Busan Film Fest Gets Under Way

The much anticipated 16th Busan International Film Festival, Asia's most prestigious cinema event, kicked off at 8 p.m. on Thursday at Busan Cinema Center hosted by actressesEom Ji-wonandYe Ji-won.

The opening was attended by over 100 Korean film stars and some 20 stars from overseas, including Taiwanese film director Yonfan, who heads the jury for the New Currents Award.

Some 2,000 locals as well as Japanese and Chinese fans were in the audience.

The red carpet event featured top movie talent from Asia including Hong Kong film director Tsui Hark, the recipient of this year's Asian Filmmaker of the Year award, Korean actorJang Dong-gun, Japanese actorJoe Odagiri, and Chinese actressFan Bingbing.

This year's BIFF features 307 films from 70 countries. It opened with"Always"bySong Il-gonand concludes on Oct. 14 with "Chronicle of My Mother" by Masato Harada.

During the closing ceremony, two films by rookie Asian directors screened in the New Currents section will be awarded the New Currents Award, which is worth US$30,000, and one film by new non-Asian director from the Flash Forward section will be given the Flash Forward Award, also worth $30,000.

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