14th Pusan International Film Festival 제14회 부산국제영&#

[Guest kdramafanusa]

Meanwhile, screen personalities Ahn Sung-ki and Park Joong-hoon will promote an anti-piracy campaign Friday at 4 p.m. at the outdoor stage of the PIFF Pavilion.

Park Joong-Hoon, Ahn Sung-Ki

Ahn Sung-Ki, Ha Ji-Won, Kim Ha-Neul, Uhm Jung-Hwa, Jang Dong-Gun, Park Joong-Hoon

Uhm Jung-Hwa, Jang Dong-Gun, Park Joong-Hoon

Jang Dong-Gun

Ha Ji-Won, Kim Ha-Neul, Uhm Jung-Hwa

Ha Ji-Won

Uhm Jung-Hwa

Kim Ha-Neul

Naver

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

2009-10-10 12:25 연합뉴스

Top S. Korean celebrities join hands against digital theft

PIFF-anti-digital piracy campaign

By Shin Hae-in

BUSAN, Oct. 10 (Yonhap) -- At the beginning of every film screened at the ongoing Pusan International Film Festival, audiences get to see 12 of the most popular and influential South Korean movie stars lined up together.

Smiling broadly but deadly serious, each star asks the audience to be a "good downloader," a campaign started voluntarily by top actors and actresses including international award-nominated Song Gang-ho and Korean Wave star Jang Dong-gun in hopes of stamping out the rampant digital theft in the country.

Digital theft is blamed for an annual loss of nearly US$2 billion in South Korea, the world's most wired country. With a majority of households connected to broadband Internet here, technology has made it easy for anyone to duplicate and distribute copyrighted creative works including movies, tarnishing the reputation of the country's fast-growing cinema industry.

Last month, an illegal copy of domestic summer blockbuster "Haeundae," drawing over 10 million viewers at home and sold to 24 countries, was uploaded onto a file-sharing site, causing millions of dollars of losses to a local movie powerhouse.

On Friday night, six of the 12 movie stars participating in the campaign gathered in this southeastern port city, declaring "war" against illegal downloading on the Web.

Heads of South Korea's top entertainment firms including Show Box and CJ Entertainment were also present at the event, attesting to the influence the campaign has in the local movie industry.

"There will not be a future for Korean movies if this campaign fails," said veteran actor Ahn Sung-ki, a co-chairman of the campaign. "I have faith that Korean audiences love their movies enough to join this campaign."

"We are not trying to discourage file-sharing activities on the Web, which is a natural and unavoidable phenomenon," he added. "We are focused on encouraging Internet users to understand legal downloading and become a 'good downloader.'"

The size of the legal downloading market shrank by nearly 60 percent last year from 2005 in Korea, with nearly 20,000 files of copyrighted content circulating illegally last year alone, according to government data.

The campaign's advertisement, first screened during the Pusan film fest, will also be featured in theaters nationwide, aired on television and on the Internet. The 12 actors and actresses joined the campaign for free, saving it at least US$10 million, campaign organizers said.

"The actors and actresses all voluntarily joined the campaign, giving up other schedules," said Park Joong-hoon, the other co-chairman of the campaign. "Their eagerness shows how serious this issue is."

The 14th Pusan International Film Festival, which uses the old Romanization of the southeastern city's name, opened Thursday and runs through Oct. 16, featuring 355 films from 70 countries as the largest of the annual event to date.

Established in 1996, the festival has since grown into one of most influential film fests in Asia, focused on discovering new films and first-time directors from across the region.

hayney@yna.co.kr

(END)

Images from Cine21

Ahn Sung-Ki

Song Kang-Ho

Jang Dong-Gun

Park Joong-Hoon

Kim Joo-Hyuk

Jung Woo-Sung

Hyun Bin

Ha Ji-Won

Uhm Jung-Hwa

Kim Ha-Neul

Shin Min-Ah

Kim Tae-Hee

[Guest kdramafanusa]

The 10th Pusan Film Critics Association Awards

Best Picture: Mother

Best Director: Yang Ik-Joon (Breathless)

Best Actor: Ha Jung-Woo (My Dear Enemy)

Best Actress: Kim Hye-Ja (Mother)

Best Supporting Actor: Shin Jung-Geun (Running Turtle)

Best Supporting Actress:

Jury Prize: Jung Ji-Woo (Modern Boy)

Best Screenplay: Lee Hae-Joon (Castaway On The Moon)

Best Cinematography: Hong Kyung-Pyo (Mother)

Best New Director: Lee Yong-Joo (Living Death)

Best New Actor: So Ji-Sub . Kang Ji-Hwan (Rough Cut)

Best New Actress: Kim Bo-Young (The Day After)

Lee Pil-Woo Award: Kim Tae-Woo

Special Achievement Award: Joo Yoon-Tak

Awards will be given out on the 9th starting at 5pm.

