Busan International Film Festival BIFF Ontact #An-yeong_Project ‘Last Letter’ Video Release
Asian Project Market 2020 Opens Virtual Event
Asian Contents & Film Market 2020 Announced the Winners of Asia Contents Awards
The 25th Busan International Film Festival Holds Master Class with Director Mira Nair
The Busan International Film Festival GV Made Together with Film and Audiences
Asian Contents & Film Market 2020 Announces Online Event with E-IP Selections from Taiwan and Japan
The 25th Busan International Film Festival Official Poster Reveal
The 14th Asian Film Awards Nominations Announced
Asian Contents & Film Market Unveils Plans for 2020 Edition and E-IP Market Selections
24th Busan International Film Festival Awards Announced
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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
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The 24th Busan International Film Festival Announces Performance Lineup for the Opening Ceremony
Before the screening of the opening film at the 24th Busan International Film Festival, a stellar performance by an ensemble of various voices will create harmony at the opening ceremony held on 19:00, October 3rd. This year’s opening ceremony features WAN Yihwa, a Karen refugee girl from Myanmar, Brook Kim, a violinist from the Soyang Rainbow Orchestra of Soyang Orphanage, ‘Hello? Orchestra’ from the Ansan Cultural Foundation, Busan Metropolitan Junior Chorus, and Gimhae Cultural Foundation’s Globuddy Choir. The opening performance, where a variety of colorful guests participate, will be bringing harmony and unity to people through music. This is in line with the Busan International Film Festival’s wish to leap forward into a united one Asia, transcending ethnic, national, and religious barriers that overcome differences related to gender and disabilities. For the opening performance, 246 performers, including 70 from Ansan Cultural Foundation ‘Hello?! Orchestra’, 50 from Busan Metropolitan Junior Chorus, 126 from Globuddy Choir, Gimhae Cultural Foundation will sing together ‘I wish I had only one home’ written by WAN Yihwa. This is expected to be a great show filled with harmonious melodies and a chorus spreading throughout every corner of the Busan Cinema Center, impressing audiences. In addition, opening ceremony hosts, actor Jung Woo-sung and Lee Hanee, will narrate the song sung by the special ensemble. ■ Lineup for the Opening Ceremony Performance WAN Yihwa Myanmar’s Karen origin Spent at the refugee camp in Thailand, now resettled in Korea KBS ‘My Neighbor, Charles’ Brook KIM Violinist ‘Soyang Rainbow Orchestra’ from Soyang Orphanage ALOYSIUS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA 2012, various street performances Ansan Cultural Foundation ‘Hello?! Orchestra’ Ansan Cultural Foundation, a project orchestra made up of children from multicultural families living in Ansan Korean version of Venezuela’s El Sistema Hello?! Orchestra (director: Lee Cheol-ha, cast: Richard Yongjae O’Neill) winner of the International EMMY Award for Arts Programming. Busan Metropolitan Junior Chorus Dinner celebration performance of APEC Summit Conference in 2005. Winner of 6 categories at the Bali International Choir Festival 2017 Gimhae Cultural Foundation Globuddy Choir Established the Multicultural chorus in Gimhae Cultural Foundation in 2019 To perform Gimhae Arts and Sports Center in 2019 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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Asia Contents Awards 2019 Nominees Unveiled
The newly established Asia Contents Awards of the Asian Film Market are to reward the finest TV dramas produced throughout Korea, Japan, China, Hong Kong (China), Taiwan, and ASEAN countries. There are 8 Award categories consisting of the Best Creative, Best Asian Drama, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Writer, Best Rising Star, New Comer, and Lifetime Achievement Award. Outstanding TV series produced across Asia in the last five years and stars have been nominated in the Asia Contents Awards. The Korean TV series Descendants of the Sun and The Fiery Priest, Chinese epic drama The Longest Day In Chang An, and a Japanese remake of the American TV show, Suits, the Netflix Original series The Naked Director have been nominated for the major categories. Korean actor Kim Nam-gil, Kim Jae-joong, Chinese actors Lei Jia Yin, Yao Chen and Zhang Da Fei will join the Asia Contents Awards, expected to grace the ceremony with their presence. Expectation for the Awards is rising as Kim Eun-sook, a hit-making scriptwriter of Mr. Sunshine, Guardian: The Lonely and Great God and Descendants of the Sun, Park Hae-young, an established writer for My Mister and Another Miss Oh and Lu Shih-yuan, one of the most popular TV drama writers in Taiwan are expected to gather in Busan. A number of magnificent works represented by nation’s best actors from 9 ASEAN countries are set to visit Busan, including Maja Salvador, the star of the Philippine drama series Wildflower, Fang Rong from Singaporean soap opera Faculty, Thai actresses, Kemisara Paladesh and Sananthachat Thanapatpisal, known for playing in drama Hormones. Teo Yoo, who has got the spotlight with his lead role in film Leto of the competition film at the 71st Cannes Film Festival, and Kim Sae-yeon, winner of 2019 Miss Korea have been selected as hosts for the Awards Ceremony. Along with Chinese top actress Angelababy, David McInnis, who went on to star in the critically acclaimed dramas Mr. Sunshine and Descendants of the Sun, Kim Sung-kyu, an impressive actor from the Netflix's most anticipated original series Kingdom and Li Wen Han, a member of Chinese boy group UNINE will appear on stage, followed by celebrated performances by AOA, South Korean girl group, musician Jung Dong Ha. The Asia Contents Awards will be held on 18:30, October 6th at Sohyang Theatre, Dongseo University in Centum City, Busan. 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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Community BIFF 2019 Programs Announced
