13th Pusan International Film Festival 제13회 부산국제영&#

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October 3, 2008

APAN - Asia Pacific Actors Network Conference

이날 행사에는 안성기, 강수연, 리 샤오루(Li Xiaolu), 메르세데스 카브럴(Mercedes Cabral), 문 블러드굿(Moom Bloodgood), 범직위(Fan Chih Wei), 서천우(Chui Tien Yu), 아론 유(Aaron Yoo), 아핀야 사쿨 자로엔석(Apinya Sakul Jaroensuk), 우에노 주리(Ueno Juri), 임회뢰(Kelly Lin), 제임스 카이슨 리(James Kyson Lee), 한세민(HAN Se-min)등이 참석했다.

Source: news.empas.com

Related article - October 1, 2008

Asian actors reach out at Pusan

APAN helps actors meet with filmmakers

By DARCY PAQUET

SEOUL -- Asian actors will be thick on the ground at the Pusan Intl. Film Festival, where organizers will host the launch of the Asia Pacific Actors Network.

Organized separately from the Star Summit Asia, which is part of the Asian Film Market, APAN tries to increase contacts between the region's thesps and producers, investors and directors.

Stars and filmmakers will be invited to attend a conference, banquet, red carpet event and party Friday, the second day of the festival, which ends Oct. 12. The network will also assemble a small fund, which will provide up-front financing to projects that bring together high-profile directors and talent.

Korean thesps Ahn Sung-ki ("Battle of Wits"), Park Joong-hoon ("The Truth About Charlie"), and Kang Su-yeon ("Surrogate Mother"), who will oversee APAN's launch, hope that the network will encourage a more integrated Asian film industry.

"Industries like Hollywood, the U.K. and Australia share a common language that makes it easier for stars to cross borders," says Park. "We picture APAN as a space where these sorts of exchanges can more easily take place."

Source: Variety.com

http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=fe...id=VR1117973107

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UPCOMING EVENTS AT 13th PIFF

October 2, 2008

Actress Han Chae-young Cast in NZ Horror Flick

Actress Han Chae-young has been cast as the heroine in a new film to be jointly produced by Korea and New Zealand. According to Han's management agency, the actress will take on the leading role in "Soul Mates," which will be directed by director Scott Reynolds of New Zealand.

"Soul Mates" will be jointly produced by Korean film production company Daejanggan and its New Zealand counterpart Touchdown Eyeworks. The film is a horror flick about the death of an Asian woman named Jin-hee, who lives in New Zealand. The two production companies signed an agreement of mutual support on September 29.

Han's management agency said the actress took the opportunity as it could be a stepping stone to making inroads into Hollywood. Reynolds and Han will attend the "New Zealand Reception" with New Zealand Ambassador to Korea Jane Coombs. The reception will be held on October 4 during the 13th Pusan International Film Festival period.

Source: KBS Global

October 3, 2008

Koreans and Kiwis are "Soul Mates"

First Korean, New Zealand co-production announced after formal treaty signing

Written by Han Sunhee

SEOUL -- Korean actress Han Chae-young("Love Now") has been cast in the lead role of a Korea-New Zealand co-production horror pic "Soul Mates". Helmed by Scott Reynolds("The Ugly") and scripted by Nick Ward, pic is about the death and soul of a Korean woman who lives in New Zealand.

Korea's production shingle Film Alchemy and New Zealand's Touchdown Eyeworks have been co-developing the $ 5.4 million pic.

The film is the first project produced under the auspices of the co-production treaty co-signed by the Korea and New Zealand governments earlier this week.

Special effects supervisor Richard Taylor ("The Lord of the Rings" "King Kong") and his company Weta Workshop will take charge of visual effects for “Soul Mates”.

"We are waiting for the effectuation of the treaty, and will be more clearly informed from the government what the benefits of the co-production are. The investment for the project has been almost accomplished as well," Ms. Lee Nam-jin, prexy of Film Alchemy told Variety.

Pic will begin lensing in January, with an eye on theatrical release during the 2009 summer season. The local distributor and international sales representation have not yet been announced.

The treaty and the film project will be officially introduced at the New Zealand Night at PIFF on Saturday, with the attendance of Han Chae-young, Scott Reynolds and the New Zealand ambassador in Korea, Jane Coombs.