Best Actor: Ha Jung-Woo (My Dear Enemy)

Best Actress: Kim Hye-Ja (Mother)

Best Supporting Actor: Shin Jung-Geun (Running Turtle)

Best New Actor: So Ji-Sub . Kang Ji-Hwan (Rough Cut)

Best New Actress: Kim Bo-Young (The Day After)

Naver

[Guest kdramafanusa]

APAN

Choi Jung-Won

Kim Yoon-Seok

Son Jung-Min

Kang Soo-Yeon

Jung Ryeo-Won

So Yoo-Jin

Han Hye-Jin

Kim Hye-Na

Kim So-Yeon

Kim Ha-Neul

Jeon Hye-Bin

Kang Ji-Hwan

Choi Kang-Hee

Go Joon-Hee

Min Hyo-Rin

Lim Soo-Jung

Jung Yoo-Mi

Kim Boo-Seon

Soo Ae

Uhm Jung-Hwa

Ye Ji-Won

Yoo Min

Jeon Do-Yeon

Seo Woo

Kim Min-Joon

Josh Hartnett

Lee Byung-Hun, Han Chae-Young, Josh Hartnett

Han Chae-Young

Lee Byung-Hun, Han Chae-Young

Kim Ah-Jung

Choo Ja-Hyun

Park Sol-Mi

Jang Hyuk, Sung Yuri

Take Off - Ha Jung-Woo, Choi Jae-Hwan, Kim Dong-Wook, director Kim Yong-Hwa, Kim Ji-Seok

Gong Hyung-Jin

Park Hee-Soon

Hong Seok-Cheon

Kim Kang-Woo

Park Sang-Myun

Kang Ye-Won

Park Joong-Hoon

Lee Kyun

Naver

[forevergirl]

congratulations to all winners!

[deka_if]

2009-10-09

Costa Gravas at PIFF hand-printing ceremony

Oscar award-winning French director Costa Gravas participates in a Hand Printing ceremony at the 14th Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) in Pusan, South Korea on October 9, 2009.

Director Costa Gravas [Park Sung-ki/Asia Economic Daily]

Director Costa Gravas [Park Sung-ki/Asia Economic Daily]

From left, director Costa Gravas and PIFF director Kim Dong-ho.

Photographer : Park Sung-Ki musictok@asiae.co.kr

Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@asiae.co.kr

<ⓒ10Asia All rights reserved>

[Guest kdramafanusa]

Result of another award hosted by Busan Ilbo newspaper....

The 18th Buil Film Awards

Haeundae Grand Hotel - Friday October 9, 2009 at 7pm

Best Film: Mother

Best Director: Yoon Je-Gyun (Haeundae)

Best Actor: Ha Jung-Woo (My Dear Enemy)

Best Actress: Kim Hye-Ja (Mother)

Best Supporting Actor: Kim In-Kwon (Haeundae)

Best Supporting Actress: Kim Bo-Young (Living Death)

Best New Actor: So Ji-Sub (Rough Cut)

Best New Actress: Seo Woo (Crush & Blush)

Best New Director: Yang Ik-Joon (Breathless)

Best Screenplay: Kim Hwi, Yoon Je-Gyun (Haeundae)

Best Cinematography: Hong Kyung-Pyo (Mother)

Best Music: Lee Byung-Woo (Mother)

Best Art Direction: Jo Sung-Kyung (Modern Boy)

Busan Ilbo Readers Award: Take Off (Kim Yong-Hwa)

Yoo Hyun-Mok Film Arts Award: Im Soon-Rye

Best Dressed: So Ji-Sub

▶최우수작품상=마더

▶최우수감독상=윤제균(해운대)

▶남우주연상=하정우(멋진 하루)

▶여우주연상=김혜자(마더)

▶남우조연상=김인권(해운대)

▶여우조연상=김보연(불신지옥)

▶신인남자 연기상=소지섭(영화는 영화다)

▶신인여자 연기상=서우(미쓰 홍당무)

▶신인 감독상=양익준(똥파리)

▶각본상=김휘 윤제균(해운대)

▶촬영상=홍경표(마더)

▶음악상=이병우(마더)

▶미술상=조성경(모던보이)

▶부일독자심사단상=국가대표(김용화)

▶유현목 영화예술상=임순례

▶베스트 드레서상=소지섭

Official site: http://www.busanilbo.com/builfilm/022.html

Best Director: Yoon Je-Gyun (Haeundae)

Best Actor: Ha Jung-Woo (My Dear Enemy)

Best Actress: Kim Hye-Ja (Mother)

Best Supporting Actor: Kim In-Kwon (Haeundae)

received his award from legendary director Im Kwon-Taek

Best Supporting Actress: Kim Bo-Young (Living Death)

Best New Actor: So Ji-Sub (Rough Cut)

Best New Actress: Seo Woo (Crush & Blush)

Yoo Hyun-Mok Film Arts Award: director Im Soon-Rye

Park Joong-Hoon

Ahn Sung-Ki

Kang Soo-Yeon

Soo Ae

Naver

[deka_if]

09-10-2009

Busan Film Fest 2009 Kicks Off In Style

Hollywood actor Josh Harnett, left, and Korean actor Lee Byung-hun wave to fans at 14th

Pusan (Busan) International Film Festival Thursday./Courtesy of PIFF

Busan ― The 14th edition of the Pusan (Busan) International Film Fstival (PIFF) kicked off Thursday with glitz and glam. Some 150 star cineastes and VIP guests walked the red carpet, sizzling up the cool autumn evening at the seaside resort.

The Busan Yatching Center Outdoor Theater exploded with excitement, as more than the usual number of fans who could not secure seats swarmed the venue outside. Competition was fierce among domestic and foreign press during the photo-op.

