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Pusan Film Fest Director Kim Dong-ho Honored

Kim Dong-ho, second from left in the back row, stands with other winners at the Korean Film Awards in Seoul, Sunday. Kim received the lifetime achievement award at the ceremony.
/Newsis

By Park Chung-a
Staff Reporter


Kim Dong-ho, a festival director of Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) was honored with a lifetime achievement award at the prestigious fourth Korean Film Awards for his contribution to the domestic movie industry on Sunday.

When 68-year-old Kim was appointed as head of the now Korea Film Council in 1988, the Korean filmmaking circle openly objected to having "an unprofessional figure" at the post. Now 17 years later, few _ indeed, probably none _ would dispute Kim was the biggest engine behind PIFF's success. Kim has been directing PIFF since its inception 10 years ago

When Pusan planned to hold the first international film festival in the nation in 1995, no one really expected the annual event to survive and local movies were hardly recognized in international markets. But since the first event achieved moderate success, it has gradually increased its size and scope, focusing on Asian films. Now, many people think the city hosts, as Time Magazine once wrote in its Asian edition, Asia's most important film event.

Kim, a law graduate from Seoul National University, has been touted for his magnetic personality. With his extensive career as both a CEO and a professor for more than 35 years, his leadership has been a key in guiding PIFF through thick and thin, a consensus builder within the organizing committee and setting up a global network in the international film industry.

"We had difficulty even in inviting movies and film directors to the festival when we first started", said Kim in a previous interview with The Korea Times. "But now 10 years on, the festival has become the most renowned international film festival in Asia".

"Now when I visit other international film festivals such as Cannes, Venice and Berlin, I can feel the growing reputation of the festival since many want to visit the event", the director said.

Kim travels to many countries to participate in film festivals and meet festival directors throughout the year to keep up with festival trends and to exchange ideas. Kim has already been to eight international festivals this year.

And this year's PIFF also ended on high note. Screening a total of 306 films from 73 countries _ the festival's most ever, it sold 192,970 seats, a record for the event and an increase of about 30,000 from last year. A total of 6,088 accredited guests from home and broad visited the festival as well as 1,559 journalists, including 415 from abroad. Marking its 10th anniversary, the festival has launched ambitious projects this year, which are expected to brighten its future.

The projects include the Asian Film Academy (AFA), educational program to help promising Asian filmmakers; the selection of constructing site for PIFF Center to serve as the festival venues in 2008; and Busan Film Market, to be launched next year, which is expected to boost the local and Asian film industry.

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