Source: Variety Asia

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UPCOMING EVENTS AT 13th PIFF

October 2, 2008

Kong Hyo-jin Shines in 'Crush'

By Lee Hyo-won

Staff Reporter

Actress Kong Hyo-jin stars as a pathetic high school teacher with a chronic case

of blushing and delusions in the movie 'Crush and Blush.'/Courtesy of Big House-Vantage Holdings

Rudy red face, frizzy hair, criminal fashion sense and a chronic case of inferiority complex and hopeless delusion, Miss Hongdangmu (carrot) is a new antihero among antiheroes. Such a pitiful role can be crafted with grace only by South Korean actress Kong Hyo-jin, who trades in her stylish image for a makeover as shocking as Charlize Theron a la "Monster."

Premiering Saturday at the 13th Pusan (Busan) International Film Festival (PIFF), "Crush and Blush" signals the promising directorial debut of Lee Kyung-mi as well as feted filmmaker Park Chan-wook's headway into producing. Lee, who had worked on the set of Park's "Sympathy for Lady Vengeance," brings one of those rare movies that are propelled by a most unusual yet utterly believable character development, where the protagonist pushes forth the narrative by fulfilling her own destiny instead of a set of circumstances requiring a particular role.

The film wastes no time in painting an unmistakable caricature of Miss Hongdangmu. One is immediately struck by the awkward presence of the unpopular high school Russian teacher who is always looking in all the wrong places at the wrong time. She's like a cross between MTV's Daria and Morticia of the Addams Family, but neither smartly cynical nor eerily gothic, she dispels the golden rule in fashion that black goes with everything, as her uncomfortable looking turtleneck and shapeless long skirt only highlight her severe problem of going red in the face.

The unattractive 29-year-old had been infatuated with Mr. Seo (Lee Jong-hyeuk), her high school teacher-turned-colleague, for about 10 years. "Last year he sat next to me at the faculty dinner and also right next to me in the car on the way home. Clearly he must be in love with me!" insists this paragon of delusion. However, her happy thoughts are short-lived due to the arrival of every women's public enemy, the pretty woman Yu-ri (played by lovely debutant Hwang Woo-seul-hye 황우슬혜).

As Russian becomes increasingly less popular among the students, hardworking Mi-suk is assigned to instruct junior high English while Yu-ri, lax yet popular, maintains her position in high school Russian. Not only is she forced to learn English to teach it, Mi-suk must put a halt to a blooming romance between Yu-ri and Mr. Seo, who is among the beauty's many admirers. Her only hope is to keep Seo tied to his marriage for the meantime, and she forms an odd alliance with Seo's daughter and middle school loser Jong-heui (Seo Woo).

Rising starlet Seo Woo is another reason to watch the movie. The petite actress, known for some oddball TV roles, plays the perfect counterpart to Kong as another social misfit with no less psychedelic charisma. The two eccentrics deliver a multidimensional tragicomedy, spiced with what would be the American equivalent of "blonde humor" inspired by the pretty Yu-ri. Along the way, the viewer develops sympathy for the clueless Mr. Seo who gets caught in the middle of four feisty ladies (the fourth being his scary belly-dancing wife who is eight years his senior).

"Crush and Blush" brings together the most unusual characters in the most embarrassing situations. Mi-suk starts digging a hole in the school yard as to divert eyes away from her "clandestine" talk with Jong-heui, but only draws more attention to herself _ physically manifesting her shortsighted "sapjil," meaning hard shoveling and no pay, both literally and figuratively. Yet the viewer cannot help but warm to this self-esteem-less, frustrating character as she pursues her passions with utmost sincerity and futility. But life can surprise you, as the most meaningful secrets lie in things that may seem meaningless.

In theaters Oct. 16. 101 minutes. 15 and over. Distributed by Big House-Vantage Holdings.

Credits: hyowlee@koreatimes.co.kr

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2.../135_32046.html

[Guest huangsy]

3 Oct 2008

Lee Wan at 13th PIFF

BOYS DONT CRY movie

news clip at http://kr.news.yahoo.com/service/news/shel...mp;newssetid=92

[myownsecretmind]

Just adding re. the opening night movie

The 13th PIFF Opening Film

Press Screening & Conference

[Overview]

When:Oct. 2 13:30 – Opening Film Press Screening

Oct. 2 15:20 – Opening Film Press Conference

Where:Megabox Auditorium M (Press Conference will be held 15 minutes after the screening at the same place)

Moderator :JO Jong-guk (Deputy General Manager)

Attendee :Kim Dong-ho (Festival Director), Rustem ABDRASHEV (Director), Nurzhuman IKHTIMBAYEV (Actor), Dalen SHINTEMIROV (Child Actor)

[Program]

13:30 Opening Film Preview Screening Begins

15:07 End of the Opening Film Preview Screening, Break

15:20 Opening Film Press Conference Begins

Greetings from the director

Guest greetings

Q & A

Photo Time

Close

Opening Film <The Gift to Stalin>

Introduction

Kazakhstan, Russia , Israel , Poland | 2008 | 97min

Director : Rustem ABDRASHEV

This is a story of a man who survived from gruesome dark ages. Only thing he has left is the memories of his childhood. The most talented young director in Kazakhstan, Rustem Abdrashev, Russia ’s most representative screenwriter Pavel Finn, and the most outstanding Kazakhstani actor, Nurzhuman Ikhtimbaev, created a touching and dramatic epic.

