Pusan Int'l Film Festival Kicks Off
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The 10th Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) kicked off yesterday with a gala opening ceremony at the Yachting Center in Haeundae. The pre-ceremony created a warm festive mood by screening video clips of congratulatory messages from celebrities and a short documentary outlining the history of the festival over the past ten years.
When popular actors such as Lee Byung-hun, Kang Dong-won and Ha Ji-won made their way on the red carpet to the venue, the atmosphere was heated as some 7,000 audience members burst into cheers.
Security concerns were higher than in previous years as the festival takes place prior to the APEC Summit in Busan in November. All guests and visitors had to walk through metal detectors at the entrance gates to the venue and there were many security guards and policemen in the area. But the outdoor theater, which added 2,000 more seats this year, was soon filled without any incident.
At the main ceremony, hosted by popular local actor Han Suk-kyu and actress Kang Soo-yoen, festival chairman and Busan City Mayor Hur Nam-sik announced the official opening of the festival and delivered a speech to commemorate the festival’s 10th anniversary.
Popular local singer BoA also made an appearance on the stage to sing two songs for the audience. That performance was then followed by the feature film ``Three Times’’ by Taiwanese director Hou Hsiao Hsien, who also attended the ceremony with the main actors of the opening film.
The festival, which has become the largest and most important film festival in Asia within a short time, will continue through Oct. 14 showing 307 films from 73 countries.
The source of news : The Korea Times, 10-06-2005 22:26