Hollywood heartthrob Josh Hartnett and South Korean superstar Lee Byung-hun stole the limelight as the two ``I Come With the Rain'' co-stars walked down the red carpet together. Also in the spotlight was actress Kim Yun-jin, who appeared glamorous in a chic black dress. The ``Lost'' star attended the PIFF opening ceremony for the first time as the new face of makeup brand L'Oreal, an official partner of the event.

Meanwhile, Jang Jin, who directed the event's opening film ``Good Morning President'' made an appearance with his wife and young son. Screen beauty Jeon Do-yeon appeared wearing a black evening dress with a plunging V-neck line.

Jeon, who won the Best Actress Award at Cannes last year, will receive the Legion d'Honneur Chevalier, an award from the French government in recognition of her contribution to the arts. She will receive the honor tonight during French Night, hosted by the French embassy.

Kang, meanwhile, is taking part in the festival as the jury head of Flash Forward, a newly established competition section for works by rising directors from all over the world (not limited to Asia like PIFF's New Currents section). Kang is one of the country's most representative talents, having won Best Actress awards at Venice in 1987 and Moscow in 1989.

Esteemed visitors from afar included directors Jia Zhangke and Costa Gavras.

Tuxedo-clad guests added more zest to the opening event, including ``Boys Over Flowers'' star Lee Min-ho and popular actors Kang Ji-hwan and Jang Hyuk. Also in attendance were politicians including National Assembly Speaker Kim Hyong-o and members of the National Assembly Culture, Sports, Tourism, Broadcasting and Communications Committee.

Actresses such as Choi Kang-hee, Han Ye-seul and Su Ae kept cameras flashing as they emerged in an array of gem-colored dresses.

Screen personalities Jang Mi-hee and Kim Yun-seok hosted the main program, while festival director Kim Dong-ho and festival chairman, Busan Mayor Hur Nam-sik, announced the official start of PIFF 2009. The director and stars of the event's opening film ``Good Morning President'' ― hallyu star Jang Dong-kun, veteran actress Goh Doo-shim, comedian Lim Ha-ryong and ``Korean Barbie doll'' Han Chae-young ― took to the stage to briefly discuss the film.

Veteran rock band San Ul Rim hyped up the festivities with powerful tunes, which was followed by the surprise appearance of top girl band Girls' Generation. The crowd went wild as the young starlets sang and danced onstage.

This year a record number of 355 films from 70 countries are being shown. The long lineup is due to the addition of last-minute sections such as one dedicated to the late actress Jang Jin-young. Her films including the romantic comedy ``Singles'' and biopic ``Blue Swallow'' will be screened. Last year, PIFF's opening event wore a tinge of somberness when news broke about actress Choi Jin-sil's death.

PIFF also started this year a new outreach program for the physically disabled. Korean movies such as Park Chan-wook's award-winning ``Thirst'' and the box office smash ``Haeundae'' will be screened with Korean subtitles to service the hearing impaired. The hit action flick ``Running Turtle'' and ``Where Are You Going,'' which is featured in the New Currents section, will be offered with descriptive video service for the visually impaired. A screening time table in Braille can be found around the festival venue.

For more information, visit www.piff.org (Korean and English).

Credits : Lee Hyo-won, Staff Reporter (hyowlee@koreatimes.co.kr)

Source : The Korea Times

[deka_if]

Five must-sees at Busan film festival

BUSAN -- The 14th Pusan International Film Festival opened with all of the glitz and glamour as promised by its organizers on Thursday, kicking off the 9-day celebration under the cool coastal breeze at the Suyoungman Yacht Marina.

The opening of Asia's biggest film festival began with the screening of director Jang Jin's latest, an inspiring tale of three Korean heads of state titled "Good Morning President," starring Jang Dong-gun as Korea's youngest president-elect.

Continental stars like Jang Dong-gun, Lee Byung-hun, Sul Kyoung-gu, So Ji-sub, Ha Ji-won, Ha Jung-woo, Kim Yoon-jin, Han Chae-young were all in attendance during the festival's red carpet gala that sent photographers from the press on a mad rush, jockeying for position as the stars walked down the aisle of the venue.

Also on hand throughout the on-going festival will be Hollywood hunks like Josh Hartnett and Japanese heartthrob Takuya Kimura, who were also in attendance during the opening ceremony.

The two are here on a special invitation from Hallyu-star Lee Byung-hun, who co-stars in the film "I come with the rain."

The list of VIPs to the festival also includes Bryan Singer who produced the "X-Men" series and Italian horror maestro Dario Argento.

Unlike last year's edition, this year's PIFF shifted its focus from small independent films from the central and southeast Asian region to a more broader and commercial-centric selection.

This year's choice of "Good Morning President" as the opening film came as a surprise to many. Last year's selection was an obscure Kazakh film that organizers claimed would showcase films from emerging film markets.

This year, organizers have switched their focus to domestic films buoyed by the string of recent success of local films.

More than 2 million visitors are expected to congregate in Haeundae Beach this year. For ticket and venue details, log onto www.piff.org

Must-see picks

"Good Morning President"

Directed by celebrated playwright and acclaimed writer-director Jang Jin, "Good Morning President" stars Jang Dong-gun as Korea's youngest head of state in a fictional film that chronicles the political lives of three presidents.

