Busan: Fest maps new future

'Always'It's been a difficult year for that folks running the Busan Intl. Film Festival. Because the retirement of former director Kim Dong-ho, they have needed to fight experts from both domestic film industry and also the worldwide community the fest might seriously decline without Kim's leadership. However the 16th edition of Asia's biggest film festival is able to step forward right into a new trend, with a brand new title and new headquarters.Festival director Lee Yong-kwan, overtaking from Mr. Kim, because he is passionately known, reaches participate in the completed Busan Cinema Center -- planned since 2004, finally breaking ground in 2008. Despite worries within the $137 million construction, the conclusion was spurred through the city government this season. The festival re-top quality itself using the city's British title Busan (from Pusan) as well as re-named its project market, the Pusan Promotion Plan, the Asian Project Market.The festival geography has moved from Haeundae and Nampodong to Centum City, that is situated three subway stops from Haeundae. "You will find there's total five new screens within the center. The theaters in Nampodong are a little backward for screening venues," states Lee.The Centum City continues to be developed being an infrastructure for film industry. Shops, hotels and production clothes pepper the middle together with the Busan Cinema Center and Bexco, the city's convention center. Asian Film Market, Bifcom and Asian Film Policy will even occupy Bexco, because of the little space within the rooms in hotels in Haeundae, where these were locked in previous years.Opening with Korean helmer Song Il-gon's "Always," 307 films from 70 nations happen to be asked including 71 features making world premieres. When it comes to Asian films, the festival offers a mixture of veteran helmers and new talents."In a Window on Asian Cinema section, you'll be able to see many new names transfusing fresh bloodstream in to the world cinema, for example Philippines' Adolfo Alix Junior. and Japan's Ishii Yuya," states the executive programmer Kim Ji-seok."For Brand New Power, the Asian film competition section, we attempted to broaden our selection scope toward various areas in West Asia and South Asia, with a feeling of balance" Kim adds. However, experts observe that the choice shows the festival's preference for Japanese films over other nations, and does not include enough Chinese films, thinking about the output and economic might of this country.Nonetheless, the festival has extended itself by starting occasions and increasing the size of support programs. You will find festival honours, a cash prize for that non-Asian film competition section Expensive Forward, and also the Asian Cinema Fund. Also new may be the Busan Cinema Forum, an academic conference, and World Documentary Exchange (WDE), a documentary network between Europe, America and Asia to spread out in the options of multinational co-production.The alterations goal to construct Busan right into a heavyweight cinema center. Awaiting the moving from the Korean Film Council to Busan in 2013, the festival has began to bolster collaborations with Kofic. Their goal would be to continue the status because the representative Asian film festival on the planet, in addition to to become gateway for Korean films toward worldwide market.HIGHLIGHTSSHIFT IN FOCUSThe Busan Cinema Center will host most tests and occasions, shifting the fest's center from Haeundae and Nampodong towards the just-finished $137 million headquarters.REGIONAL SPOTLIGHTKorean film "Always" opens the fest while Japanese pic "Chronicle of My Mother," from Harada Masato, shuts the big event.Around The Red-colored CARPETLee Jeong-hyang's "Grounds to reside,Inch Luc Besson's "The Woman,Inch Peter Chan's "Wu xia," Amir Naderi's "Cut" and Johnnie To's "Existence Without Principle" are probably the gala tests.EXTRA DIMENSIONBong Joon-ho's monster classic "The Host" will get a three dimensional conversion along with a gala screening slot.TEACHABLE MOMENTSMaster classes scheduled include Isabelle Huppert, who's also the topic of a photograph exhibition, Yonfan, Luc Besson and Hirokazu Kore-eda. Huppert, Besson, Yonfan and Kim Ki-duk will even take part in the fest's hands-printing ceremony, restricted to special honorees.SCHOOL'S IN SESSIONThe BIFF Academy will host various workshops varying from piracy to three dimensional to extreme Portuguese cinema.ASIA FOCUSAs always, BIFF's programs A Window on Asian Cinema, Korean Cinema Today and New Power highlight the very best of the region's film fare.FEST TRAVELER: BUSAN INTL. FILM FESTIVAL Fest maps new future Regional leader Hark made Hong Kong a worldwide pressure Q&A: Lee Yong-kwan Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com