The Busan International Film Festival has postponed the appointment of a permanent festival director. A new leader may be appointed after this year’s edition in October.
Pak Dosin, a former senior programmer, has been appointed as co-deputy director in a dual-leadership structure, alongside co-deputy director Kang Seung-ah.
That means that this year’s festival will be held under the leadership of chairperson Park Kwang-su, the recently appointed Acfm director Ellen Y. D. Kim, and the co-deputy directors Kang and Pak.
“This decision aims to allocate resources effectively by reducing the administrative processes and time needed to elect the festival director and enabling undivided attention towards successfully organizing the 29th Busan International Film Festival. After this year’s event, Biff will select its next festival director, allowing ample time to seek the most suitable candidate,” the festival said in a statement on Thursday.
Pak previously held various positions including the head of the program department,...
Pak Dosin, a former senior programmer, has been appointed as co-deputy director in a dual-leadership structure, alongside co-deputy director Kang Seung-ah.
That means that this year’s festival will be held under the leadership of chairperson Park Kwang-su, the recently appointed Acfm director Ellen Y. D. Kim, and the co-deputy directors Kang and Pak.
“This decision aims to allocate resources effectively by reducing the administrative processes and time needed to elect the festival director and enabling undivided attention towards successfully organizing the 29th Busan International Film Festival. After this year’s event, Biff will select its next festival director, allowing ample time to seek the most suitable candidate,” the festival said in a statement on Thursday.
Pak previously held various positions including the head of the program department,...
- 3/28/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Korea’s Busan International Film Festival issued a heartfelt statement today, promising to “do our best for the successful hosting” of this year’s edition of the October festival, which has been in turmoil for the past few months following a series of high-profile management exits.
The festival said it held a board meeting yesterday where the composition and main agendas of an ‘Innovation Committee’ had been decided. The committee will look at issues affecting the festival both internally and externally, and move to stabilize its operations.
It was previously announced that program director Nam Dong-chul and deputy director Kang Seung-ah would take over as acting heads of the festival, replacing former festival director Huh Moonyung, and former managing director Cho Jongkook, respectively.
“With this, the problems that surrounded the festival for the past two months, within and outside of the organization, have been concluded, and members of the executive...
The festival said it held a board meeting yesterday where the composition and main agendas of an ‘Innovation Committee’ had been decided. The committee will look at issues affecting the festival both internally and externally, and move to stabilize its operations.
It was previously announced that program director Nam Dong-chul and deputy director Kang Seung-ah would take over as acting heads of the festival, replacing former festival director Huh Moonyung, and former managing director Cho Jongkook, respectively.
“With this, the problems that surrounded the festival for the past two months, within and outside of the organization, have been concluded, and members of the executive...
- 7/19/2023
- by Liz Shackleton
- Deadline Film + TV
Festival director Huh Moonyung shared intent to resign before allegations emerged.
Busan International Film Festival (Biff) chairman Lee Yong-kwan has apologised over the handling of recent sexual harassment allegations that saw the resignation of festival director Huh Moonyung, who denies the claims.
“First of all, I bow my head and sincerely apologise for the [alleged] case of sexual harassment and sexual assault in the workplace that was made known through a [press] report on May 31,” said Lee in a statement on behalf of the festival and its board today (June 15).
“We also apologise belatedly for the fact that Busan International Film Festival...
Busan International Film Festival (Biff) chairman Lee Yong-kwan has apologised over the handling of recent sexual harassment allegations that saw the resignation of festival director Huh Moonyung, who denies the claims.
“First of all, I bow my head and sincerely apologise for the [alleged] case of sexual harassment and sexual assault in the workplace that was made known through a [press] report on May 31,” said Lee in a statement on behalf of the festival and its board today (June 15).
“We also apologise belatedly for the fact that Busan International Film Festival...
- 6/15/2023
- by Jean Noh
- ScreenDaily
Nam Dong-chul will act as interim director of the Busan International Film Festival after a month of management turmoil, two high profile resignations and sexual harassment accusations levelled at festival director Huh Moon-young. Huh denies the allegations, but will not return to the festival.
In early May, the festival announced the appointment of Cho Jong-kook, a close friend of festival chairman Lee Yong-kwan, as managing director, with responsibility for operations, administration and budgeting. The move effectively split the festival director’s job and two days later Huh announced his plan to resign.
Two film industry guilds threatened to boycott this year’s event in October in support of Huh.
Lee said that he would resign to take responsibility for the mess caused by Cho’s appointment. But initially, the festival’s board refused to accept either Lee or Huh’s departure.
Huh said that personal reasons were keeping him from returning.
In early May, the festival announced the appointment of Cho Jong-kook, a close friend of festival chairman Lee Yong-kwan, as managing director, with responsibility for operations, administration and budgeting. The move effectively split the festival director’s job and two days later Huh announced his plan to resign.
Two film industry guilds threatened to boycott this year’s event in October in support of Huh.