Director Jang, whose previous films have been hailed by critics for seamless integration of comedy and drama, is back in the cinema-fold after a 5-year sabbatical from behind the camera.

"Good Morning President" is an inspiring tale about the life of three different presidents who all struggle to make moral choices while serving their country. The three are: the older President Kim Jung-ho at the end of his term, the young President Cha Ji-wook, a determined and skillful manipulator of foreign policy, and the country's first female President Han Kyuong-ja, who is constantly at odds with her bumbling husband.

President Kim Jung-ho -- played by veteran actor Lee Soon-jae is at a moral crossroads when he wins a 24 billion won lottery jackpot, Cha Ji-wook, the youngest Korean president in history, must choose whether he should commit himself to a medical procedure that would save the life of an elder citizen, and finally the personal quandaries of Han Kyuong-ja, Korea's first female president, who struggles with a disintegrating marriage.

"Air Doll"

There has been tremendous buzz surrounding Hirokazu Kore-eda's seventh feature film.

Kore-eda is of course the Japanese filmmaker who has been compared to cinematic masters like Yasujiro Ozu, who has brought us such contemporary masterpieces as 1995's "Maborosi," 1998's "After Life" and 2004's "Nobody Knows."

In "Air Doll" Hideo has an unappreciated existence as a waiter in a tacky restaurant chain where his boss dislikes him and his customers mistreat him.

Lonely and utterly unsociable, Hideo has a faithful "woman" at home. This woman is Nozomi, a sex doll.

She is everything he would want in a woman. She doesn't judge, she's quiet, she listens and she's beautiful (and also available, sexually).

But through magic, Nozomi comes to life, and the now sentient and mobile former sex doll begins to live as a mortal -- deciding to only get up and explore the human world when Hideo is at work.

"I Come with the Rain"

Kline, played by Josh Hartnett, is a former Los Angeles police officer turned private detective.

He is hired by a powerful head of a pharmaceutical conglomerate to investigate the disappearance of his son in Asia.

Kline finds out the head of the Hong Kong underworld, Su Dongpo (Lee Byung-hun), is also searching for mini cooperao.

He seeks him as he believes he has mysterious powers to cure the sick and can heal his terminally ill wife.

Shot in HD and featuring music by Radiohead and Gustavo Santaolalla, this modern thriller plunges viewers into an exotic urban underworld with seedy characters in every corner.

"A Little Pond"

Based on the harrowing true story of the Nogun-ri massacre that shook the nation, "A Little Pond," chronicles the tragic event in a fictitious account.

On July of the year 1950, the country is being ravaged from the on-going Korean War.

In the small village of Bawigol -- a rural village in the mountainous region of Yongdong County in North Chungcheong Province -- life for its resident go on as normal.

But as the tide of war turns against the south and its allies, the people of Bawigol are forced to evacuate and seek refuge as legions of platoons surge into their tiny village.

In the midst of confusion and paranoia, retreating American soldiers massacre villagers trying to escape advancing North Korean forces by crossing U.S. military lines.

The American soldiers, under the command of General Hobart R. Gray, fear they are North Korean soldiers in disguise, and open fire, killing 400 South Korean refugees.

Paju"

After 7-years missing in action "Paju" marks the return of one of Korea's heralded new filmmakers in Park Chan-ok.

After studying the masculinity of Korean society in her debut feature "Jealousy Is My Middle Name," director Park gives us a psychological thriller and drama about a girl living with her deceased sister's husband.

Though she believes he killed her sister, she grows to love him regardless. The stronger the feelings grow for him, the more at odds she is with herself. A suburban city an hour north of Seoul, Paju is portrayed in the film as a place full of such contradictions, inhabited by the aimless.

Credit: Song Woong-ki (kws@heraldm.com)

Source : The Korea Herald

[Guest leegirl]

I'm lovin the pics and the updates. Thanks to all who contributed

[Guest kdramafanusa]

The Hollywood Reporter

France knights Jeon for acting

Cannes-winning actress starred in 'Secret Sunshine'

October 11, 2009

Associated Press

BUSAN -- The French government made Jeon Do-yeon a Knight in the Order of Arts and Letters at a South Korean film festival, honoring the Cannes-winning actress in her home country.

French trade minister Anne-Marie Idrac pinned the silver medal for contributions to the arts on Jeon at an evening reception for French filmmakers on the sidelines of the Pusan International Film Festival late Saturday.

Idrac said Jeon is "one of the most talented actresses in South Korea today and has acted in the most groundbreaking movies."

Jeon won the best actress prize at the Cannes Film Festival in 2007 for playing a widow coping with the death of her husband and son in "Secret Sunshine." Her other credits include "The Scandal," ''My Mother the Mermaid" and "You Are My Sunshine."

Naver

[melusine]

PARK Chan-ok's Long Awaited Paju Screens at Pusan

David Oxenbridge (KOFIC)

Oct 01 2009

PARK Chan-ok's long awaited follow up to Jealousy is my Middle Name (2002) is to show at this year's Pusan International Film Festival. Jealousy, PARK's debut film, was well received at Pusan and also went on to play at the Rotterdam Film Festival.