Kazakhstan in1949, the times when the minorities were forced to move to Central Asia by former Soviet government, A Jewish kid named Sashka is on a train with his grandfather, being deported with others. His grandfather dies on the train and he is dropped off with the body at a small village. He meets an old man, Kasym and stays with him. But the tragedy is upon the village. Every villagers are killed and only Sashka survived. The title, Gift to Stalin has two significances. In 1949, Soviet government carried out a nuclear test for anniversary of Stalin’s 70th birthday. Many innocent people fell the victims to the nuclear test. It turned out that Stalin give his gift of death to the people. The other significance is about Sashka’s dream. He has a hope that if he gives Stalin a gift, he will be able to meet his parents again.

Through the relationship between Sashka and Kasym, Rustem Abdrashev is showing the value of trust and hope that never change even during the most violent and the darkest days. Gift to Stalin is multi-nationally produced. It was filmed in Kazakhstan , and Russia , Poland , Israel participated in its production.

Rustem ABDRASHEV / Director

Born in 1970, film and art director Rustem Abdrashov graduated from the Faculty of Theater at the Almaty Art University in Kazakhstan . In 2004, he directed Renaissance Island , which won numerous prizes including the Grand Prix at the Kinoshock Film Festival (for CIS and Baltic regions) and The Almaty International Film Festival “Shaken Stars”. In 2007, he directed Patchwork Blanket, which won the Best Script Award at the Kinoshock Film Festival.

Nurzhuman IKHTIMBAYEV / Actor

Nurzhuman IKHTIMBAYEV is a talented and representative actor in Kazakhstan . He has played a role in <Day Watcher>, <Close fighting>, <Look, is there any rain?>, <Chingiskhan>, <Pattern blanket> and <Renessance island>. He also acted in <Turmoil>, one of New Currents selections for the 13th Pusan International Film Festival.

Dalen SHINTEMIROV / Child Actor

The film is the first step of Dalen SHINTEMIROV, in his age of 9, to an actor.

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October 2, 2008

13th Pusan Film Festival Opens

By Lee Hyo-won

Staff Reporter

"The Gift to Stalin," the opening movie of the Pusan (Busan) International Film Festival (PIFF),

is screened at the Suyoung Bay Yacht Marina, Thursday. The largest Asian cinema event marks its 13th year

and will run through Oct.10, with more than 300 films from 60 countries

being screened for movie fans. /Korea Times

BUSAN _ The 13th Pusan (Busan) International Film Festival (PIFF) kicked off Thursday evening with the world premiere of "The Gift to Stalin" in this southern port city. It is Asia's largest cinema event, featuring a record number of 315 films from 60 countries including 85 world premieres over the nine-day run until Oct. 10.

While news of the death of top star Choi Jin-sil Thursday morning had many of the local press flocking back to Seoul, the ceremony at the Suyoung Bay Yacht Marina was well spotlighted as 100 or so top stars from near and far appeared on the red carpet. Festival director Kim Dong-ho expressed grief for Choi's death with festivalgoers.

The festive mood reached its full height nevertheless. With tasteful tungsten-hued lights and Latin music, the event took place under pleasant autumn weather conditions_ unlike last year, when rain and the "political" postponement by the sudden appearance of presidential candidates muddled the show.

Actors Jung Jin-young, who starred in the record-breaking film "King and the Clown" and most recently "Sunny," and Kim Jung-eun, heroine of the 2007 hit "Forever the Moment,'' hosted the event. Korean soprano Shin Young-ok, a regular at the New York Metropolitan Opera, graced the stage with "Nella Fantasia" from the movie soundtrack of "Mission" and "Habanera" from the opera "Carmen."

In attendance were Culture Minister Yu In-chon; Ko Heung-gil, head of the National Assembly's Culture, Sports, Tourism, Broadcasting and Communication Committee; Busan Mayor/PIFF festival chairman Hur Nam-sik and several members of the International Olympics Committee who were in town for the 4th Busan TAFISA World Sport for All Games.

