Busan film festival fuels the booming picture marketplace in Asia

SEOUL: Asia’s most influential film festival kicks off in the South Korean port city of Busan, celebrating its 20th anniversary at a time of growing regional clout in the global movie market.

“A rising variety of filmmakers from all over the world are paying attention to the significance and possibility of Asian film as well as the marketplace here,” said celebrity Kang Soo-Yeon, co-manager of the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF).

“BIFF has consistently recognised the need for Asian film and planned to greatly help introduce the area’s growing talent,” Kang told AFP.

In 2013, the 10-day festival will start together with the world premiere of Indian play “Zubaan” by first-time manager Mozez Singh.

“All you genuinely need would be to make perfect picture that can reach out to as many folks all over the world as you possibly can. Busan will give ‘Zubaan’ this opportunity,” he said

The coming of age attribute follows the story of a young man who uses music to challenge his role in Indian society that is modern.

New earth

“BIFF has always broken new ground by empowering new and young film makers also it continues to do this,” Singh said.

The 20th edition of the festival will showcase 304 pictures from 75 nations, including 94 world prime ministers.

Asian stars including Korea’s Jun Ji-Hyun and Lee Jung-Jae, the Tang Wei in China and the Chang Chen in Taiwan will walk the red carpet alongside Hollywood A listers like Tilda Swinton and Harvey Kietel and the Sophie Marceau and Nastassja Kinski in Europe.

Much of that was down to stellar increase in China where box office receipts soared 38 percent from 2013 to $4.8 billion.

Increase in the initial eight months of the year is estimated to possess been even higher as well as the Chinese market is expected to out-earn North America by 2018.

Cradle for gift

In the 20 years of its own existence, BIFF has prided itself on championing the cause of independent Asian film and on identifying the filmmakers who’ve helped spur the increase in the area of the sector.

Multi- award -Ho and Kim Ki-Duk’s early work as was the work of China’s box office king Feng Xiaogang was initially introduced to the world in the festival.

Bong and Feng have gone on to direct Hollywood-financed productions – Bong using the sci fi thriller “Snowpiercer” (2013) and Feng together with the war play “Back to 1942” (2012).

BIFF’s Window on Asian Cinema and Korean Film Now programmes were created to give audiences a look at who might be coming.

Political pressure was brought to bear a year ago as soon as a controversial documentary considering the Sewol ferry disaster where more than 300 people perished was scheduled by them.

The city mayor, who had been also chairman of the BIFF organising committee in Busan, encouraged the festival’s director, Lee Yong-Kwan, to cancel the screening.

Finally, the movie was shown but Lee said he afterwards came in the municipal authorities under pressure to step down.

Kang Soo-Yeon, who shares the festival manager responsibilities said she expected the focus would shift back to the pictures themselves.

“I believe that it’s significant this year’s festival could be valued by as many individuals as possible — without any misadventure — and then we are able to move ahead to planning the next 20 years,” she said.