Jeonju Unveils Korean Competition Films

The 10th Jeonju International Film Festival (JIFF), one of Korea's three major cinema showcases along with PIFF and PiFan, has revealed a selection of 11 new films for its Korean Feature Competition section that will vie for the JJ Star Award for top film, a cash award of 10 million Won.

Among the films selected are director Sin Dong-il's third feature, "Bandhobi", which tells about the relationship between a Bangladeshi laborer and a Korean high school girl. SIN debuted with the award-winning "Host and Guest" (2005) and followed it up with the critically praised "My Friend and His Wife" (2006).

Other notables include Lim Soon-rye's latest, "Fly, Penguin", a human-rights themed drama starring Moon So-ri; Kim Eung-su's HD feature "The Origin of Water" about a mysterious painting and a man who goes in search of the scenery depicted in it.

Feature debut directors are many, including Cho Kyeong-duk with "Sex Volunteer: Open Secret 1st Story", Sim Sang-kook with "Where is Ronny... ", Kim Aaron with "Hello My Love", Lee Seo with "Missing Person", KIM Seong-jun and LEE Je-cheol with "A.U.D.I.T.I.O.N"., CHOI Young-tae with "Jinwie" and Che Ji-young with "The Dream Catcher" and Min Hwan-ki with "Sogyumo Acacia Band's Story".

On the jury this year is Korean-Chinese director Zhang Lu ("Desert Dream", "Iri"), Despina Mouzaki, the director of the Thessaloniki Film Festival, and Giovanna Fulvi, the Asian Cinema Programmer for the Toronto International Film Festival. Additional prizes in the section are the Audience Critics' Award and the CJ-CGV Korean Feature Film Distribution Support Award, with awardee(s) granted at least a 2 week-long theatrical release.

Nigel D'Sa (KOFIC)