Sales at the Asian Film Market

This year's Pusan International Film Festival witnessed the opening of the inaugural Asian Film Market, a comprehensive film industry hub which covers many aspects of filmmaking from pre-sales, sales, and financing to production and post facilities as well as a casting network for up-and-coming stars.

In terms of deal-making, sales companies reported that not many deals were signed, however agreements and project advancement took place. The absence of many European buyers due largely to the opening of the Rome International Film Festival during the same period, was also noted, however those from Europe who did come had first pick and were pleased with their findings.

Among Korean deals made, CJ's martial arts fantasy The Restless and box office record-breaker The Host were bought from Cineclick Asia by Singapore's Queen Imperial for rights in Indonesia's growing market. Queen also picked up iHQ's Gangster High, Shadowless Sword, My Girl and I, A Day for an Affair, and pre-sales on Thursday's Child.

Cineclick pre-sold Lim Pil-seong's Hansel and Gretel and indie-filmmaker Jane SHIN (Sin Jae-in)'s Mommy's Risen to France's Wild Side. The former film was also sold to J-BICS of Thailand. J-BICS also picked up Lotte Entertainments' Family Ties ("The Birth of a Family"), The Old Garden directed by Lim Sang-soo, and "Holiday" directed by Yang Yoon-ho, which was also bought by Select of Germany along with Lotte Ent'.s horror flick Arang.

Buyer AOE snapped up Seducing Mr. Perfect and Mission Sex Control from Cineclick for rights in Singapore and Malaysia. CJ Entertainment sold its package of Four Horror Tales and "Puzzle" to Blitz Entertainment for rights in Indonesia and Malaysia.

Prime Entertainment's "Beyond the Years", the 100th feature by veteran director Im Kwon-taek was sold to France while Indiestory's "No Regret" was sold to Hong Kong.

While Japan did not close many deals, one of the biggest deal's of the market was Tokyo Broadcasting System's sale of sentimental drama Nada-sou-sou-Tears For You to Korea's Fall In Cinema for a price tag of around US$1million.

A total of 3,500 participants are estimated to have come, while companies set up 131 booths on the 18th to 21st floors of the Grand Hotel for the four-day event. Market screenings of films totaled 116 although attendance was sparse compared to Cannes or Berlin. Pusan Promotion Plan (PPP), a financing market for selected feature projects is the main event at AFM and meetings totaled 710, up from 600 last year. The Asia Star Summit placed rising pan-Asian stars on the promenade while the Namoo Actors guild provided a showcase of young Korean talent.

Nigel D'Sa (KOFIC)