyung, Heo Sungtae, and Yeom Hyeran, give extraordinary performances in the film. The 27th Busan International Film Festival, which is generating much anticipation with its newly revealed sections ‘Jiseok’ and ‘Korean Cinema Today – Special Premiere’, will be held for 10 days from Oct 5 (Wed) to Oct 14 (Fri) at the Busan Cinema Center.
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BIFF Asian Contents & Film Market 2022 Unveils 22 Asian IP Selections
Asian Contents & Film Market (ACFM) 2022, which has officially announced the launch of Busan Story Market, has unveiled Asian IP selections from Taiwan, Japan, and ASEAN countries, following the announcement of the Korean IP selections. - 22 IPs from Taiwan, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam Selected MOU Signed with the Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA) Busan Story Market Garnering Much Attention as the Biggest Asian IP Market! Busan Story Market is an IP sales market where stories, the foundation for all content, are traded to be reproduced on film & audiovisuals of various platforms. This new platform has integrated the function of the E-IP (Entertainment Intellectual Property Market), which was established in 2012 and has selected a total of 192 domestic IPs. This year’s Busan Story Market will offer pitching and business meeting opportunities for the selected IPs, with industry professionals from over 130 domestic and international film & audiovisual industries. Also, Busan Story Market is expected to provide opportunities for institutions and companies that possess sales rights for various domestic and international content, such as books, webtoons, web novels, and story treatments, to conduct B2B transactions through sales booths. - IPs from Taiwan and Japan to ASEAN Countries Selected! Diverse Genres Combined with the Harmony of Unique Cultures Stand Out This year’s Busan Story Market, previously limited to IP selections from Taiwan and Japan, has expanded its selections to the ASEAN region and is drawing much attention. The Asian selections of 10 IPs from Taiwan, 5 from Japan, and 7 from ASEAN countries, including Vietnam, Indonesia, and Thailand, have been confirmed. In particular, the Taiwanese and Japanese selections are showing their strength in the crime, suspense, and thriller genres. IP selections from Taiwan consist of projects that made deal for film and audiovisual adaptations in Mandarin-speaking regions, and selections that attracted much attention for solid storylines in their own country. For the Taiwanese IP selections, the web novel, Judge the Justice, is in the process of planning and development after a successful copyright transaction for video production Taiwan, and Connecting to You, Magical Super Asia, Mephisto Waltz, and Working for a Crime Group as a Scriptwriter have also completed copyright sales for video production in Mandarin-speaking regions. Japanese IP selections that have high possibilities of being produced as audiovisual content in Korean have been listed up for the selection. Dark Harassment (temporary title) and Murder in the Glass Tower were recently translated and published in Korean this year, and Kiriko's Crime Diary and There's No Such Thing as an Easy Job have been confirmed to be published in Korean book and be made into webtoon, respectively. The participation of major publishers in Japan, including KODANSHA LTD., one of the 3 biggest publishers in Japan, KADOKAWA CORPORATION, and TOKUMA SHOTEN PUBLISHING CO., LTD, is generating even more attention. In addition, Busan Story Market introduces content from ASEAN countries, which has experienced an increase in demand in the global market. The selections include 3 IPs from Indonesia, 3 from Thailand, and 1 from Vietnam. The various genres of ASEAN IP selections, from drama to romance, horror, and history, are combined with each country’s unique culture, which further heighten the ambience and the excitement of Busan Story Market. - Introducing Various Asian IPs to the Global Market, Busan Story Market Signs MOU with the Taiwan Creative Content Agency! ACFM will introduce IPs from Taiwan and Japan in cooperation with its official partners for the 3 consecutive years, the Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA) and Japan’s Visual Industry Promotion Organization (VIPO). ACFM selects promising IPs from the organizations of each country, and expands its copyright transactions by adding book IPs from the ASEAN region. Furthermore, a majority of companies have confirmed their on-site participation, which was put on hiatus due to the COVID-19 outbreak and this is expected to revitalize the on-site business meeting environment. In addition, ACFM 2022 signs an MOU with the Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA), in alignment with the launch of Busan Story Market. Taiwan is one of the most active consumers of K-Content, and thus the strategic partnership with TAICCA is of great significance. Busan Story Market is expected to continuously introduce promising Taiwanese IPs to domestic and international professionals in the film/audiovisual industry, and to be a conduit to introduce Korean IPs and content to Taiwan. Building upon its solid partnership with Taiwan, ACFM will further accelerate the expansion of its business capacity in order to introduce various Asian IPs to the global market. ACFM 2022, which is creating a buzz of thundering excitement from the unveiling of its high-quality 22 Asian IP selections, will be held at the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center (BEXCO) from Oct 8 (Sat) to Oct 11 (Tues).