The screening of 'The Gift to Stalin" by Rustem Adbrashev wrapped up the festivity. This is the first time for a small film from Kazakhstan to open PIFF, and what had been considered an "experimental" choice on the part of organizers proved to be a success as it set a new online sellout record of 90 seconds. The newly inserted system of allotting on-the-site reservations for those aged 50-plus and not Internet-savvy was also helpful to some, though PIFF needs to promote it better in future festivals.

Thursday also marked the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of an exclusive center for PIFF,

"Dureraum" or "together." The 162.4 billion won ($133 million) project by Austrian architect Coop Himmel will be house six theaters, a museum, exhibition halls and other offices.

"PIFF will finally have a permanent venue, which means it won't have to struggle to find a new one anymore," Busan Mayor Hur Nam-sik told reporters. The building is slated to open in October 2011 for the 16th PIFF.

PIFF closes Oct. 10 with the premiere of the South Korean film "I Am Happy." Directed by Yoon Jong-chan, it is about a dejected patient (hallyu star Hyun Bin) and heartbroken nurse (actress Lee Bo-young) who meet in a psychiatric ward.

Tickets will be available for purchase online (www.netmarble.net), offline ticket booths (host movie theaters, Bank of Busan, nationwide GS25 convenience store ATMs) and via a mobile service, "Mobile PIFF." Visit www.piff.org (Korean and English) for more information.

Credits: hyowlee@koreatimes.co.kr

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2.../141_32078.html

[rubie]

October 3, 2008

Pusan International Film Festival Opens

The thirteenth Pusan International Film Festival opened Thursday night in South Korea with more than a hundred top stars from South Korea and overseas in attendance.

China's portal Web site, Sina, reported that 315 films from 60 countries will be shown during the festival. The opening movie was Kazakh director Rustem Abdrashev's "The Gift to Stalin."

The film festival was overshadowed by the death of South Korean actress Choi Jin-sil, who committed suicide earlier that day. The audience observed a brief moment of silence for the popular star at the end of the opening ceremony.

Chinese actresses Li Xiaolu, Wang Luodan, actor Li Chen, and Taiwan actress Kelly Lin and actor Van Fan also attended the opening ceremony.

The film festival will end on October 10 with the closing film "I Am Happy" by South Korean director Yoon Jon-chan.

The Pusan International Film Festival, which began in 1996, has been one of the most important film festivals in Asia.

Source: CRIENGLISH.com

http://english.cri.cn/3086/2008/10/03/1461s411193.htm

Chinese actress Li Xiaolu poses for photos at the opening ceremony of the thirteenth Pusan International Film Festival on Thursday, October 2, 2008. [Photo: ent.sina.com.cn]

Taiwan actress Kelly Lin poses for photos at the opening ceremony of the thirteenth Pusan International Film Festival on Thursday, October 2, 2008. [Photo: ent.sina.com.cn]

South Korean actress Kim So-yeon poses for photos at the opening ceremony of the thirteenth Pusan International Film Festival on Thursday, October 2, 2008. [Photo: ent.sina.com.cn]

South Korean actress Park Eun-hye poses for photos at the opening ceremony of the thirteenth Pusan International Film Festival on Thursday, October 2, 2008. [Photo: mydaily]

South Korean actor Jang Dong-gun poses for photos at the opening ceremony of the thirteenth Pusan International Film Festival on Thursday, October 2, 2008. [Photo: mydaily]

South Korean actor Lee Dong-wook poses for photos at the opening ceremony of the thirteenth Pusan International Film Festival on Thursday, October 2, 2008. [Photo: mydaily]

The crew of the opening movie "The Gift to Stalin" pose for photos at the opening ceremony of the thirteenth Pusan International Film Festival on Thursday, October 2, 2008. [Photo: ent.sina.com.cn]

Jung Jin-yong (L) and Kim Jung-eun host the opening ceremony of the thirteenth Pusan International Film Festival on Thursday, October 2, 2008. [Photo: ent.sina.com.cn]

Festival director Kim Dong-ho leads the audience in observing a brief moment of silence for South Korean actress Choi Jin-sil at the opening ceremony of the thirteenth Pusan International Film Festival on Thursday, October 2, 2008. [Photo: photo.eastday.com]

Audience watch the opening movie of the thirteenth Pusan International Film Festival, "The Gift to Stalin," on Thursday, October 2, 2008. [Photo: photo.eastday.com]

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13th PIFF JURY

PIFF Competition Section Promotes Asian Cinema

By Lee Hyo-won

Staff Reporter

From left, PIFF director Kim Dong-ho, New Current jury head and actress/director Anna Karina,

German producer Karl Baumgartner, Korean actress Lee Hwa-si and Indian director Santosh Sivan

discuss the competition section of the 13th Pusan (Busan) International Film Festival (PIFF), Friday./ Yonhap

BUSAN ― The star-studded jury of New Currents, the unique competition section of the 13th Pusan (Busan) International Film Festival (PIFF), met with the press Friday to discuss the competition's aim to promote Asian cinema and in particular rising young directors.