The 24th Busan International Film Festival will hold Community BIFF 2019 from October 4th to 10th in the suburban area(old town area) of Jung-gu. Community BIFF is a spin-off film festival created by audiences and represents a special film festival inside the Busan International Film Festival. Last year’s outstanding achievements inspired Community BIFF to establish a wider range of events and plenty of programs. REQUEST CINEMA is one of the core sections of the Community BIFF 2019 where the audience is given a chance to become a programmer, get involved in the film selection process and later watch the selection with a community that shares the same interests. Kim Eui-sung, co-director of the Community BIFF also will lead a program. Actors Jo Woo Jin, Jin Sun Kyu and Park Sung-woong will join the audience to rewatch well-received films Inside Men, THE OUTLAWS, and New World. Talking directly with the audience about behind-the-scenes stories will bring a personal touch the program and the above films in which they acted as villains, respectively. REACTION CINEMA explores a new possibility of film appreciation with unrestrained and diverse responses free from the solemn atmosphere of the theater. ‘Sing-along’ will captivate moviegoers by sing-along screenings and rock theaters; ‘Happy-go-lucky Night’ is a unique program where adult audiences can enjoy midnight screenings in both outdoor and indoor cinema at the same time with food and beverages with cocktails and beer. RESPECT CINEMA is a section targeting cinephiles, film students and industry professionals. An in-depth GV program titled ‘Legendary Cinephiles Strike Back’ will give audiences a chance to meet with three legendary cinephiles in person; Sung-il Jung, DJUNA and Kim Hong-Joon. As part of celebration of the 100th anniversary of Korean cinema, a event titled ‘KIM Jimi Revival’ will be hosted in BIFF Square. It is a special occasion where one of the greatest Korean film stars and outstanding filmmaker Kim Jimi gives a talk about her representative works with the audiences.
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24th Busan International Film Festival Announces 6 Selections for the Open Cinema Section
The 24th Busan International Film Festival reveals 6 Open Cinema selections which to be screened at the BIFF Theater located in Busan Cinema Center from October 4th to 11th. Open Cinema, one of the submission categories presented by Busan International Film Festival, features latest films that boast both its cinematic quality and popularity, as well as the highly acclaimed ones that have garnered much international attention. This year’s Open Cinema section is composed of various genres that gratify one’s senses with entertainment and its high quality. Included are 99 songs – Indian musical romance film, which Oscar-winning for Slumdog Millionaire world-renowned A.R. Rahman composed the original score and songs, The Sky Is Pink – a family film starring a world star Priyanka Chopra from American tv drama Quantico and Zaira Wasim from Dangal, Les Misérables – a contender for the Cannes Grand Prix alongside The Parasite, Martin Eden – Venice International Film Festival’s Coppa Volpi Award winning that vied in the competition section, Looking Up – a $15 billion box office hit in China, and Jazzy Misfits – the comedy adventure of a veteran actress Cho Min-soo and versatile singer and actor Cheetah. In addition, The King of the Gala Presentation section and The Parasite of the Icons section will be screened outdoor at the BIFF Theater as well. ■ The Open Cinema Section Screening List #1 99 Songs Director l Vishwesh KRISHNAMOORTHY India A musician’s quest to understand his purpose and passion. It is a journey of heartbreak and redemption, of loss and faith; an ode to the timeless power of love and music. 99 Songs is co-written by A.R.Rahman, who composed the original score and songs. #2 The Sky Is Pink Director l Shonali BOSE India An incredible love story of a couple spanning 25 years, told through the eyes of their spunky teenage daughter – Aisha, who was diagnosed with a terminal illness. It stars Priyanka Chopra and Zaira Wasim from Dangal. The love of a family beyond life and death is beautifully reflected. #3 Les Misérables Director l Ladj LY France “I dedicate this film to all the miserable people of France and else-where.” This is the touching speech of Director Ladj LY at the Cannes Film Festival. Pleasant but heartbreaking. Violent yet gracious. Dynamic and deep. Majestic Les Misérables of the day will adorn the Open Cinema section. #4 © foto di Francesca Errichiello Martin Eden Director l Pietro MARCELLO Italy, France When Martin falls in love with wealthy and well educated Elena, he is captivated by his lust to be a writer but faces a dilemma over love for the woman he hopes to marry and disparity in social hierarchy that leads to a conflict with her bourgeois family. #5 Looking Up Director l DENG Chao, YU Baimei China In the vast space, an astronaut has suddenly lost contact with the mission control center. In the darkest hour of his life, he recalls the lessons taught by his father. #6 Jazz Misfits Director l NAM Yeonwoo Korea Sundeok is a singer in Itaewon, and one day her mother who cut connections long ago drops in and insists her to find her sibling. The second child has stolen money from the mother and Sundeok and run away. They start ransacking Itaewon thoroughly.
