Busan film festival opens to star-studded fanfare, Always

By KOFIC Staff

Despite some concern over construction delays at the Busan Cinema Center, the 16th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) has opened at the new dedicated venue on schedule and with a galaxy of local and international stars on the red carpet. The festival opened Oct. 6 with the world premiere ofSong Il-gon's ill-fated love story Always, starringSo Ji-subandHan Hyo-joo.

The film had sold out in seven seconds and the director and his stars were greeted with huge cheers as they stepped onto the Busan Cinema Center's red carpet with festival director LEE Yong Kwan. Song declared, "This is a great honor in my life".

ActressesEom Ji-wonandYe Ji-wonemceed the ceremony at the Busan Cinema Center's outdoor screening area while the LED panels on the Big Roof above the audience and stage kept changing with rainbow colors.

Festival chairman and mayor of Busan HUR Nam-sik declared the opening of the festival saying, "The Busan Cinema Center signals the beginning of a new era that will see Busan City become a visual media hub".

Before the start of the ceremony, directorHong Sang-sooalso stepped onto the red carpet with actressYoon Yeo-jeongto great cheers, as did directorKang Je-gyuand the top cast of his upcoming film"My Way"–Jang Dong-gun, Joe ODADGIRI andFan Bingbing.

DirectorsJuhn Jai-hong,Jeon Kyu-hwan,Kim Tae-sikandPark Chul-sooalso arrived with their respective cast members.

Veteran Korean directors KIM Soo-yong, KIM Kee-duk, and JUNG Chang-hwa were joined by actor and former KOFIC chairman YOON Il-bong.

Other actors includedKo Soo,Hwang Woo-seul-hye,Yoo Joon-sang, and the three little sisters who star in the Korean film"Barbie",Kim Sae-ron,Kim Ah-ronandKim Ye-ron.

Producers TCHA Seung-jae,Choi Yong-baeand LEE Joon-dong arrived together.

International guests included Asian Filmmaker of the Year TSUI Hark with wife and producer Nansun SHI and producer YU Dong. Also, the Gala Presentation director Amir NADERI, Indian star Vikram, Chinese signer/actor WANG Lee Hom and French actressIsabelle Huppert, who arrived with honorary festival directorKim Dong-ho.

Hong Kong filmmaker Yonfan was also present as head of the New Currents jury with his colleagues from both that and the Flash Forward jury.

BIFF will screen a total of 307 films from 70 countries and close Oct 14 with Chronicles of My Mother, directed by HARADA Masato.

The Asian Film Market will run Oct. 10 – 13 at the nearby BEXCO.