The new film Paju a dark drama about prohibitive love stars the usually gentle LEE Seon-gyun better known for his romantic/comic role in TV gender-bending drama Coffee Prince and movies such as Romantic Island (2008). LEE's dark love interest is played by newcomer female actor Seo-woo. The film reveals what happens when a woman falls for her late sister's husband.

Director PARK has spent 7 years in development on Paju and the film is due for general release this October.

October 10, 2009

#2 - open discussion of six emerging Korean directors Park Chan-Ok, Lee Seong-Han (Wish), Lee Hae-Joon (Castaway on the Moon), Lee Song Hee-Il (Break Away), Kim Dong-Won (Drifting Away) and Kim Tae-Shik (Tokyo Taxi).

[Hollywood Reporter] Pusan a sophomore curse, blessing

Open Talk

Seo Woo

Lee Seon-Gyun

Shim Yi-Young

Director Park Chan-Ok

Fansigning Booth

Screening + Guest Visit

credit as labelled + Yahoo

<More pics @ Paju thread>

[mzpakipot]

congrats to all the winners! especially to Kim Hye Ja, a well deserved award for her portrayal as Oma by Bong Joon-ho.

I'm kinna bummed that WB didn't show up? or is he going to?

here's a site with some pictures

http://opticnerve.tistory.com/3

[Guest kdramafanusa]

The Hollywood Reporter

Pusan Critics laud 'Mother,' Kim

Korea's Academy Award rep wins for best picture, actress

October 09, 2009

By Park Soo-mee

"Mother."

BUSAN -- Bong Joon-ho's "Mother" won the hearts of Korean critics, as the director's latest thriller was awarded best picture by the Pusan Film Critics Assn. Friday during a ceremony at the Novotel Ambassador.

The film also won for best cinematography and for best actress for Kim Hye-ja, who played the film's determined mother, who is out to protect her mentally challenged son after he is accused of a murder in a rural town.

"Mother" has previously won three awards by the Korean Film Critics Assn. -- best picture, best actress and best screenplay, and was submitted to be considered for next year's Academy Awards.

Pusan critics also selected Ha Jeong-woo ("The Chaser") as best actor for his performance in an edgy melodrama "My Dear Enemy" and Yang Ik-joon, as best director for his debut feature "Breathless."

For Kim, Pusan is her second best actress award in her 36 years of acting. Her first was from the Manila International Film Festival in 1983 for her screen debut in "Manchu."

[deka_if]

October 09, 2009

Korean Film Council (chairperson, CHO Hee-moon) participates in Asian Film Market from October 11 to 14, 2009, during the 14th Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF).

KOFIC Booth

During the market period, KOFIC will operate booth at suite 807 of Hotel Seacloud, the official venue of Asian Film Market, and conduct active marketing campaign of Korean cinema. On display are such publications as Pusan Special Edition of Korean Cinema Today (magazine), Korean Cinema and Director's Series, in addition to recently published Who's Who - Actor.

Contact : #807, Hotel Seacloud (Asian Film Market Venue)

Tel : +82 51 933 1511

International Co-production Seminar

KOFIC, along with Producers' Guild of Korea and Asian Film Market, is co-organizing international co-production seminar. For two days from October 12 to 13, seminars will take place at Sicily Room of Paradise Hotel, where the participants can obtain essential information on such topical issues as film financing tool and case study on international co-production.

AFIN General Assembly

On October 13, the general assembly of AFIN (Asian Film Industry Network) will take place at Paradise Hotel. This year's presiding nation is Japan with a total of five nations participating in the assembly, including UNIJAPAN, KOFIC, Vietnam Media Corporation, Singapore Film Commission and The Federation of National Film Association of Thailand, to discuss various co-promotion strategies for the Asian cinema.

KAFA Special Showcase at PIFF

Korean Academy of Film Arts (KAFA) commemorates 25th year of its establishment with '25th Anniversary Showcase' at Vancouver International Film Festival and PIFF, respectively. 25 Short films by KAFA graduates, including student works by leading filmmakers BONG Joon-ho, HUR Jin-ho and IM Sang-soo, will be screened in six sections at Haeundae Megabox for two days from October 12 to 13, 2009.

Source : KOFIC

[Guest kdramafanusa]

The Hollywood Reporter / Naver (Images)

Directing trio unites for 'Busan Project'

Project expected to debut in May 2010

October 09, 2009

By Patrick Frater

A trio of Asia's top directors will flaunt their love for the city of Busan with their upcoming three-part "Busan Project."

Korean studio Sidus FNH will unveil on Saturday details of the three-hander involving Japan's Isao Yukisada, Thailand's Wisit Sasanatieng and "Save the Green Planet" director Joon-hwan Jang from Korea.

Sidus is selling international rights to the pic which will be produced by local outfit Balcon and taps into funding from the Pusan festival and the Sidus FNH-Benex Cinema Fund 1. Festival head Kim Dong-ho serves as executive producer.

Each of the directors will tell a love story in their own unique way. Sasanatieng ("Tears of the Black Tiger") will pair up a drag-queen secret agent with a terrorist. Yukisada ("Crying Out Love In the Center of the World") will match a cinematographer with an eligible bachelorette, while Jang's segment aims to hit the bull's eye with a former archery athlete who now wants to play Cupid.

Production is scheduled to start before the end of the year and be completed in time for a festival debut next May.