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The 24th Busan International Film Festival Launches a Thinking and Discussion Hub: Forum BIFF 2019
Forum BIFF 2019 founded by the Jiseok Film Institute will make a beginning at the 24th Busan International Film Festival. The Jiseok Film Institute, named after the former associate film festival director, the late Kim Jiseok, is established to encourage the practical and theoretical activities in communicating, networking and researching on Asian films. This year, three-day long forum will celebrate the Korean Cinema’s 100th anniversary and South and Southeast Asian Cinema forum will consider films in the region focusing on gender/sexuality. Furthermore, a wide range of forums on film technology, industry, and policy will be introduced. The Busan International Film Festival aims to build a hub for the extended, yet intensified thinking and discussion through Forum BIFF 2019. Korean Cinema 100 Years Forum ‘Acceptance and Practice of Early Cinema in East Asia’ forum will be co-organized by the Korean Film Archive in hopes of shedding light on the first 30 years of Korean Cinema in new perspective by comparing 3 Northeast Asian countries. ‘Cracks and Creation: Korean Cinema 100 Years’ forum will be held to reflect the various aspects of Korean Cinema over the past 100 years, especially to conceptualize the history in the views of rupture, collapse, and vacuum. Starting with a keynote speech by a renowned director in Korea, Lee Chang-dong, this forum will introspect a rapidly changing spectatorship, Korean cinema dominated by nationality, North Korean cinema and more. Gender/Sexuality as Esthetic Impetus in South and Southeast Asian Cinema Forum ‘Gender/Sexuality as Esthetic Impetus in South and Southeast Asian Cinema’ forum will be held to research the function of gender/sexuality as a resource of creation in South and Southeast Asian films. First, female auteurism established by women filmmakers under distinct regional characteristics of their homeland will be featured in accordance with a Special Program in Focus: ‘Gaze and Memories – Asia’s Leading Women Filmmakers.’ Second, an alternative queerness constructed by Southeast Asian queer cinema through a transnational media environment and native culture will be discussed. The keynote speech done by documentary director and women's studies scholar, Trinh T. Minh-ha will make the forum more meaningful. Film Technology, Industry and Policy Forum 1919-2019 Korean Film 100 Years founded by the Korean Film Council will open a policy forum to demand the establishment of National Museum of Film, Korea for celebrating a long tradition of Korean Cinema and prospecting its far future. The Federation of Korea Movie Workers’ Union will discuss how to build safer and healthier production environment for movie workers in an open forum regarding a research on the Safety Status of Korean Movie Industry. Cinematographers Guild of Korea hosts a forum on promoting the discovery of women power in technology and finding female cinematographers’ narratives which have long been hidden. A masterclass workshop about the coexistence of film and digital media will be co-organized by the Korean Film Council, Korea Film Directors Society, Korea Society of Cinematographers, and Korea Film Lighting Directors Society. A number of discussions on films in various forums will flourish throughout the festival period.