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BIFF Special Program in Focus: ‘New Perspectives on 21st Century Documentary’
The 27th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) presents ‘New Perspectives on 21st Century Documentary’, a Special Program in Focus that will introduce 10 innovative documentaries. - 10 Documentaries Containing Colorful Perspectives on the World! A Glimpse into the Vision of Modern Documentaries ‘New Perspectives on 21st Century Documentary’ will present fresh and unique projects that go beyond the boundaries of traditional documentaries. The selection is expected to include films that make various attempts to push the genre parameters, both aesthetically and technologically, and demonstrate the spectrum of modern documentaries. First, selected films that implement the use of digital devices, such as smartphones and GoPro cameras, and produce bolder, experimental technological attempts are catching the attention of audiences. Two innovative films by Verena Paravel and Lucien Castaing-Taylor will be showcased. Leviathan (2012), which captured the dynamic movements of the ocean scenery and fishermen using a GoPro camera, and De Humani Corporis Fabrica (2022), a featured film at the 75th Cannes Film Festival that was noted for its innovative technique, which delved into the human surface and skin using a micro-camera, have both been invited to the Special Program. Directors Ossama Mohammed and Wiam Simav Bedirxan’s Silvered Water, Syria Self-Portrait (2014), which honestly captures the distraught situation of Syria through the lens of a smartphone, and Three Sisters (2012), an observational documentary, which was characterized by its long running time and which caught the international audiences’ attention by depicting Chinese society and its double standards, directed by Wang Bing, a prominent director in the digital era, will also be screened. The emergence of a hybrid documentary, which adds a fictional element to the documentary for an aesthetic attempt, is also garnering much excitement. My Winnipeg (2007), directed by Canadian director, Guy Maddin, uses elaborate camerawork and the director’s own biographical story to express the history of his hometown, Winnipeg, and Cameraperson (2016), directed by Kirsten Johnson, who has blended her 25 years of experience as a documentary cinematographer into the film with video clippings of her family, will also be shown in ‘New Perspectives on 21st Century Documentary’. José Luis Guerin’s Some Photos in the City of Sylvia (2008) portrays a city landscape with black and white still images in his journey to search for a woman named Sylvia he met 22 years ago, and has also been selected to be screened in the Special Program. World-renowned director Rithy Panh’s Everything will be OK (2022), recipient of the Silver Bear at the 72nd Berlin International Film Festival, uniquely depicts the history of mankind through a dystopian puppet film; and Sacro Gra (2013) by Gianfranco Rosi, the first documentary to receive the Golden Lion at the 70th Venice International Film Festival, tells humorous stories that can be found in the lives of those around us. In addition, THE NATURAL HISTORY OF DESTRUCTION (2022), by world-renowned, Ukrainian director, Sergei Loznitsa, has also been selected. The film deals with the British air raids on Germany during World War II and received international attention as a special premiere at the 75th Cannes Film Festival while Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was underway. This year, a booklet on ‘New Perspectives on 21st Century Documentary’ will be published and a forum will be held under the same name. The booklet will contain film reviews of the 10 selections, critiqued by domestic and international film critics. Renowned French film critic, Jean-Michel Frodon’s The New Horizons of Documentary in the 21st Century will be presented at the forum. Furthermore, directors Verena Paravel and Lucien Castaing-Taylor, whose films Leviathan (2012) and De Humani Corporis Fabrica (2022) were selected for the Special Program, will be joined by Korean directors, Kim Il-rhan and Kim Jeongkeun, to form a panel that provides insights to the diverse perspectives of film professionals regarding modern documentary, and build anticipation for the Special Program. The 27th Busan International Film Festival will be held for 10 days from Oct 5 (Wed) to Oct 14 (Fri) at the Busan Cinema Center.
