Spanish Animation "Chico & Rita" Awarded Grand Prize at the Closing of the 7th Jecheon International Music and Film Festival (JIMFF)

by KOFIC Staff

Jecheon International Music and Film Festival (herewith JIMFF), which started out with a motto of contributing to both domestic and global expansion of film genre and diversity of film festivals through genre-specific and commercial nature of music-themed films, has closed its impressive 7th edition. Taking place from August 11 to 16 at Jecheon, the leading resort area of Korea's North Chooncheong Province, this year's JIMFF colored the entire city of Jecheon with film and music, centering on TTCinema Theater and JIMFF Stage (Uilimji), Central Market and Cheongpung Lakeside Stage.

This year's Grand Prize of the Competition was awarded to "Chico & Rita" by Fernando TRUEBA (Spain), while for Jury Special Prize, "When the Drum Is Beating" by Whitney DOW (USA) received the glorious honor. For the first time in JIMFF's history, a jury chairperson system was implemented for the jury with YOON Yeo-jong (Actress, Korea) having the honor of being the first-ever Jury Chairperson. Other four members of the jury were comprised of Lee Moo-yeong (Director/Film Critic, Korea), Peyman YAZDANIAN (Composer, Iran), Johannes KLEIN (Festival Programmer, Spain) and KIM Young-jin (Professor/Film Critic, Korea)

According to the jury, the animation "Chico & Rita" was unanimously chosen for the Grand Prize with its unique colorful nature is an animation with charming characters and the power to immerse audiences, unlike any other animation. The documentary "When the Drum Is Beating" was selected for Jury Special Prize for effectively and touching bringing the images of Tahiti musicians who are overcoming the adversities in reality through music.

In addition, Jury Special Mention winner "The Swell Season" is a documentary dealing with the love and the music between Glen HANSARD and Markéta IRGLOVÁ, two major characters from "Once" who eventually became real-life lovers. "Once" was also the opening film at 3rd JIMFF and "The Swell Season" was the hottest tile at this year's JIMFF. Even though the film didn't win any awards, with its domestic release confirmed for this winter, one can be sure that it will extend the impressive box-office showing of "Once", having drawn over 220,000 audiences, with strong showing of its own.

Photos of "Chico & Rita" "When the Drum Is Beating"

Meanwhile, The 6th Jecheon International Music & Film Academy (JIMFA) at Jecheon Media Center "Bom" hosted 25 participants and featured 6-night/7-day workshop with various instructors and hands-on practices to provide invaluable first steps and practical lessons for the participants in becoming film score composer. Selected outstanding participant will be given an opportunity to attend Asian Film Academy (AFA) at Busan International Film Festival (BIFF). Also, JIMFF Stage (Uirimji), a newly added official venue at JIMFF, provided live concerts and film screenings for free of charge throughout the festival period, also hosting Oziraper +, a festival of street musicians with a winning team receiving the recording contract. 'Joyful Island' was this year's winning performing act.

Not only the quantitative aspects of participations by well-known music directors from all over the world, along with over 50 sold-out screenings and music performances, but also passionate responses by audiences in long extended lines to get the tickets regardless of hot summer days, it was evident that JIMFF's popularity was getting bigger year after year.

Article by : KOFIC International Promotion Center