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The 24th Busan International Film Festival Announces Nominees for New Currents Award
The 24th Busan International Film Festival finalized the selection of 14 films for the New Currents Award, the competition section for Asian films. 14 Competition Features of New Asian Talents The New Currents Award is given to two feature films selected from the first or second works of up-and-coming Asian filmmakers introduced in the New Currents section. This year, Leaving Las Vegas (1995) director Mike Figgis will head the jury while Karel Och, the artistic director of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, Samal Yeslyamova, the winner of the Best Actress Award at the Cannes Film Festival, Lee Sinje, the recipient of the New Talent Award at the Berlin International Film Festival, and Suh Youngjoo, the Chief Executive Officer of Finecut Co., Ltd. were appointed as jurors. Last year’s winners were Savage (2018) by director Cui Si Wei, recognized for its outstanding scenery and elaborate character composition and Clean up (2018) by Kwon Man-ki, which dealt with an intense subject matter revealed through a momentous mise-en-scène. As its name demonstrates, the New Currents section of the Busan International Film Festival has discovered new waves in Asian cinema. Representative directors from New Currents include Kore-eda Hirokazu; Jia Zhangke; Eric Khoo; Tan Chui Mui; Aditya Assarat; Park Jung-beum; Kim Uiseok; and Kim Bora. Furthermore, The Horse Thieves. Roads of Time (2019) by director Yerlan Nurmukhambetov who won the New Currents Award in 2015 and Moonlit Winter (2019) by director Lim Daehyung who was an awardee of the NETPAC Award of New Currents section in 2016 were selected for this year’s opening and closing film respectively. The New Currents Award will be bestowed to two films at the closing ceremony and each director will receive 30,000 USD. New Currents Nominees (*Titles in Alphabetical Order) #1 Title: Among the Hills Director: Mohammad Reza KEYVANFAR Country: Iran Premiere: World Premiere #2 Title: Boluomi Director: LAU Kek Huat, Vera CHEN Country: Taiwan Premiere: World Premiere #3 Title: Diapason Director: Hamed TEHRANI Country: Iran Premiere: World Premiere #4 Title: The Education Director: KIM Dukjoong Country: Korea Premiere: World Premiere #5 Title: Haifa Street Director: Mohanad HAYAL Country: Iraq, Qatar Premiere: World Premiere #6 Title: John Denver Trending Director: Arden Rod CONDEZ Country: Philippines Premiere: International Premiere #7 Title: Just Like That Director: Kislay KISLAY Country: India Premiere: World Premiere #8 Title: Lucky Monster Director: BONG Joon-young Country: Korea Premiere: World Premiere #9 Title: My Identity Director: SUZUKI Sae Country: Japan Premiere: World Premiere #10 Title: An Old Lady Director: LIM Sun-ae Country: Korea Premiere: World Premiere #11 Title: Over the Sea Director: SUN Aoqian Country: China Premiere: World Premiere #12 Title: A Road to Spring Director: LI Ji Country: China Premiere: World Premiere #13 Title: Rom Director: TRAN Thanh Huy Country: Vietnam Premiere: World Premiere #14 Title: Running to the Sky Director: Mirlan ABDYKALYKOV Country: Kyrgyzstan Premiere: World Premiere 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 24th Busan International Film Festival Announces Kore-eda Hirokazu as Asian Filmmaker of the Year
The 24th Busan International Film Festival selects highly-acclaimed Japanese film director Kore-eda Hirokazu as the recipient of the Asian Filmmaker of the Year Award. The Asian Filmmaker of the Year is presented annually to a notable film professional or organization that has shown outstanding contributions to developing the Asian film industry and culture. Kore-eda Hirokazu won the Palme d'Or at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival for Shoplifter (2018), solidifying his position as a world-class film master. He has been loved and highly praised by the media, critics and viewers for his keen insight into the complexity of modern family relationships in his films: Nobody Knows (2004), Like Father, Like Son (2013), Our Little Sister (2015), and Shoplifter (2018). Kore-eda is known for his strong affection for the Busan International Film Festival as proven by the director's frequent visits to festival every year a new film of his is released. The director's strong bond with the Busan International Film Festival continued with a special talk held in 2016 with world-renowned and contemporary Asian directors Hou Hsiao-hsien and Lee Chang-dong. This talk offered one of the most extensive discussions in hopes of a mutual development for Asian cinema, the region where solidarity among filmmakers is considered somewhat weak, compared to those in the Western film industry. In the following year, Kore-eda Hirokazu joined the Asian Film Academy (AFA) as a dean of the program, where he took the lead in teaching young Asian filmmakers. Director Kore-eda Hirokazu has sought new opportunities with the Busan International Film Festival for the future development of the Asian film industry, and has recently expanded the scope of projects by participating in productions by young talented directors. In honor of his life-time contributions to the film industry, the Busan International Film Festival, with special respect to one of the greatest filmmakers of our time, has decided to award Kore-eda Hirokazu the “Asian Filmmaker of the Year”. Asian Filmmaker of the Year will be awarded to the director Kore-eda Hirokazu at the premier of his latest film The Truth, official selection for the Gala Presentation section on Saturday, October 5 at 19:30.
