Press Conference for the 24th Screening
247 Films from 42 Countries Abroad
First Visit to Korea by Dardenne Brothers Directors
The Jeonju International Film Festival will lift its twenty-fourth curtain on the 27th of next month. This year, under the slogan "We Always Cross the Line," it embraces a spirit of challenge by breaking away from traditional film formats and screening methods.
Jung Jun-ho, appointed as co-executive director of this year’s festival, stated at the press conference announcing the lineup of the 24th Jeonju International Film Festival held on the afternoon of the 30th at CGV Yongsan in Ichon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, "We will strive to become a film festival that embraces both authenticity and popularity," adding, "I will support it well with the mindset that even a sheet of paper is easier to lift when shared."
This year’s festival will screen 247 films from 42 countries (125 international films and 122 domestic films). There are 66 world premiere films being unveiled for the first time. The festival will meet audiences at 23 theaters across six screening venues in Jeonju city. Additionally, 38 Korean short films that have given consent will be screened on an online platform.
Due to the ongoing construction of the Jeonju Independent Film House, a symbol of the Jeonju International Film Festival located on Film Street, the event will not be held at Jeonju Dome this year but will instead move to various locations throughout Jeonju city. The opening ceremony will take place at the Korean Traditional Performing Arts Center, while the awards ceremony and closing ceremony will be held at the Samsung Culture Hall within Jeonbuk National University.
The opening film is "Tori and Lokita," directed by the Dardenne brothers (Jean-Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne), recipients of the 75th Cannes Film Festival 75th Anniversary Award. The film tells the story of African refugee boy Tori and girl Lokita, who come to Belgium and get involved in drug trafficking, portraying the lives of immigrants. The Dardenne brothers, hailed as masters loved by Cannes, will visit Jeonju to meet the audience. This is their first time visiting Korea.
The closing film is "Where Do You Want to Go?" directed by Kim Hee-jung. Adapted from the short story of the same name by writer Kim Ae-ran, the film depicts the mourning period of Myeong-ji, whose husband, a middle school teacher, suddenly dies in an accident.
There are 111 Korean competition entries, 10 fewer than last year. Programmer Moon Seok noted about the feature films, "There has been an increase in films with queer themes and sci-fi imagination," highlighting this year’s trend. Regarding short films, he explained, "Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increase in content about caring for others."
A special exhibition commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Korean Academy of Film Arts (KAFA) will also be held. Forty short films selected based on recommendations from KAFA alumni and current and former professors will be screened. Films such as "For Scrap" (1992), "2001 Imagine" (1994), "Her" (2001), "Suzy" (2014), "Mild Fever" (2015), and "Moon of Seoul" (2016) will meet the audience.
This year, the Jeonju International Film Festival appointed Min Sung-wook, then vice-executive director, and actor Jung Jun-ho as co-executive directors for a three-year term. Some criticized the appointment of Jung Jun-ho, who has a background in commercial films and dramas, as incompatible with the festival’s independent and alternative film ethos. Although the festival intended to increase its expansiveness, the controversy grew after the existing board members resigned.
Jung Jun-ho began by saying, "As an actor, I realized that I had only eaten the food laid out with a spoon," and added, "I didn’t know as an actor how difficult the preparation process for the film festival was." He continued, "I heard there was opposition from the film industry regarding my appointment. I understand the concerns," but drew a line by saying, "I met the mayor of Jeonju for the first time while preparing for the festival."
He went on, "As a film professional who has received overwhelming love over 25 years of acting, I have thought about who would be suitable for the executive director position." He also promised, "I will connect the human networks such as the sponsorship association with the festival’s abundant resources while maintaining the authenticity of the Jeonju International Film Festival." He pledged, "I will serve as a bridge linking the industry by attracting domestic and international tourists. I will make the festival an exciting event and a place of challenge."
The 24th Jeonju International Film Festival will be held from April 27 to May 6.
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