"It's been a long-time dream for me to show the world the beauty of Pusan through the eyes of such talented artists as Yukisada, Wisit, and Jang," Balcon's president and producer Oh Seok-geun said. "We are very excited that we can finally make our dream come true."

Other movies previously set in the city include the recent disaster pic "Haeundae," K.T. Kwak's coming of ager "Friend" and stylish crime flick "Bloody Tie."

Kim Dong-ho, South Korea's Jang Joon-hwan, Japan's Isao Yukisada

Japan's Isao Yukisada

"Save the Green Planet" director Jang Joon-hwan

Festival director Kim Dong-ho

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yonhap News 2009/10/10 13:49 KST

Korea, Japan, Thailand to create omnibus film based on Busan

By Shin Hae-in

BUSAN, South Korea, Oct. 10 (Yonhap) -- Top filmmakers from South Korea, Japan and Thailand will create an omnibus film based on the South Korean port city of Busan, hoping to present it to next year's Cannes film fest, producers said Saturday.

The 1.5 billion won (US$1.3 million)-project will be produced by Kim Dong-ho, executive chairman of South Korea's Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF), and joined by Korean director Jang Jun-hwan, Japan's Isao Yukisada and Thailand's Wisit Sasanatieng.

The project was announced during the ongoing Pusan film festival, one of Asia's most influential film fests, titled using the old Romanization of Busan city's name. The event runs through Oct. 16, featuring 355 films from 70 countries as the largest of the annual event to date.

"I decided to participate as a way of paying back respect to PIFF," said Japanese director Yukisada during the press conference here. "I would not be who I am today without the Korean film festival."

Yukisada has a strong fan base in South Korea as the creator of "Crying out Love, in the Center of the World (2004)" and had several of his works screened during the previous PIFF events.

"I have always dreamed about creating a film across national borders," he added. "I am currently focusing on finding a location in Busan city that is more active and lively than the city that I know. I am frankly a little burdened about portraying the dynamic aspects of the city."

As a "pan-Asia love story," the project will help Busan increase global recognition as a central location in Asia, producer Kim said.

Yukisada's story features a strange love story between a cameraman and a woman who always walks bare feet. South Korea's Jang, the creator of "Save the Green Planet (2003)," is to base his film on an ex-archery player who searches for love in a hospital. Thailand's Sasanatieng, the director of "Citizen Dog (2004)," will create a movie based on time travel.

hayney@yna.co.kr

(END)

[Details from Asiaae]

<The Cupid in Busan> South Korea's Jang Jun-hwan

<Kamome> Japan's Isao Yukisada

<Iron lion king:A Kimchi Affair> Thailand's Wisit Sasanatieng

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

PPP set with 30 projects for 2009

Three-day co-production platform kicks off Sunday

October 09, 2009

By Karen Chu

BUSAN -- The Pusan Promotion Plan is hoping that a change of scenery will lead to more traffic and more co-production connections.

Relocated for the first time to the ninth floor of the Seacloud Hotel, the 12th PPP will launch 30 projects from local favorites, new talent and filmmaking veterans Asian and non-Asian beginning Sunday.

Taking place right above the Asian Film Market, the co-production and networking platform is expected to benefit from the traffic at the market downstairs. An estimated 300 participants will participate during the three-day event to discuss the co-production and distribution possibilities of projects from Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

Despite the wide-ranging places of origin, homegrown projects dominate the selection, with eight films from Korea introduced. The projects are getting bigger, too – eight have a proposed budget of more than US$3 million, five of which are from Korea.

“In spite of the weak economy, the Korean film industry has been doing better than last year. The successes of films such as ‘Haeundae’ and ‘Take Off’ gave confidence to Korean producers and distributors in big budget domestic films,” said Nam Dong-chul, who oversees both PPP and the Pusan market. “But as the budget gets higher, producers want to reduce risk, so the necessity of co-producing grows. In this way PPP can provide another opportunity to boost the Korean film industry.”

Nam said among the most requested projects are the two big budget Korean ones with blockbuster potential, Bong Joon-ho’s “Le Transperceneige” and Han Jae-rim’s “Trace,” both comic book adaptations.

Bong, whose 2006 “The Host” was seen by more than 10 million people in Korea, disclosed his plans to make “Le Transperceneige” three years ago, but is finally launching officially at this year’s PPP to develop overseas market. It’s the only project whose budget was not specified in the official PPP documents, and despite rumors, a representative at the film’s production company, Moho Film, said the first draft of the script hasn’t been completed and the budget is as yet undermined.

Meanwhile, the US$7.7 million “Trace” is set to start pre-production later this year and production in early 2010. Although the total budget is now in place, the film’s production company Barunson Co. is looking to find mainly domestic investments and talk with Asian studios while in Busan. “But we’re not in the stage of being very aggressive, only to let the buyers, producers and investors know about the project,” said Park Ji-ye of Barunson Co.

This year’s PPP also sees a focus on Southeast Asian cinema. “For the last four to five years, many new filmmakers emerged from Southeast Asia; but many of them – from the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia – don’t have enough channels for fundraising and investing, so they are very positive about PPP,” Nam said.

