Lee Cheong-joon (이청준)

Cinephiles unite for Busan film festival

Source | 2008/10/03 | Permalink |

The 13th Pusan International Film Festival places its focus on regions that have been overlooked in the past. Twenty-two selections from Central and Southeast Asia have been invited to compete.

Chosen for their storytelling merit, most are films without the flash and extravagance usually afforded to better-funded films. It was the power of their story that attracted the attention of PIFF organizers.

In addition to reaching further into newer territories, the festival will carry a sort of support group atmosphere within the domestic film community.

Participants and visitors watch "The Gift to Stalin" by Khazakstan`s Rustem Abdrashev that kick-started the 13th Pusan International Film Festival at the Suyoungman Yacht Stadium in Busan on Thursday evening. [Park Hyun-koo/The Korea Herald]

Even the festival slogans, "The discovery and unearthing of new territories" and "Get back on your feet, Korean films!" are reflected upon the choices of the opening and closing films. The Kaz...| More

PIFF sets sail with a record

Source | 2008/10/01 | Permalink |

13th Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) announced that the Kazakh opening film The Gift to Stalin sold out online in an impressive record of 1 minute and 30 seconds. Closing film I am Happy took only 7 minutes and 6 seconds to sell its last seat.

The Gift to Stalin is the first Kazakh film to open PIFF. The film is directed by Rustem Abdrashev. The Gift to Stalin celebrates its world premiere at Pusan. The feel-good film promotes the "positive values of love and trust standing above nationality and age".

PIFF's curtain will be draped by the Korean film "I am Happy" by director YOON Jong-chan. The film is based on the original short story Mr. Mandeuk Choi by the late writer LEE Cheong-joon. YOON previously directed "Sorum" and "Blue Swallow".

The record was partly made possible by a more efficient internet sales system which made online booking of tickets more stable. The tickets went on sale through the internet on September 22. 300 tickets of both the opening and clo...| More

13th PIFF Presents Robust Line-up

Source | 2008/09/11 | Permalink |

The 13thedition of the Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) will offer its biggest line-up ever with a total of 315 films from 60 countries screening Oct 2 - 10 in Korea's popular south-eastern port city. Opening the event is The Gift to Stalin, by Kazakh director Rustem Abdrashev, a choice complementing the selection of Kazakh producer Gulnara Sarsenova as recipient of PIFF's 2008 Asian Filmmaker of the Year award.

A Korean film has been named to close this year's fest, the world premier of YOON Jong-chan's "I am Happy", a psychiatric drama based on a novel by acclaimed Korean author LEE Cheong-joon. PIFF is putting its weight behind local films this year, and, under the catch-phrase 'Way to Go, Korea!' will host the World Premier of 15 Korean features.

Among those, three Korean films will compete in PIFF's competition section, New Currents, alongside 11 films from 8 other Asian countries. They are Land of Scarecrows, the sophomore effort by "The Last Dining Table" dir...| More

Prominent novelist Lee Cheong-joon dies

Source | 2008/07/31 | Permalink |

Lee Cheong-joon, who is often called an "intellectual writer" for his refined writing style and thought-provoking literary themes, died of lung cancer yesterday. He was 69.

Born Aug. 9, 1939 in Jangheung, South Jeolla Province, Lee graduated with a degree in German Literature from Seoul National University and made a debut in 1965 with his short story "Leaving the Hospital" (Toewon), which received the New Writer's Prize in the literary contest sponsored by the journal "Sasanggye".

Lee is widely regarded as one of the most influential Korean writers, with many of his novels adapted into movies and television dramas. Lee has published nearly forty novels and collections of short stories, exploring various subject matter. His work has been translated into English and other major languages.

Lee's novels tackled a wide range of themes including Korea's traditional beliefs as well as the alienation people feel living in the modern world. Among his early works is "An Imbecile and an...| More

Director Im Wearied by 'Reckless' Korean Filmmaking

Source | 2008/06/24 | Permalink |

Celebrated Korean director Im Kwon-taek (72) visits the 30th International Moscow Film Festival for the first time in 20 years. The festival is presenting a special retrospective on the filmmaker.
The 30th International Moscow Film Festival which opened on June 19 is presenting a special retrospective on legendary Korean director Im Kwon-taek. The event prompted the 72-year-old filmmaker to visit the Russian city for the first time in 20 years, but Im didn't seem happy when the Chosun Ilbo met up with him there. Rather than his feelings on visiting Moscow again, foremost on the director's mind were his concerns about the Korean film industry.

Im declared, with a note of guilt, that everyone in the Korean film industry -- including himself -- should be blamed for the falling market share of Korean films. "Movie fans have grown disappointed with Korean films because those working in the industry have just tried to jump on the bandwagon of the industry's boom without careful preparati...| More