Three film festivals lure movie buffs
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For movie buffs in Korea, this weekend couldn't be better. The fifth Jeonju International Film Festival kicks off on Friday (April 23), while a retrospective show on master Japanese director Akira Kurosawa and events for 2004 Israeli Film Week attract local moviegoers.
Under the slogan of "Freedom, Independence and Communication", JIFF focuses on solidifying its position as a venue for independent and digital films.
Kicking off its 10-day festival through May 2 in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, the event will present about 220 films from 30 countries, opening with director Min Byeong-kook's debut film "Possible Changes", which deals with ambiguities inherent in human life through the story of two men in their 30s.
The festival consists of two main competition sections to show independent and digital films and 16 noncompetitive sections. Under each section's theme, related events such as filmmakers' master classes, outdoor performances and question-and answer sessions with directors are also prepared.
The first main part, Indie Vision, will showcase 16 independent films that are in synch with the spirit of independent filmmaking, regardless of region and genre. Major works include "The Gift", an Italian film directed by Michelangelo Frammartino, "Silence Between Two Thoughts" by Babak Payam of Iran, and "War", American director Jake Mahaffy's debut film.
The second competitive section, Digital Spectrum, will screen 14 experimental films, animation works and Web art, including "815" by Chugoku Shoichi of Japan, "Sexual Dependency" by Rodrigo Bellott of Bolivia, and "Suite Havana" by Fernando Ferez of Cuba.
The Cinemascape section will include animation and documentary works as well as feature films this year, including "Repatriation", a Korean documentary about long-term political prisoners.
The Korean Cinema section, titled "Collision and Continuity", is set to shed light on the latest trends of local independent and feature films.
The Filmmakers Forum section, meanwhile, will feature films by three renowned cinematographers: Slavomir Idiak, Caroline Champetier and Jung Il-sung. Seminars and lectures are also scheduled for those interested in learning filming techniques.
JIFF's main venues are Chonbuk National University's Cultural Center and four theaters in the cinema district. The screening schedule is available on the JIFF Web site at www.jiff.or.kr. Tickets are priced at 5,000 to 10,000 won. All films will be shown with English subtitles. For ticket reservations, call (82-63) 283-4549.
For Seoulites who cannot make it to Jeonju this weekend, a retrospective show on Japanese director Akira Kurosawa (1910-1998) is an enticing option. The event will run through April 25 at Seoul Art Cinema in central Seoul, showcasing the works of one of the legendary directors of Japanese cinema. Kurosawa came to international fame with his award-winning feature "Rashomon" (1950).
The 15 films to be screened include "Ikiru" (1952), "The Seven Samurai" (1954), and "The Throne of Blood" (1957). While most films have English and Korean subtitles, "Ran" (1985) and "Dreams" (1990) will be screened with Korean subtitles only.
Following the event in Seoul, the festival will tour four cities of Gwangju (May 6-9), Daegu (May 13-16), Jeonju (May 19-22) and Cheongju (May 27-30). For further information, call (82-2) 3272-8707 or visit its Web site at www.cinemathequeseoul.org.
Meanwhile, events for 2004 Israeli Film Week, hosted jointly by the Israeli Embassy in Seoul and the film distribution agency Paektudaegan, are currently under way. Kaplun Arik's "Yana's Friends" opened the weeklong celebration and four other Israeli movies - Burshtein Yigal's "Everlasting Joy", Shalez Juli's "Pick a Card", Riklis Eran's "Vulcan Junction" and Gabizon Shabi's "Lovesick on Nana Street" - are running through tomorrow at Cine Cube in downtown Seoul. All five films will be screened with English and Korean subtitles.
For more details about the screenings, call (82-2) 2002-7770 or visit the Cine Cube Internet home page at www.cinecube.net.
Under the slogan of "Freedom, Independence and Communication", JIFF focuses on solidifying its position as a venue for independent and digital films.
Kicking off its 10-day festival through May 2 in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, the event will present about 220 films from 30 countries, opening with director Min Byeong-kook's debut film "Possible Changes", which deals with ambiguities inherent in human life through the story of two men in their 30s.
The festival consists of two main competition sections to show independent and digital films and 16 noncompetitive sections. Under each section's theme, related events such as filmmakers' master classes, outdoor performances and question-and answer sessions with directors are also prepared.
The first main part, Indie Vision, will showcase 16 independent films that are in synch with the spirit of independent filmmaking, regardless of region and genre. Major works include "The Gift", an Italian film directed by Michelangelo Frammartino, "Silence Between Two Thoughts" by Babak Payam of Iran, and "War", American director Jake Mahaffy's debut film.
The second competitive section, Digital Spectrum, will screen 14 experimental films, animation works and Web art, including "815" by Chugoku Shoichi of Japan, "Sexual Dependency" by Rodrigo Bellott of Bolivia, and "Suite Havana" by Fernando Ferez of Cuba.
The Cinemascape section will include animation and documentary works as well as feature films this year, including "Repatriation", a Korean documentary about long-term political prisoners.
The Korean Cinema section, titled "Collision and Continuity", is set to shed light on the latest trends of local independent and feature films.
The Filmmakers Forum section, meanwhile, will feature films by three renowned cinematographers: Slavomir Idiak, Caroline Champetier and Jung Il-sung. Seminars and lectures are also scheduled for those interested in learning filming techniques.
JIFF's main venues are Chonbuk National University's Cultural Center and four theaters in the cinema district. The screening schedule is available on the JIFF Web site at www.jiff.or.kr. Tickets are priced at 5,000 to 10,000 won. All films will be shown with English subtitles. For ticket reservations, call (82-63) 283-4549.
For Seoulites who cannot make it to Jeonju this weekend, a retrospective show on Japanese director Akira Kurosawa (1910-1998) is an enticing option. The event will run through April 25 at Seoul Art Cinema in central Seoul, showcasing the works of one of the legendary directors of Japanese cinema. Kurosawa came to international fame with his award-winning feature "Rashomon" (1950).
The 15 films to be screened include "Ikiru" (1952), "The Seven Samurai" (1954), and "The Throne of Blood" (1957). While most films have English and Korean subtitles, "Ran" (1985) and "Dreams" (1990) will be screened with Korean subtitles only.
Following the event in Seoul, the festival will tour four cities of Gwangju (May 6-9), Daegu (May 13-16), Jeonju (May 19-22) and Cheongju (May 27-30). For further information, call (82-2) 3272-8707 or visit its Web site at www.cinemathequeseoul.org.
Meanwhile, events for 2004 Israeli Film Week, hosted jointly by the Israeli Embassy in Seoul and the film distribution agency Paektudaegan, are currently under way. Kaplun Arik's "Yana's Friends" opened the weeklong celebration and four other Israeli movies - Burshtein Yigal's "Everlasting Joy", Shalez Juli's "Pick a Card", Riklis Eran's "Vulcan Junction" and Gabizon Shabi's "Lovesick on Nana Street" - are running through tomorrow at Cine Cube in downtown Seoul. All five films will be screened with English and Korean subtitles.
For more details about the screenings, call (82-2) 2002-7770 or visit the Cine Cube Internet home page at www.cinecube.net.
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