Five projects from the region are introduced, including “Enemies” from Thailand’s Ekachai Uekrongtham, “The Family Photograph” from Malaysia’s Yeo Joon-han, “Happyland” from Filipino Jim Diamond Libiran, “Postcards from the Zoo” from Indonesia’s Edwin, and “The Year Without A Summer” from Malaysia’s Tan Chui-mui.

The projects in the PPP this year are:

“Berlin-Tashkent-Transit,” Estonia, Uzbekistan, Ayub Shakhobiddinov

“Between the Suns,” China/Hong Kong, Kit Hui

“Black Stones,” Korea, Roh Gyeong-tae

“A Butterfly’s House,” China/Korea, Jin Guang-hao

“Decadent Sisters,” Japan, Aoyama Shinji

“Endless Day,” Singapore, Ho Tzu Nyen

“Enemies,” Thailand, Ekachai Uekrongtham

“The Family Photograph,” Malaysia, Yeo Joon Han

“GF&BF,” Taiwan, Yang Ya Che

“Gray,” Iran, Mohamad Ahmadi

“Great Love,” China, Pang Ho Cheung

“Happyland,” Philippines, Jim Diamond Libiran

“In Dreams” (working title), Korea, Hur Jin-ho

“Limbo,” Turkey, Yesim Ustaoglu

“Love Without Pain,” China, Ma Liwen

“Midnight to Four AM,” Canada/Korea/Singapore, Jeon Soo-il, Eric Khoo, Yung Chang, Ounie Lecomte, Lee Mi-Jeong

“Missing,” China, Wang Shiqing

“New Policemen Stories,” China, Yang Jin

“O.D.V.” (Opposite Domestic Violence), Japan, Jeong Jae-eun

“Postcards from the Zoo,” Indonesia, Edwin

“The Silver Gate,” France/Germany, Nuray Sahin

“Slightly Sane,” India, Pan Nalin

“Trace,” Korea, Han Jae-rim

“Le Transperceneige,” Korea, Bong Jun-ho

”Villain and Widow, Korea, Son Jae-gon

“Waiting for the Sea,” Belgium/France/Germany/Russia, Bakhtiar Khoudojnazarov

“Warm Bread & the Nipple’s Circle,” Afghanistan, Roya Sadat

“While Love is Coming,” Taiwan, Chang Tso Chi

“The Year Without A Summer,” Malaysia, Tan Chui Mui

“Youth is Reckless,” Korea, Lee Myung-se

[deka_if]

2009/10/10

Full of irony and metaphor, 'Vegetarian' earns spot in 'Korean cinema today'

BUSAN, Oct. 10 (Yonhap) -- Four features by little-known South Korean filmmakers were included in the Pusan International Film Festival's Korean Cinema Today: Panorama section this year, putting them on par with works by the movie industry's big names.

"Vegetarian (Chaesikjueuija)," the first feature by emerging director Lim Woo-seong, was one of the films chosen to show off the country's promising new auteurs. Aesthetic and highbrow while also convincing enough for the general public, the movie proved to be an excellent choice for the section that highlights the "essentials of Korean contemporary cinema."

Yeong-hye (Chae Min-seo), a doleful but attractive young housewife, finds herself having strange dreams that make her disgusted by meat. After suddenly becoming a vegetarian, Yeong-hye grows gaunt and faces trouble with her meat-loving husband.

Her elder sister's husband (Kim Hyun-sung), an artist desperate for some inspiration, finds himself intrigued by his "extreme vegetarian" sister-in-law.

The fascination slowly turns into desire, a feeling the man decides to explore using art as his tool.

Based on Korean writer Han Gang's short story "Mongolian Spot," the movie exquisitely combines art with sexual desire, walking a tightrope between morality and artistry.

By painting his sister-in-law's thin body with beautiful flowers, the artist is not only conducting an act of art, but also fulfilling his desire to physically possess her.

It's ironically amusing that the film successfully uses a vegetarian character to reveal the carnivorous and predatory side of humans.

In this movie, being a vegetarian is not only about rejecting meat, but all human desires.

While Yeong-hye is desperate to "cleanse herself" of a childhood trauma by not eating meat, her action fans the desire of her brother-in-law, an alter ego representing Yeong-hye's own past.

Although highbrow in its subjects -- psychology and art -- the movie manages to keep even the general audience focused throughout the film's nearly two-hour running time with a tight storyline and convincing characters.

The movie also utilizes refined cinematography and artistry to successfully employ the characters' emotions.

The quality of the film is even more surprising considering the short career of the director. Lim, 38, studied at Art Center College of Design in Seoul and wrote and directed his first short film "Midnight Movie" last year.

Less than a year later, he had not only completed "Vegetarian," but was also working on his second feature, "Scar."

The 14th Pusan International Film Festival, which uses the old Romanization of the southeastern city's name, will run through Oct. 16, featuring 355 films from 70 countries as the largest of the annual event to date.

Established in 1996, the festival has since grown into one of most influential film fests in Asia, focused on discovering new films and first-time directors from across the region.

