The Busan International Film Festival, which is about to make its 29th voyage, has promised to renovate itself as the most popular film festival of all time, sealing the internal feud, which was talked about and had a lot of trouble, and recovering lost time.
On the afternoon of the 3rd, a press conference for the 29th Busan International Film Festival was held at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry located at 39 Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul. The press conference was attended by acting executive chairman Park Do-shin, chairman Park Kwang-soo, senior programmer Nam Dong-cheol, and market chairman Kim Young-deok.
The Busan Film Festival, which marks its 29th anniversary this year, will be held for 10 days from the 2nd to the 11th of next month around the Seoul Cinema Center. Sixty-three countries and 279 films (99 World + International Premieres, 86 World Premieres, 13 International Premieres and 55 Community Beef screenings) will be released through 28 screens in seven theaters in Busan, including the Film Center, the heart of the Busan Film Festival, CGV Centum City, Lotte Cinema Centum City, and Film Promotion Committee Standard Time. The number of screenings increased by 8% compared to 209 last year, drawing much attention.
Chairman Park Kwang-soo said, `Last year, the Busan Film Festival suffered a great internal strife. Nevertheless, with the help of many people who love the Busan Film Festival, representatively Song Kang-ho and other filmmakers, it is possible to proceed safely. He was chosen as chairman of the board in June. It's sudden, but it's going to be held after looking at the entire festival. We try to find things lost in difficult times by inviting audiences, filmmakers, and overseas guests who participate in the festival. Considering the film festival vision, we are trying to expand our perspective on new methods such as AI and OTT. During the festival, newspapers will also be published. It will also operate a shuttle from the hotel to the Seoul Cinema Center. The guest lounge has also reopened so that filmmakers can meet and discuss and exchange frequently at the Seoul Cinema Center."
The opening film of this year's Busan Film Festival was selected as the Netflix original film 'Jeon, Lan' (directed by Kim Sang-man, produced by Morpheme and Semicolon Studios). 'Jeon, Lan' is a story about a son of Joseon's highest military family who grew up together and his servant becoming an enemy with the closest officer and righteous army of King Seonjo. Kang Dong-won as Cheon Young, who has low status but the best swordsmanship, and Park Jung-min as Jong-ryeo, the son of Joseon's highest military family, who takes Cheon-young as his body type, and who will be escorted by his ancestors after the graduation of the military service, also starred Cha Seung-won, Kim Shin-rok, Jin Sun-kyu and Jung Sung-il. Director Kim Sang-man of "FM in the Late Night" took the megaphone, and director Park Chan-wook participated in the production and completed the scenario with writer Shin Chul.
Executive Chairman Park Do-shin said, `Director Park Chan-wook himself participated in the production and screenplay. It is an attractive historical drama involving talented filmmakers. The combination of luxurious casting is also attractive. It was selected because it was suitable for the opening of the Busan Film Festival."
He thought "Jeon, Lan" was quite a popular work. It seems to be the most attractive work to the audience among the opening films of all time. In fact, I didn't think about the work because of the platform called Netflix. Recently, it was selected in consideration of how much the audience can enjoy. It's Netflix, so I don't have any burden now. He added that programmers at the Busan Film Festival chose this work because they thought it was good.
The closing film was directed by Eric Coo from France and Singapore, "A Journey of the Soul". 'Travel of the Soul' is a work that deals with the meaning of human existence and the themes of life and death. Director Eric Ku's new work, which was invited to the Cannes, Berlin and Venice International Film festivals for the first time in Singapore and received the Order of Cultural Merit, will be unveiled at the world's first Busan Film Festival.
Executive Chairman Park Do-shin will be able to captivate the audience with a calm but moving story, although the result is different from \'Jeon, Lan'"I was confident.
The Busan Film Festival 'Today of Korean Films - Special Premiere', which focuses on domestic audiences, will release four world premieres, one Korean premiere, and a total of five films. In particular, Song Joong-ki and Lee Hee-joon stars 『Bogota" (directed by Kim Sung-je, produced by film company watermelon and dioplan) will be released for the first time around the world, and the section 『On Screen" will also be released at this year's Busan Film Festival, which presents the drama series in advance 'Good or Bad Dongjae" and 'Hell" Season 2, which caused noise due to the departure of infants arrested by law today (3rd).
Executive Chairman Park Do-shin prepared "On Screen" because OTT was considered a genre of film. It's an attractive genre. OTT cannot be excluded from the selection of works, he added.
RM, the leader of BTS, will also be invited to open cinema to meet audiences at outdoor theaters, with his solo album maker and film 'RM's eight-month personal record before joining the military. The mega-phone was directed by Lee Sung-jin, who directed the most popular Netflix series 'Angry People' last year.
Kang Sung-woo, a programmer, said "When I watched the movie, it was different from the movie made by the Korean documentary camp in the wide angle section, but I chose it because it would be a fun experience for the audience." This is the second time that a documentary will be shown in a large cinema. I wanted to show a variety of movies, and I think it's a work that not only fandom but also general audiences can enjoy. As you know, RM, the main character, is in the military, so it will be difficult to attend the Busan Film Festival. Instead, director Lee Sung-jin and other artists will attend the stage greeting."
This year's Busan Film Festival also prepared a special program to commemorate the late Lee Sun-kyun, who sadly died on December 27 of that year while being booked for marijuana enjoyment under the Narcotics Control Act in October last year and under police investigation. Lee Sun-kyun's six representative films will be screened as a special exhibition and special talks will be held. In addition, it plans to select the winner of this year's Korea Cinema Award and host the award at the opening ceremony.
soulhn1220@sportschosun.com