The jury is headed by one of the world's most famous actresses Anna Karina, muse of the Eric Rhomer and Jean-Luc Godard-led French La Nouvelle Vague (French New Wave). In 1961, she won the Silver Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival with Godard's "Woman is a Woman."

Karina, 68, makes her first visit to South Korea, and finds it "flattering" that the younger generation still remembers her works from the 1950s and 60s. "But it's too much," she said. But she is happy that the retro works are still up to date. "It is a great honor," she said about presiding over the jury. The actress-turned-director also brings her latest work "Victoria" to PIFF.

Also on the jury is German producer Karl Baumgartner, who has co-produced Asian masterworks like Mira Nair's "Monsoon Wedding" and Kim Ki-duk's "Spring Summer Fall Winter and Spring."

"The role of the New Currents award has become increasingly important in Asian cinema,'' he said, explaining that Asian cinema has made an incredible development during the past 15 years. Before, only Japapense directors like Kenji Mizoguchi were well known in Europe, but Chinese directors like Chen Kaige as well as Korean ones like Kim Ki-duk and Park Chan-wook have emerged, he said. PIFF also marked the first opening of an Indian movie in the international cinema scene, he said.

"Asians are encouraged to explore non-traditional Hollywood views, creating a platform for new Asian filmmakers," said another jury member, Indian director Santosh Sivan, whose works including "Nine Emotions" have screened at PIFF.

Also part of the jury is actress Lee Hwa-si, who marks the heyday of retro South Korean cinema with the late director Kim Ki-young. The 57-year-old had recently made a comeback to acting after a long hiatus and expressed her great amazement with the heightened speed, youth and passion of today's local filmmaking. Iranian director Samira Makhmalbaf was unfortunately unable to attend the festival due to a case of dyspnea but PIFF festival director Kim Dong-ho joined the members for the talk.

"New Currents focuses on discovering new directors and new movies. The most impressive work will be given the award, and the jury makes the entire decision," said Kim. A total of 14 works from young directors from the world will contend for two awards, a cash prize of $300,000 each. The winners will be announced Oct. 7.

PIFF runs through Oct. 10. Visit www.piff.org (Korean and English) for more information.

Credits: hyowlee@koreatimes.co.kr

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2.../135_32112.html

[rubie]

October 3, 2008

'Gift' Brings Kazakhstan Closer to Korea

By Lee Hyo-won

Staff Reporter

“The Gift to Stalin'' director Rustem Abdrashev, left, appear with the film’s actors

before the press at the 13th Pusan (Busan) International Film Festival (PIFF), Thursday.

The first Kazakh film to be invited to PIFF, the historical drama opened the festival

at the opening ceremony Thursday. / Yonhap

BUSAN -- "The Gift to Stalin," the first ever Kazakh film to be invited to the Pusan (Busan) International Film Festival (PIFF), opened the 13th annual event Thursday. This endearing, family-friendly film shows that something classic is never out of style: historical drama unearths the past for Kazakh and provides a window to a new world for the Korean audience, while the politically correct, good old traditional celebration of virtue in times of adversity appeals to crowds of all backgrounds.

The namesake "gift'' here is no ordinary birthday present, but a Hiroshima-style atomic test bombing carried out in Kazakhstan in August 1949 for Stalin's 70th birthday. Director Rustem Abdrashev sheds light upon this harrowing event of ethnic persecution, but makes it palatable ? and all the more palpable ? as it is told through the story of a charming little boy.

"It's been a little over a decade since Kazakhstan's liberation. This is the first film to reflect upon the postwar Soviet years, and I wanted to show how the younger generation perceives that period. The movie premieres at this festival in order to reach a larger audience,'' Abdrashev told reporters following the press preview Thursday.

"Gift'' has the soft touches and deeply affecting allure that correspond to South Korea's own such project,

Crossing.'' The first film to depict the plight of North Korean defectors, it also makes uncomfortable truths more approachable through the story of a young boy, without beautifying or skewing the facts in any way.

