Busan is good

Films and fireworks kick off fall in style

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Jang Jin’s ‘Good Morning President’ opens PIFF festivities on Oct. 8

The streets of Busan will be filled with festivities in October as the city prepares to host cultural and entertainment events.

The month will provide visitors and residents alike with the chance to witness and enjoy the deepening shades of Busan’s autumn in a unique way. The fall presents a diverse and beautiful side to Busan, allowing the city’s true colors to shine though. Starting with the 14th Pusan International Film Festival or PIFF, Busan is planning an array of distinctive events including a fantastic fireworks show set against the backdrop of the city’s landmark Gwangan Grand Bridge (also called Diamond Bridge) and Gwangalli Beach. These daily festivals are sure to keep domestic and foreign tourists busy during their stay in this bustling seaport city.

The 14th PIFF will be held in the Suyeong Bay Yachting Center,  Haeundae Beach and around Nampo-dong. A total of 355 films from 70 countries will be screened.

The festival will kick off with an opening ceremony at 7 p.m. on Oct. 8 at the yachting center featuring a screening of “Good Morning President,” director Jang Jin’s comedy on the politics and lives of three different presidents. The closing film, “The Message,” was co-directed by Gao Qunshu from China and Chen Kuo-fu from Taiwan.

Visitors to the festival can check out a PIFF Village set up on the sands of Haeundae Beach and guest directors, actors and actresses from the films being screened will participate in events on outdoor stages in Haeundae and Nampo-dong. The fun isn’t over once PIFF wraps up, though, with the Busan Fireworks Festival taking place the night of Oct. 17 at Gwangalli Beach.

The fireworks will light up the autumn sky over Gwangan Grand Bridge, providing a perfect way to usher in the fall. This marks the event’s fifth year. 83,000 to 85,000 fireworks will be launched high into the air in combination with lighting effects under the theme “2009 Love

Busan.” While the festival is being held on just one day this year in the face of the current Influenza A (H1N1) outbreak, organizers stress that the fireworks’ scale and splendor will be the same as in past years.

The fireworks display follows a five-minute countdown starting at 7:55 p.m. The entire program runs 45 minutes, and the fireworks are accompanied by grand music including scores from famous love scenes in movies and TV dramas - making it a great place to bring a date.

The source of news : Dynamic Busan