PIFF Asian Cinema Fund 2007

The newly created Asian Cinema Fund (ACF) will launch this year as part of the 12th Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF), providing financial support 27 film projects in an effort to further bolster the region's filmmaking talent. The support program will bring a cash total of US$ 840,000 to projects designated under three categories: the Independent Feature Script and Project Development fund (8 projects selected), the Independent Feature Post-Production Support fund (6 projects selected), and the previously existing Asian Network of Documentary (AND) fund which will support production and post for 13 projects selected this year.

The Korean Film Council (KOFIC) will contribute to the Independent Feature Post-Production Support fund along with other private and public sector sponsors. The fund will provide cash for digital intermediate processes to be carried out in South Korea. Of the six films chosen, two are from emerging Korean directors Kim Dong-hyun ("Hello, Stranger") and Ahn Seul-gi ("My Song Is... "). From Thailand and Afghanistan recipients are Aditya ASSARAT (Wonderful Town) and Siddiq BARMAK (Opium War) respectively. From China, MING Weng Shou (Fujian Blue) and Jin Guang-hao (Life Track) were selected, with the latter film to be directly supported by KOFIC.

Projects in this category completed in time are expected to be included in PIFF's program. The Script and Project Development fund will provide US$ 10,000 to 8 films, including 4 Asian Projects recipients from China (LIU Hao), the Philippines (Brillante MENDOZA), India (Murali NAIR), and Malaysia (TAN Chui Mui). From the Korean Projects selection are recipients SON Yeong-seong ("Eclipse"), Yang Hae-hoon ("Goblin") and Jo Eun-hee ("Winter Cherry)". Jeon Soo-il, whose recent film "With a Girl of Black Soil" will screen in Venice, is the recipient of the Pusan Projects selection for his next film Girl of the Himalayas ("Himalaya, Where the Wind Dwells").

The Asian Network of Documentary fund will support 13 projects including 8 Asian films eligible for funding ranging from US$ 5,000 to $10,000 per project, and 5 Korean projects including one Pusan-based and one overseas Korean project, eligible for $10,000 in funding per project. The 5 Korean projects are as follows:

2007 Korean Projects Committee Selection

"The 5th Eye"
Writer/Director: MI Young / Uni Korea Fund

"Women from Farmland"
Writer/Director: KWON Woo-Jeong / YoungSan Fund

"The Smaller, The Prettier"
Writer/Director: YOON Doc Hyun / KyungSung Fund

2007 Pusan Project Committee Selection

"Black Mountain, Black Dirt and the Sky"
Writer/Director: KIM Young-Jo / Dong-Eui Cinema Fund

2007 Overseas Korean Project Committee Selection

"Naming Me"
Writer/Director: HAN Seungeuk / OKF Fund

Nigel D'Sa (KOFIC)