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The 24th Busan International Film Festival Announces Opening Ceremony Hosts Jung Woo-sung and Lee Hanee
The 24th Busan International Film Festival announces actor Jung Woo-sung and Lee Hanee as Opening Ceremony hosts. Jung Woo-sung, a versatile actor who has thrived on challenges in every role he plays, and Lee Hanee, beloved Korean actress known for her solid on screen and TV series acting, will stand together at BIFF Theater, Busan Cinema Center for the Opening Ceremony of the 24th Busan International Film Festival. One of Korea’s iconic actors, Jung Woo-sung started his acting career 25 years ago with The Fox With Nine Tails in 1994. The 1997 Beat helped Jung become a teenage cult figure in Korea and brought him widespread fame. He has since shown a wide spectrum of acting skills from box office hits including A Moment to Remember (2004), The Good, the Bad, the Weird (2008), Asura: The City of Madness (2016) and Steel Rain (2017) to TV series Athena: Goddess of War (2010), Padam Padam (2011). Jung Woo-sung has proved himself to be the best actor of Korea by winning the 55th Baeksang Arts Awards Grand Prize in the category of film and the 39th Golden Cinema Film Festival for the latest legal drama Innocent Witness (2019), where he plays the role of a lawyer Sunho. Jung will soon come back again to theaters with his new film BEASTS CLAWING AT STRAWS, coming out this year and Summit: Steel Rain, which is now filming. Lee Hanee made her first debut in 2006 as the winner of Miss Korea, a national Beauty pageant in Korea. Lee has steadily built up a solid professional profile in a wide array of genres playing various and interesting characters by starring in television series Shark (2013), Modern Farmer (2014) and films Deranged (2012), Tazza-The Hidden Card (2014), and The Bros (2017). Lee Hanee also won the Award for Best Actress in the Korea Drama Festival and the Female Excellence Award for Monday-Tuesday Drama in MBC Drama Award 2017 for her outstanding performance in Rebel: Thief Who Stole the People (2017). In 2019, Lee starred in the comedy film Extreme Job, which became a box office hit surpassing 10 million admissions. The same year, she played in comedy crime drama The Fiery Priest (2019) which also had a commercial success, proving to be an actress with true versatility, rising to stardom. It is now expected that Lee could appear soon in Hollywood productions as she has signed with a U.S. talent agency William Morris Endeavor (WME) and a fully diversified management company Artist International Group. ■ Representative works of Jung Woo-sung Film: Beat (1997), City of the Rising Sun (1999), Musa (2001), A Moment to Remember (2004), Sad Movie (2005), The Good, the Bad, the Weird (2008), Scarlet Innocence (2014), Asura: The City of Madness (2016), Steel Rain (2017), Innocent Witness (2019). ■ Representative works of Lee Hanee Film: Deranged (2012), I am the King (2012), Tazza-The Hidden Card (2014), SORI: Voice from the Heart (2016), Fabricated City (2017), Heart Blackened (2017) The Bros (2017), Extreme Job (2019)
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The 24th Busan International Film Festival Announces Jury Members for the New Currents and Kim Jiseok Award
The 24th Busan International Film Festival has finalized jury members for the New Currents section and the Kim Jiseok Award. 5 Jury members of the New Currents to discover new Asian talents The New Currents section, a competitive section of the Busan International Film Festival for Asian films, introduces first or second features of up-and coming directors, who are leading the way for new Asian cinema. Jury members will announce two selections at the Closing Ceremony, which will be awarded USD 30,000 each. The head juror of this year’s New Currents Competition section is Mike Figgis. Figgis achieved great fame as a director for Leaving Las Vegas (1995) by winning the Best Director Award from the National Society of Film Critics. He made a special bond with the 2nd Busan International Film Festival in 1997 where One Night Stand (1997) was screened. Karel Och, artistic director of the Karlovy Vary IFF, Samal Yeslyamova, the winner of the Best Actress Award at the Cannes Film Festival 2018 for Ayka, and Lee Sinje, the first Malaysian awardee of the Best Actress Award at the Golden Horse Awards in 2002 for The Eye, are commissioned as jurors to sit with Mike Figgis. Suh Youngjoo, the CEO of Fine Cut, who has helped internationally distribute numerous Korean films will sit on the jury panel with the other four. 3 Jurors for the Kim Jiseok Award, with a goal to encourage and discover the growth and new talents of Asian Cinema The Kim Jiseok Award has announced 3 jurors. The Kim Jiseok Award is a new award established in 2017 to remember and honor the late Kim Ji-seok. Jury members will select the final two from A Window on Asian Cinema, a section for the latest and most-talked films of Asian directors. Each film will be awarded USD 10,000. Jury members include Mohsen Makhmalbaf, an acknowledged Iranian director who has made numerous acclaimed films that include Gabbeh (1996) and Kandahar (2001); Huh Moonyung, a current program director of the Busan Cinema Center who served as the film programmer for the Busan International Film Festival and the dean of Cinematheque Busan along with Tan Chui Mui, the winner of the New Currents Award for Love Conquers All at the 11th Busan International Film Festival in 2006. [Biography: New Currents Jurors] Mike FIGGIS / Head Juror / Director / UK Film director, musician, writer, curator, and photographer – Mike Figgis is an artist whose work has spanned across various disciplines. Following the success of his debut theatrical film Stormy Monday (1988) in the United States, he entered the world of commercial filmmaking. Figgis was celebrated internationally with the success of Leaving Las Vegas (1995) which gained him great plaudits and won several awards, including the Best Director Award at National Society of Film Critics Awards 1995, and the Academy Award for the Best Actor for Nicolas Cage. Encouraged by this huge success, Figgis explored more experimental and minimal approaches to filmmaking and directed Timecode (2000), the first real-time digital film ever made. Figgis now actively explores alternative strategis in film production, designing both economic and creative platforms for contemporary filmmakers. LEE Sinje / Actress / Malaysia Lee Sinje made her debut Betelnut Beauty (2001) and won the New Talent Award at the Berlin International Film Festival. She earned a big splash with The Eye (2002) and became the first Malaysian recipient of the Best Actress Award at the Golden Horse Awards in 2002. In the same year, she won the Best Actress Award at the Hong Kong Film Awards, Hong Kong Golden Bauhinia Awards, and Chinese Film Media Awards, marking her as a world-famous star. She was invited as a jury member to the Taipei Film Festival and Golden Horse Awards, and has been the ambassador of the Malaysia International Film Festival since 2017. Karel OCH / Artistic Director / Czech Republic Karel Och studied film theory and history at Prague’s Charles University. Since 2001, he has worked for the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival as a selection committee member and also curated filmmaker retrospectives, including Sam Peckinpah, John Huston and Elio Petri among many others. He was appointed as an artistic director of the Karlovy Vary IFF in 2010. He is now a member of the European Film Academy, the Lux Prize selection, and FIRESCI. SUH Youngjoo / Chief Executive Officer / Korea Suh Youngjoo, the CEO of Finecut Co., LTD., has produced, financed, and internationally distributed more than 200 Korean and co-produced films: Burning (2018), Poetry (2010), and Oasis (2002) by Lee Chang-dong, Old Boy (2003) by director Park Chan-wook, The Host (2006) by director Bong Joon Ho, A Tale of Two Sisters (2003) by director Kim Jeewoon, The Wailing (2016) and The Chaser (2008) by director Na Hong-jin, and of course many of director Hong Sangsoo’s. She continuously challenges new attempts in the film industry by establishing an actor management division, Finecut Entertainment, and Korea’s first Writers Agency (WAF). Samal YESLYAMOVA / Actress / Kazakhstan A Kazakh actress, Samal Yeslyamova graduated from the Russian Academy of Theatre Arts (GITIS) with a specialization in directing and acting. She starred in the film Tulpan (2008) by director Sergey Dvortsevoy, which won the Prix Un Certain Regard at the Cannes Film Festival. She also won the Best Actress Award at the Cannes Film Festival for Ayka (2018), marking her as a renowned leading actress. [Biography: Kim Jiseok Award Jurors] HUH Moonyung / Film Critic / Korea Huh Moonyung started his career as a film journalist and then a film programmer for the Busan International Film Festival and a director of Cinematheque Busan. He has also served as a film critic for some film magazines and published two books on film. He is now working for the Busan Cinema Center as a program director, and a contributor for a bimonthly film magazine FILO. Mohsen MAKHMALBAF / Director/ Iran Mohsen Makhmalbaf is an Iranian director, writer, producer. He is known as one of the most in?uential ?lmmakers and founders of the new wave of Iranian cinema in the world today. During his career Makhmalbaf has made numerous critically-acclaimed ?lms including, Salaam Cinema (1995), Time of Love (1990), Gabbeh (1996), A Moment of Innocence (1996), The Silence (1998), Tales of Kish (1999), Testing democracy (2000), Kandahar (2001), Scream of the Ants (2006), The President (2014) and The Night of Zayandeh-Rood (1990). He is the recipient of more than 50 international awards from some of the most prestigious ?lm festivals across the world. His ?lm Kandahar has been chosen as one of the top 100 best movies of history of cinema by Times Magazine. And his ?lm A Moment of Innocence has been selected as one of the top 10 best ?lms of the 90s amongst the directors of world international ?lm festivals. As a writer- director Makhmalbaf has also published more than 30 books, many of which have been translated and published in many languages. TAN Chui Mui / Director / Malaysia Born in Malaysia, Tan received the New Currents Award and FIPRESCI Award at the 11th Busan International Film Festival for Love Conquers All (2006). She received inaugural reviews and awards from numerous international film festivals including International Film Festival Rotterdam, Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival, and International Short Film Festival Oberhausen, and has served as a jury member at the Busan International Film Festival, International Film Festival Rotterdam and Pacific Meridian International Film Festival. She pioneered the Malaysian New Wave Cinema thanks to her founding of the Da Huang Pictures in 2005. Tan is constantly consolidating her position as a prominent actress, both in name and reality as well as a platform organizer to discover new Malaysian talents.