"I think Koreans and Kazakhstanians are kindred spirits," he continued. "After learning about the two Koreas, I always wanted to visit South Korea. I think Kazakhstan and Korea have similar cultures, lifestyles and values. There is a lot of pain in our histories, but we should remember it," he said.

Charming child actor Dalen Shintemirov plays the role of a Jewish boy, Sashka, who is relocated to Central Asia following the arrest of his parents. He was one of more than 1.2 million such minorities forced to move at the time, subtitles say. The arduous train journey takes the life of his ailing grandfather, and the boy is saved from being buried alive with the corpse by Kasym, a one-eyed Muslim laborer (Nurzhuman Ikhtimbaev).

Sashka is taken to a village that is home to orphaned ethnic and religious minorities, a haven for tolerance and virtue in the repressive Stalinist state. But the serenity of rural Kazakhstan is forever disrupted when the town receives an unexpected "gift" while commemorating Stalin's birthday. Sashka is again left all alone in the world.

The unforgettable gaze of the child makes the film a must-see. The nine-year-old was just as winsome in person at the conference. "I always dreamed of traveling and I'm so happy I was able to come here with just one phone call," said Shintemirov, grinning brightly. "I wanted to be an actor but I'm thinking I might become a director now," he said, drawing laughter from the director and his co-star, Kazakhstan's most representative actor Ikhtimbaev.

The actor is from the postwar Soviet years. "When I was young, I grew up watching the deportation of 30 minority groups. Today about 130 ethnic groups comprise Kazakhstan, including Koreans who were forced to move. My neighbor was a Korean director and I've acted opposite Korean actors in film," he said, adding that he is particularly impressed by the talent of Korean actresses. He said he found the actress in a Korean culinary TV drama being broadcast in Kazakhstan wonderful, presumably referring to Lee Young-ae of "Jewel in the Palace" (Daejanggeum).

The 13th edition of PIFF marks a record lineup of 315 films from 60 countries. Over the years, there was mounting concern about the festival becoming increasingly commercial. PIFF's choice of "Gift" as its opening film is by far one of its most praiseworthy decisions, as it upholds the essential spirit of international film events, to celebrate the inspirational power of cinema to promote cross-cultural exchange and understanding.

"Gift" will continue to be screened throughout PIFF, which runs through Oct. 10. 99 minutes. No rating. Nikola-Film.

Credits: hyowlee@koreatimes.co.kr

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2.../141_32113.html

[rubie]

Thanks to Shirley for the highlight

9th Pusan Film Critics Award to be held on 3rd Oct at 7pm

List of winners

Best Director -

Hong Sang-soo ( Night and Day )

Best Actor

Kim Yu-seok (The Chaser)

Best Actress

Kim Min-hee (Hell Cats)

Best Supporting Actor

Park Hee-soon (Seven Days )

Best Supporting Actress

Kim Ji-young (Forever the Moment)

Best Screenplay

Na Hong Jin (The Chaser )

Best cinematography

Hong Kyung-pyo (M)

Best New Director

Oh Jeom-gyun (Viva ! Love)

Best New Actress

Park Eun-hye (Night and Day )

Special Jury Award

Forever the Moment

October 3 - 9th Pusan Film Critics Award

Kim Yu Seok

Park Eun Hye

[Guest TY_KSW]

is it international festival? i found the winners are all Korean.. no foreign winner? or their acting are not as good as Korean colleagues?

[rubie]

is it international festival? i found the winners are all Korean.. no foreign winner? or their acting are not as good as Korean colleagues?

Good question, TY.. PIFF is an international film festival although most of the participants come from Asia (including Russia, East Asia, South East Asia). The Pusan Film Critics Award (similar to other Korean-based film awards) is an annual event in Pusan for Korean movies held during the film festival.

The actual PIFF Award (from New Currents section) will only be announced on the closing day which is the 9th of October. Hope others can add to clarify as well. :blush:

New Currents Award

This year's New Currents Award is given to two best feature films selected from works of new Asian directors in New Currents section, the only competitive section of PIFF. The jury consisted of world-famous film experts will choose winner with the hopes to encourage continuous endeavor of discovering hidden jewels of Asian cinema, and US$30000 will be awarded to each film.

