Asia's largest film festival to kick off in Busan

Get ready for countless films and a breath of fresh sea air as the 13th Pusan (a different romanization for Busan) International Film Festival (PIFF), Asia's largest film festival and Korea's most feted cinematic event, takes off in the southern port city, Oct. 2 to 10.

The festival has been held annually in the southern port city of Busan -- previously spelled “Pusan” -- since 1996.

The city will turn into a cinematic playground, with 37 theaters around Haeundae Beach screening feature-length and short films.

Over nine days, 317 films from 60 countries will be screened. Of these, 133 are world, international or Asian premieres.

The festival is known for introducing up-and-coming movies mainly from East Asia -- including Korea -- but this year it is attempting something new.

Namely, as part of efforts to shift the festival's focus by tapping into countries with the potential to produce great movies, the 13th Pusan International Film Festival has decided to reach out, gravitating towards Central and Southeast Asia, two regions that have been somewhat neglected by other festivals.

The opening film of the festival is from Kazakhstan: "The Gift to Stalin" by director Rustem Abdrashev.

It tells the story of a Jewish boy's journey of hope in 1949 when Kazakhstan became the site for a nuclear test to celebrate Joseph Stalin's 70th birthday.
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A scene from 'The Gift to Stalin,' which will open the festivalMeanwhile, Indonesia and the Philippines, newly emerging sites for independent film making, will offer a glimpse into Southeast Asian masterpieces, while Iran will showcase a new generation of artistic films coming out of that Islamic nation. India will show off several socialist films.

Korean director Yoon Jong-chan will close the festival with his "I Am Happy," starring Hyun Bin and Lee Bo-yeong.

The movie revolves around deeply pained, “unhappy” individuals in the aftermath of a tragedy.

In the meantime, "ANI ASIA!" will feature animated films highlighting styles inspired by the region's varied traditional cultures, including works from Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and other Southeast Asian countries.

PIFF's onl　　y feature film competition section, New Currents, features 14 works, of which 11 are world premieres.

In addition, the festival will feature music videos by established Asian film directors, such as Thailand's Wisit Sasanatieng and Pen-ek Ratanaruang, Malaysia's Ho Yuhang and Yasmin Ahmad, Japan's Nobuhiro Yamashita, and up-and-coming Edwin of Indonesia and Auraeus Solito from the Philippines.
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A scene from 'I Am Happy'The Pusan International Film Festival was founded in 1996 as the nation's first-ever international film festival. Many had doubted about the prospects of the festival before its inception, but it turned out a great success, becoming the largest of its kind in Asia.

You can get tickets onl　　ine at www.netmarble.net (Korean onl　　y), buy them at branches of the Busan Bank or on-site on the date of the screening.

For more info, visit www.piff.org (Korean, English).

How to get there:

Take a train bound for Busan (Pusan) from Seoul Train Station (Runs 68 times daily between 05:25 - 11:00 / travel time required: KTX (super fast) 2 hours 40 minutes, Saemaeul (deluxe) 4 hours 40 minutes, Mugunghwa (standard) 5 hours 20 minutes / Get off at Busan Station → Take subway from Busan Station → Get off at Haeundae Station or Nampodong Station.

By Han Aran
Korea.net Staff Writer