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The Asian Film Market 2019 Launches the Asia Contents Awards
The Busan International Film Festival and the Asian Film Market will launch its first Asia Contents Awards, which recognizes outstanding TV series in the television industry from across Asia. The Asia Contents Awards is expected to help expand a new footprint into the market of non-film content and TV series. The Asia Contents Awards are a reward for the finest TV dramas produced over the past five years from Asia that includes 10 ASEAN countries, South Korea, China and Japan. The awards are comprised of 8 categories. The Asia Contents Awards will take place at BIFF Theater, Busan Cinema Center, followed by 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 TV series, 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. [Asia Contents Awards] ■ Title: Asia Contents Awards ■ Date: Sunday, October 6, 2019 ■ Venue: BIFF Theater, Busan Cinema Center ■ Awards: 7 Awards, 1 Lifetime Achievement Award
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Special Program in Focus at the 24th Busan International Film Festival
The 24th Busan International Film Festival, held from October 3 to 12, will exhibit a Special Program in Focus on the ‘100th Anniversary of Korean Cinema’ and ‘Asia’s Leading Women Filmmakers.’ The 100 Year History of Korean Cinema, 10 Great Korean Films The Busan International Film Festival will screen various representative films of Korean masters in celebration of the centennial anniversary of Korean Cinema. Programmer Jung Han-seok said, “One of the crucial roles of the Busan International Film Festival is to archive, select, and introduce compelling traditional Korean films that encapsulate Korean history, traditions, and customs." The festival selected 10 films after a deep discussion led by 37 committee members of ‘The Movie We Loved: 100 Years of Korean Cinema’ organized by the Hankyoreh Daily and CJ Cultural Foundation. The 10 selected films in the Special Program in Focus represent the historical and cultural heritage under the theme of ‘The 100 Year History of Korean Cinema, 10 Great Korean Films.’ The selections are The Housemaid (1960) by director Kim Ki-young, Aimless Bullet (1961) by director Yu Hyun-mok, A Day Off (1968) by director Lee Man-hee, The March of Fools (1975) by director Ha Gil-jong, Good Windy Days (1980) by director Lee Jang-ho, Why has BOHDI – Dalma Left for the East? (1989) by director Bae Yong-kyoon, Sopyeonje (1993) by director Im Kwon-taek, The Day a Pig Fell into the Well (1996) by director Hong Sang-soo, Memories of Murder (2003) by director Bong Joon Ho, and Old Boy (2003) by director Park Chan-wook. Guest Visit events with domestic and internationally renowned filmmakers and directors will be held during the festival. Gaze and Memories – Asia’s Leading Women Filmmakers This year, another eagerly awaited Special Program in Focus at the Busan International Film Festival is ‘Gaze and Memories– Asia’s Leading Women Filmmakers.’ Deepa Mehta from India, Yasmin Ahmad from Malaysia, and Trinh T. Minh-ha from Vietnam will lead the program. Persistent work through the decades with different genre style has enabled director, Yasmin Ahmad to build on remarkable achievements that led to a breakout in 2009 whereas allowed Deepa Mehta and Trinh T. Minh-ha to continue with contemporary relevance. In this year’s special program, Deepa Mehta’s 3 films, Fire (1996), Earth (1998), and Water (2005), cover sensitive issues on Indian women, hierarchy and sexuality along with Yasmin Ahmad’s Mukhsin (2006) and Talentime (2009) that are reinterpreted through the love and sexuality of naïve youth as a response to social controversies against society and religion. Included in the 8 finalized selections are Reassemblage (1983), Surname Viet Given Name Nam (1989) and Forgetting Vietnam (2016), directed by Trinh T. Minh-ha, who has cinematized issues on post-colonialism and gender as well as history. As a feminist director who is also a post-colonialism scholar, Trinh T. Minh-ha will be the keynote speaker of South and Southeast Asian Cinema section at Forum BIFF on October 9. In this special forum, both internal and external film scholars will lead the floor by sharing academic presentations and discussions on this year’s Special Program in Focus. Director Trinh T. Minh-ha will be at the GV event to engage moviegoers after the screening.