Lee said that he would resign to take responsibility for the mess caused by Cho’s appointment. But initially, the festival’s board refused to accept either Lee or Huh’s departure.
Huh said that personal reasons were keeping him from returning.
- 6/5/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
The much-decorated Japanese drama “Drive My Car” was named the best film Sunday at the Asian Film Awards, defeating hot favorite “Decision to Leave.”
Other notable awards went to Japan’s Hirokazu Kore-eda whose “Broker” debuted at Cannes, but which was largely shunned in his home country.
“Decision to Leave,” which started the evening with ten nominations, was nevertheless rewarded with three awards, best screenplay, best production design and best actress for China’s Tang Wei.
While nominations were geographically diverse, the awards on Sunday skewed heavily towards North East Asia –Japan, Korea and Greater China – to the total exclusion of films from India, Indonesia and The Philippines. Snubs included the exclusion of Indonesia’s “Autobiography” and Happy Salma, both of which have been widely lauded on the festival circuit.
The awards ceremony returned to Hong Kong after detours to Macau and Busan and a Covid hiatus in previous years.
Other notable awards went to Japan’s Hirokazu Kore-eda whose “Broker” debuted at Cannes, but which was largely shunned in his home country.
“Decision to Leave,” which started the evening with ten nominations, was nevertheless rewarded with three awards, best screenplay, best production design and best actress for China’s Tang Wei.
While nominations were geographically diverse, the awards on Sunday skewed heavily towards North East Asia –Japan, Korea and Greater China – to the total exclusion of films from India, Indonesia and The Philippines. Snubs included the exclusion of Indonesia’s “Autobiography” and Happy Salma, both of which have been widely lauded on the festival circuit.
The awards ceremony returned to Hong Kong after detours to Macau and Busan and a Covid hiatus in previous years.
- 3/12/2023
- by Patrick Frater and Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Lee Yong-kwan graduated in film studies from Chung-Ang University. As a teacher, he successively held several positions at Chung-Ang University and the Central Academy of Drama in China. He is also director of the Seoul Short Film Festival, president of the Seoul International Youth Film Festival and the Busan Cinematheque. He is one of the main founding members of the Busan International Film Festival, of which he was the chief programmer from its inception. After having been for five years the co-director of the Busan International Film Festival with Kim Dong-ho, he is since 2010 the sole director of the Busan International Film Festival.
On the occasion of his presence as Chairman of the International Jury in Fica Vesoul, we speak with him about the state of Biff, the late Kim Ji-seok, Parasite, Hong Sang-soo, the impact of the streaming services and many other topics
First, there were the problems with the government,...
On the occasion of his presence as Chairman of the International Jury in Fica Vesoul, we speak with him about the state of Biff, the late Kim Ji-seok, Parasite, Hong Sang-soo, the impact of the streaming services and many other topics
First, there were the problems with the government,...
- 3/8/2023
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Vesoul Unveils Asian Lineup
The Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinema has unveiled its 85-title lineup for the edition that starts later this month. Elements include a 10-film competition section, a 10-film documentary film section, a tribute to the Turkish director Semih Kaplanoglu; a thematic section “Asian Diaspora Cinema” offering a panorama of works by directors from Asian countries living in exile; and a Philippines cinema sidebar.
Fiction films in competition include: Azerbaijan’s “Cold as Marble,” by Asif Rustamov; China’s “In Our Prime,” by Liu Yulin; Korea’s “A Letter from Kyoto,” by Kim Min-ju; India’s: “Behind Veils,” by Praveen Morshhale; Iran’s “No End,” by Nader Saievar; Mongolia’s “The Sales Girl,” by Sengedorj Janchivdorj; The Philippines’s “Feast,” by Brillante Mendoza; Singapore’s “#LookAtMe,” by Ken Kwek; and Vietnam’s “Memento Mori: Earth,” by Marcus Vu Manh Cuong. The president of the jury is Lee Yong-kwan,...
The Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinema has unveiled its 85-title lineup for the edition that starts later this month. Elements include a 10-film competition section, a 10-film documentary film section, a tribute to the Turkish director Semih Kaplanoglu; a thematic section “Asian Diaspora Cinema” offering a panorama of works by directors from Asian countries living in exile; and a Philippines cinema sidebar.
Fiction films in competition include: Azerbaijan’s “Cold as Marble,” by Asif Rustamov; China’s “In Our Prime,” by Liu Yulin; Korea’s “A Letter from Kyoto,” by Kim Min-ju; India’s: “Behind Veils,” by Praveen Morshhale; Iran’s “No End,” by Nader Saievar; Mongolia’s “The Sales Girl,” by Sengedorj Janchivdorj; The Philippines’s “Feast,” by Brillante Mendoza; Singapore’s “#LookAtMe,” by Ken Kwek; and Vietnam’s “Memento Mori: Earth,” by Marcus Vu Manh Cuong. The president of the jury is Lee Yong-kwan,...
- 2/20/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
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