Busan is good

Largest ever Pusan International Film Festival to be held this autumn.

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The 14^th Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF)to be held this autumn will be the largest thus far. Busan City and the PIFF Organizing Committee announced that for 9 days from October 8 until 16, a total of 320 films (in 11 categories) from 60 different countries will be screened at the Busan Yacht Center and 34 other movie theaters around Haeundae, Jung-gu and Nampo-dong. These plans were confirmed at the festival’s extraordinary general meeting, which was held at Busan City Hall on July 22. Meanwhile, the festival’s budget for this year was increased by 15 percent to 9.95 billion won. 

 

An official of the PIFF Organizing Committee said, "This year’s PIFF will focus on enhancing the stature of the festival to enable the further development of the Asian Film Market (AFM) by strengthening the festival's network with the global film industry” . The festival plans to screen the international premieres of about 140 films which have so far been released only in their country of production or have never before been screened at the PIFF. The plan is to invite many more movies from developing countries such as those from South America and Africa.

 

As part of the PIFF, the AFM will be held from October 11th until the 14th at the Mega Box theater and the Sea Cloud Hotel in Haeundae. This attracts roughly 70 sales offices and more than 350 buyers from 15 countries. The PIFF Organizing Committee will enhance the stature of the PIFF by offering a variety of special film screening events, including films directed by Johnnie To, Philippine Independent films, ‘AniAsia’ (which introduces animation culture in Asia), Hollywood Classics, Brazilian films and a 30-year Retrospective of the films of Director Ha Gil-jong.

 

In addition, the production of the omnibus feature-film, ‘LOVETREE Busan’ which has been allocated a budget of 0.5 billion won. This film will be about the images of Busan and the feelings of love that are felt for the city as seen through the eyes of foreign directors.

 

Gwak Kyeong-tak, the Busan-based director of “Friend” has been appointed as a member of the PIFF Executive Committee.

Tickets for the PIFF Opening and Closing Ceremonies will go on sale first, on September 21, and promotional events on the eve of the festival will be held at the PIFF Square in Jung-gu, on October 7.