Busan is good

International kids film festival kicks off in Busan

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19 nations, 21 kid-made films represented in lineup

 

The first Busan International Kids’ Film Festival (BIKI) opened at Megabox in Haeundae, Busan, at 5 p.m. yesterday. The festival will continue for five days. The festival, organized by the BIKI Organizing Committee and The Hankyoreh, will introduce 102 movies from 19 nations, including 21 made by children themselves.

BIKI is aimed at being Asia’s best children’s film and cultural festival.

The opening movies were ’Mug Travel,’ Korean director Im A-ron’s first feature-length animated work, and ’You Are My Friend!,’ produced by students from Gyeongsan Dongbu Elementary School in Gyeongsan, North Gyeongsang

Province. ’Mug Travel’ is a story of the adventures that the main character, Bebe, experiences while traveling in a drink mug. The film played to a sold-out opening, with the organizers hoping that this is a forecast of the future success of the international event.

Kim Sang-hwa, chairman of the BIKI Executive Committee, said, "Korean children so far have been accustomed with Japanese and American animation. Now, BIKI will provide a new educational opportunity to our children to gain access to worldwide films and animation." Kim added, "We will heighten the image of Busan as a film-lover’s mecca, and develop this event into a family cultural festival which not only cinephiles and the young but also various other types of people can enjoy."

The closing films will be Uruguayan director Leonardo Ricagni’s ’A Dios Momo’ and one work to be selected out of 21 films produced by children. The two movies will be screened at 5 p.m. on Aug. 19.

The source of news : The Hankyoreh  Aug.16,2006