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24th Busan International Film Festival Korean Cinema Retrospective: A refined extreme artist, the cinematographer JUNG Il-Sung
The 24th Busan International Film Festival announces Jung Il-Sung for the Korean Cinema Retrospective. Jung, a renowned cinematographer, has worked on the history of Korean films and left a significant mark on unique filmmaking as a master of cinematography. He began his career in his late 20s with Farewell Sorrow! (1957) directed by Jo Keung-ha. In Woman of Fire (1971) by director Kim Ki-young, Jung showed his exclusive techniques of angle and color aesthetics to build a grotesque world as well as exhibit great enthusiasm by capturing four different seasons in a year-long film production, The Last Witness (1980), directed by Lee Doo-yong. Following an encounter with director Im Kwon-taek in Divine Bow (1979), he eventually hit a high point in his career with Mandara (1981). Mandara was the first Korean film to be invited to the Panorama section of the Berlin International Film Festival 1982, in appreciation of displaying mise-en-scenes and sequences which were unlikely used in Korean cinema at that time. Jung has subsequently shown a great chemistry of collaboration in many of Im Kwon-taek’s masterpieces such as Sopyonje (1993)and Strokes of Fire (2002). Jung Il-Sung is a pioneer of the aesthetic cinematography shown in Korean cinema, who had worked with a vast number of contemporary representative Korean directors. This year, 7 of Jung Il-Sung’s masterpiece selections – Woman of Fire (1971) by director Kim Ki-young, Son of a Man (1980) by director You Hyunmok, The Last Witness (1980) by director Lee Doo-yong, Mandara (1981) by director Im Kwon-taek, Late Autumn (1981) by director Kim Soo-yong, Hwang Jin-yi (1986) by director Bae Chang-ho, and Born to Kill (1996) by director Jang Hyun-soo – will be screened at the 24th Busan International Film Festival Korean Cinema Retrospective from October 3 to 12, 2019. List of Korean Cinema Retrospective Films (titles in year of production order) Woman of Fire by director KIM Ki-young (1971) Myeong-ja comes to work for free at Jung-sook’s house. Jung-sook’s husband, Dong-sik, rapes Myeong-ja and she gets pregnant while Jung-sook isn’t home. Jeong-sook forces her to have an abortion after she finds out, but Myeong-ja, in turn, poisons Dong-sik’s son. Jeong-sook tries to kill Myeong-ja with rat poison, but is trapped by Myeong-ja’s conspiracy. Son of a Man by director YOU Hyunmok (1980) Yo-sup is found dead in a church. A detective Nam searching for the cause of Yo-sup’s death finds a clue from Yo-sup’s friend, Hwang, and Jo dong-pal is believed to be Yo-sup’s stalker. The detective discovers from Dong-pal’s father and a prostitute that Yo-sup has been worshiping traditional pagan gods and denying Christ. The Last Witness by director LEE Doo-yong (1980) Detective Oh goes searching for the murderer of Yang, a small-time brewer found bludgeoned to death. As he wanders and seeks for evidence, he meets Son Ji-hye, a concubine of Yang who becomes a bar girl, and Kang Man-ho, the North Korean partisan. Mandara by director IM Kwon-taek (1981) After three months of winter ascetic practice, military force stops a bus for an inspection. When a monk with no official holy orders was forcedly dragged down, young monks Ji-san and Beob-wun follow him. Ji-san gets free after chanting a Buddhist prayer and he reunites with Beob-wun at a temple. Ji-san realizes the Buddha literally exists everywhere whereas Beob-wun finds the ways of the world are meaningless even after six years of practice. Late Autumn by director KIM Soo-yong (1981) A female prisoner is given special leave for good behavior. She meets a young fugitive who tries to convince her to run away with him while she is riding the train to go visit her mother’s grave. Both fall in love, but she refuses and returns to prison. Hwang Jin-yi by director BAE Chang-ho (1986) Magistrate Hwang’s daughter Jin-yi is jilted before her wedding because a shoe maker commits suicide after he was smitten by her. Jin-yi becomes a courtesan famous for her wit and beauty. She falls for Byuk kye-su, but he is chosen to be an envoy to a far off kingdom. When he leaves she feels so betrayed that she takes to a life of wandering eagerly. Born to Kill by director JANG Hyun-soo (1996) Kil becomes a profession killer after running away from his mother who tried to commit suicide. Kil’s life becomes complicated when he falls in love with his hostess neighbor, Soo-ha after nursing her through a bad hangover. He now stands at the crossroads between a killer and an ordinary man.
