The Pusan International Film Festival, Korea's first-ever international film event, kicks off 13 September with a gala presentation of Mike Leigh's Secrets and Lies. The nine-day event joins a growing number of high-profile fests in the region, including the Hong Kong International Film Festival, The Tokyo International Film Festival and the Shanghai International Film Festival.
Organisers are expecting around 150,000 to attend, along with 400 official guests. As well as Mike Leigh and Secrets actress Brenda Blethyn, Asian superstars Gong Li and Leslie Cheung are invited for Chen Kaige's Temptress Moon, which leads the Window On Asian Cinema selection.
The festival splits the focus between Asian, World and Korean cinema. The Window On Asia section features the world premiere of Chinese indie director Zhang Yuan's Behind The Forbidden City, his eagerly-awaited story of Beijing homosexuals. Local films are highlighted in Korean Panorama, alongside a retrospective on Korea's acclaimed New Wave. New Currents is a competition for best first or second film from an Asian director.
Korea is currently a hot buyer of international product as well as an emerging production territory, and the festival promises to be “the best place to meet the brightest Korean film-makers, actors, producers, and industry representatives.” Local buyers are expected to attend with an eye to doing business.
Richard James Havis
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