Pusan International Film Festival
2 -10 October 2008
The Countdown has started......
The official poster for the 13th Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF).
Although October is a long way away to think about for many, it will come very quickly and before you know it, it has arrived. Since I think Pusan (aka Busan) is such a great festival, and that I promised to keep you informed, it is only right that I give you information regarding Pusan as soon as I can.
Well, as you can see the dates have been confirmed and the official poster was launched in earlier on in the year (above). Looks mighty impressive!
A Bird's eye view of Hyandai beach - the home of PIFF
The programme is much the same as last year and the following list is of the programmes included in this years festival (from PIFF website)
Gala Presentation
Gala Presentation screens master's new or the year's most-talked-about films, or world/international premieres.
A Window on Asian Cinema
A Showcase of brand new and/or representative films by the talented Asian filmmakers with their diverse point of views and style. A Window on Asian Cinema witnesses the changes in the recent trend of Asian cinema and serves an output for newly discovered Asian films.
New Currents
The only international competition section featuring the first or the second feature films by the future leading director of Asian cinema. New Currents section demonstrates eye-opening accomplishments of high-spirited Asian independent filmmakers.
Korean Cinema Today
Selected Korean feature films are shown in two sub-section: Panorama and Vision. These two spectrum will recognize the current production trend of Korean cinema and anticipate its future.
Korean Cinema Retrospective
Re-shedding on the history of Korean cinema by spotlighting the films by a certain notable director or a significant subject matter.
World Cinema
This year's World Cinema section introduces many of new and much-talked-about films outside Asia. This section has grown satisfactorily in number and diversity. This section quick-delivers commercially and aesthetically important films from various non-Asian countries.
Wide Angle
Wide Angle section has been the grand outlet for short films, animations, documentaries, and experimental works from all corners of the world. The projects supported by the Asian Network of Documentary (AND) have come to completion and they will world or international premiere through Wide Angle section this year.
Open Cinema
A collection of new films, combining both art and mass popularity, along with internationally acclaimed works, are shown at the unique outdoor screening venue. The audience will have a unique experience watching the films in autumn breeze at an open-air theater on the beach.
Flash Forward
Newly conceived section last year, Flash Forward is set to discover yet-surfaced cineastes and create buzz among the young film generation. This section is an eclectic collection of first or second films of world¡?s up-and-coming filmmakers from various countries.
Midnight Passion
‘Midnight Passion’ is to introduce current Horror, Science Fiction and Cult Films from around the world. Selected for their crowd-pleasing factor rather than critical, non-Hollywoodian commercial films from all over the world will meet the audience.
Special Programs in Focus
A retrospective and/or a special showcase of films of a certain figure or a theme.
For me and many other Korean fans, the most important programmes to take note of are Korean cinema today and Korean cinema retrospective and of course Wide angle, which features alot of independent work from Korea's up and coming directors. Deadlines for submitting short films into this programme is 30 June 2008 and for documentaries is 31 July 2008. So if you want to submit a short film, you better hurry! More info can be found here
Source: PIFF website