Films in Competition

100 - Philippines

A Light in the Fog - Iran

A Moment in June - Thailand

Blind Pig Who Wants to Fly - Indonesia

Empty Chair - Iran

Er Dong - China

Jalainur - China

Land of Scarecrows - Korea

Members of the Funeral - Korea

Naked of Defenses - Japan

Ocean of an Old Man - India

Routine Holiday - China

The Pot - Korea

Turmoil - Kazakhstan

OTHER AWARDS

The Asian Filmmaker of the Year

This award is given to those who made important contribution to the advancement of Asian cinema during the year.

Gulnara SARSENOVA Festival Director of International Eurasia Film Festival

As the first female award winner, Gulnara SARSENOVA is currently a festival chairman of International Eurasia Film Festival and also a remarkable producer in Kazakhstan. Establishing the Eurasia Film Production in 2004, she has aimed at worldwide film collaboration with other countries, including Kazakhstan. Resulting from intensive activities, she has been recognized her surpassing outcomes in many different film festivals in the world. In addition, such efforts have led Asian film market in its international expansion.

Korean Cinema Award

This award is presented to the individuals who have made outstanding contributions in promoting Korean cinema to the world film community.

Richard PENA Festival Director New York Film Festival

Richard PENA has been the program director of the Film Society of New York Lincoln Center since 1988 and introduced various Korean films to American society. In 2004, he organized “The Newest Tiger: 60 Years Of South Korean Cinema”, the biggest Korean film screening in the USA, to show major works throughout the 60 years of Korean film history. He also held the first retrospective of the 10th anniversary of the late KIM Ki-Young in March this year, screening twelve of the director’s works including his masterpiece <The Housemaid>.

Sonje Award

This award is given to the best Korean and Asian short films in Wide Angle section, to assist in producing another masterpiece by providing KRW 10,000,000 (approx. $10,000) for each director.

PIFF Mecenat Award

First introduced in this year, PIFF Mecenat Award is granted to the best Korean and Asian documentary films from Wide Angle section. A cash award of 10,000,000 KRW (approx. $10,000) is given to the each director for the purpose of assisting in the best production.

FIPRESCI Award

FIPRESCI Award (Prize of the International Film Critics) is granted annually at PIFF to a work among rising Asian directors including New Currents section for its experimental and progressive spirit.

Netpac Award

This award is given to the year’s best Korean film from either New Currents or Korean Cinema Today sections. NETPAC is an international organization founded in 1990 that is devoted to expansion of Asian film distribution and screening.

KNN Award

Voted by the audiences during the festival, this award is presented by KNN foundation to the most popular film from New Currents section. US$ 20,000 is awarded to its director.

Source: www.piff.org

ps: personally.. as I've observed various international film festivals, the main purpose of many filmakers & actors is to have the movies from their countries premiering and screened to a bigger and wider audience of the world. To be nominated for an award is a bonus for them.

[Guest TY_KSW]

Good question, TY.. PIFF is an international film festival although most of the participants come from Asia (including Russia, East Asia, South East Asia). The Pusan Film Critics Award (similar to other Korean-based film awards) is an annual event in Pusan for Korean movies held during the film festival.

The actual PIFF Award (from New Currents sction) will only be announced on the closing day which is the 9th of October. Hope others can add to clarify as well. :blush:

--- personally.. as I've observed various international film festivals, the main purpose of many filmakers & actors is to have the movies from their countries premiering and screened on a bigger and wider audience of the world. To be nominated for an award is a bonus for them.

Thank you very much, Rubie...

i m enlightened now!

The Pusan Film Critics Awards are for Korean only... while the official PIFF awards will be announce in the end..

[Guest valley girl]

yay kim min hee won??/ !!!.. this year is her Year.. Whatever with her low rating drama all great

PArk eun hye Congrats her acting improved every year

i mean she's ok even being villain too

the director winner is duelist, M director too isn't??

[Guest huangsy]

on 3rd Oct

Kim Kang Woo & Kim So Yeon

Daniel Henney

Aaron Yoo

Lee Jung Jin

Ueno Yuri

Choi Jung Yoon

Park Jin Hee

Yoon Jin Suh, Lee Min Ki

[Guest huangsy]

4th Oct at 13th PIFF

[melusine]

<아주담담> Open Talk with 5 South Korean female directors

PIFF Village open-air Audience Cafe, Haeundae beach - Oct 4, 2:30pm

Im SoonRye (Forever the Moment), Kang MiJa (Let the Blue River Run), Lee KyungMi (Crush & Blush),

Boo JiYoung (Sisters on the Road), Go TaeJung (The Room Nearby)

Q&A transcript / Film2.0 / News + Video / News / News / News / News / News / News / News / News

Korean women take place at feature helm

By Park Soo-mee, Hollywood Reporter

Oct 6, 2008, 10:12 AM ET

BUSAN, South Korea -- When Yim Soon-rye was starting out in Korean film in 1993, she was the only woman on the camera crew. Fifteen years later, it's normal for many local productions to have a crew made up of more than half women, she says, though a majority still comes from makeup and costume teams.