Credits : Shin Hae-in (hayney@yna.co.kr)

Source : Yonhap News

[Guest kdramafanusa]

Pusan International Film Festival Day 3

BUSAN, SOUTH KOREA - OCTOBER 10: (L to R) Director Shin Yeon-Shik, actress Lee Ha-Na and actor Ahn Sung-Ki attend at the Press Conference-Gala Presentation 'The Fair Love' during the 14th Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) at the Shinsegae centumcity on October 10, 2009 in Busan, South Korea. The biggest film festival in Asia showcases 355 films from 70 countries and runs from October 8-16. [LIFE]

Director Shin Yeon-Shik

actor Ahn Sung-Ki

actress Lee Ha-Na

[piff.org / Naver]

The Fair Love

> SHIN Yeon-Shick

> World Premiere

PROGRAM NOTE

An unstoppable romance between an old bachelor in his 50s and a college girl in her 20s. Despite the twenty-six year age difference and the fact that he is dating his friend’s daughter, the old bachelor and the young woman become closer and closer. The 50 year-old bachelor even runs the 100m dash for the first time in twenty years to propose to his love. Director Shin Yeon-Shick takes what may seem like a very conventional melodrama and freely releases the drama of ‘fortuity’ and probes into the universal emotions of this era in a more comic way. Just as its title, [The Fair Love], it tries to tell how ‘fairness’ or ‘salvation’ can be introduced. Actors Ahn Sung-ki and Lee Ha-na’s performances in their leading roles are outstanding. It is sure to be one of the most lovable films of the year.

DIRECTOR

SHIN Yeon-Shick

Director Shin Yeon-Shick was born in Seoul and majored in Spanish at Hankook University of Foreign Studies. From 1994, he started out working in Choong-moo-ro as assistant director and made his directorial debut in 2003 with [Piano Lesson]. After releasing [A Great Actor] in 2005, he returns in four years with his latest film, [The Fair Love].

CREDITS

Director/Producer/Screenwriter: Shin Yeon-Shick

Cinematography: Choi Geon-hee

Art Director/Editor: Choi Yong-jin

Sound: Kim Yong-ho

Music: Kim Sin-il

Production Company: Luz Y sonidos

88-15 Gugi-dong, Jongro-gu, Seoul, 110-803, Korea

82 2 379 4398

woodyshin@hanmail.net

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Drifting Away 꼭 껴안고 눈물 핑

Lee Kyun, Go Joon-Hee, director Kim Dong-Won

Lee Kyun, Go Joon-Hee

[piff.org / Naver]

Korean Cinema Today - Vision

Drifting Away

> KIM Dong Won

> World Premiere

PROGRAM NOTE

Working at a theater in Daehak-ro as an actor, the husband has an affair with an actress. The wife, without knowing his affair, is busy housekeeping. The second feature by director Kim Dong Won shows typical pictures of Korean society. The unavoidable separation of the husband and his lover, and the conversation between the wife and the returning husband are a collection of reality, TV dramas and gossip.

On the other hand, the film portrays and shows Daehak-ro. Through the play, romance is summarized and displayed; popular music and poets are everywhere in Daehak-ro. Nevertheless, the film is solitary and lonely. It shows a section of artists’ living in these crowded days who have no choice but to stand alone. The film touches the loneliness that exists between popularity and art. (LEE Sang-yong)

DIRECTOR

KIM Dong Won

Born in 1974. Graduated from the Film Department at Seoul Institute of the Arts. With his short [81, Hae-jeok Became the Disco King], Kim won the Miraebol Award at the 25th Korean Indepentent Short Film Festival. Starting his professional career as a scripter to Bong Joon-ho’s [barking Dogs Never Bite] (2000), he caught attention with his debut feature [bet on My Disco] and received Critic’s Award at the Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival in Japan. He completed his second feature [Drifting Away] in seven years.

CREDITS

Director/Screenwriter: KIM Dong Won 김동원

Producer: KIM Jin A 김진아

Cast: LEE Kyun 이켠, KOH Joon Hee 고준희, SH/IN Dong Mi 신동미

Cinematography: HAM Sun Ho 함순호

Art Director: JANG Chun Sup 장춘섭

Editor: KIM Mi Joo 김미주

Sound: KIM Bong Soo 김봉수

Production Company: Kim'Cls International Company

No. 301 Geumhobestbill Apt., 2-209, 2788-2 Unseo-dong, Jung-gu Incheon Korea

82 2 3014 7348

82 2 3014 7349

pintorpinta@hanmail.net

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Guest Mariposa28]

"The Fair love" Gala Presentation

[Guest kdramafanusa]

Korean Cinema Today - Panorama

Haeundae

October 9

Seol Kyung-Gu, Kang Ye-Won, Ha Ji-Won, Kim In-Kwon, director Yoon Je-Gyun

October 10

Park Joong-Hoon, Kang Ye-Won, Uhm Jung-Hwa, Ha Ji-Won, Seol Kyung-Gu, director Yoon Je-Gyun

director Yoon Je-Gyun

Seol Kyung-Gu

Ha Ji-Won

Park Joong-Hoon

Uhm Jung-Hwa

Kang Ye-Won

Daum/Naver

[Denali]

...

THANK YOU!!!!

The pictures are so beautiful (love the dresses!) and writing names above pictures helped me and maybe others, identify new and familiar faces.

So proud to see that my country is honoring Korea through Jeon Do-yeon.

Congratulations to all, from Haeundae's Director (how appropriate in Haeundae/Pusan! ) and especially to Sin Jeong-geun (신정근), "Bureau Director Ji" in the best k-drama ever City Hall.