"People on Korean production crews tend to be young and therefore more attuned to issues like gender discrimination," she said during an Open Talk session on "Women Directors in Korea," held during the weekend at the Pusan International Film Festival. "So you wonder why it's still so difficult for women to become directors here."

Signs of change are clear this year in Pusan's Korean Cinema Today selection, however, where six out 20 Korean films -- all feature-length -- were shot by female directors.

Even in themes, the films featured this year in were largely divided into what local reporters dubbed "male films vs. female films," referring to a genre split between male cop movies like "Public Enemy Returns" and films like "Sunny," about a woman's journey to meet her soldier husband in Vietnam.

Just as curiously, most films in this year's selection had clear gender references in their titles, including "Heartbreak Library" ("His Book" in Korean), "Oishi Man," "Sisters on the Road," "Crush and Blush" ("Ms. Carrot" in Korean), "A Man Who Was Superman" and "The Good Guy, the Bad Guy, the Weird Guy," which was titled "The Good, the Bad and the Weird" in English.

Still, women directors like Yim -- director of Korean Cinema Today's "Forever the Moment," the first sports movie made by a female director in Korea -- say that despite the gains, corporate traditions of networking in what once was one of the country's most male-dominant industries continue to make filmmaking waters difficult to navigate.

"I think many women directors find it hard to network around their investors and producers," she said, "whereas it's still more natural for many male directors here to maintain their tight network through personal relationships with the industry professionals who are still predominantly male."

About 270 members are registered in the Korean Association of Women in Film, a nonprofit organization that launched in 2000 with women in marketing, PR and film production. Among that figure, 25 are directors. The number is about one in every 10 Korean directors, considering that there are 257 members in the local Korean Film Directors Society.

"There were women directors in Korea during the 1990s," said Lee Sang-yong, a programr of Korean films at Pusan. "But the fact that a woman director existed made a bigger issue then. Now, the positions taken by each woman director are so much more diverse and telling about the reality of women in Korean society now, and include directors of the Korean-American diaspora, like Kim So-young ('Treeless Mountain')."

Yet the same questions are being raised for many women directors now -- just like 10 years ago: Why do they often make movies about women?

Lee Kyung-mi, the director of "Crush and Blush," from the festival's Korean Cinema Today-Panorama section, gave a surprising answer at Saturday's talk: "Honestly," she said, "I don't know what men think."

Added Yim: "Male directors often tend to exaggerate or imagine the characters of women even when they have no idea about women's mentality. But I think most women are simply uninterested in subjects they are not familiar with."

Contrary to the frequent split in reactions of men and women after seeing gender-specific films like those of Hong Sang-soo and Kim Ki-duk, female directors can trigger the same response in women and men.

"When I was writing the script, because of the subtle nuances and sensibility in the heroine's character, I thought the female audiences would appreciate the movie much more than men do," Lee said. "But I was surprised to see how many men laughed at scenes where I didn't expect them to react."

Overall, producers and investors assure that genre and qualifications of directors comes first rather than gender in their selection of scripts for commercial films.

"Maybe if it had overt feminist sentiment, we couldn't have ignored commercial considerations completely," said Lee Bora, staff member at Moho Film, producer of "Crush and Blush." "But in this case, the details and comic elements of the film's narrative were something that could only be picked up by a female director, and we thought that was the major selling point of this movie."

Gong HyoJin, Lee JongHyuk, and their "Crush & Blush" director Lee KyungMi

PIFF Village outdoor stage, Haeundae beach - Oct 4, 4pm

<YTN Star video|DL>

GV session (Guest Visit) @ 5pm screening

<More pics here>

[Guest huangsy]

The Good, The Bad & The Weird

[Guest ovette]

what award did Park Eun Hye win?

and i have to say this.. Lee Yeon Hee looks soooo stunning and gorgeous at the PIFF. i barely recognized her lol

[Guest valley girl]

my fave jung Woo sung + song kang Ho

he was in PIFF promoting his movie

vid

http://nv.empas.com/yh/2008/10/04/MYH20081..._WMV500Kbps.wmv

http://tvpot.daum.net/clip/ClipView.do?clipid=10624418

all of that "old boy" so cute

part 2

cred empas , yahoo korea

cred empas , yahoo korea