'2023 International Maritime Film Festival' Held in Busan from 21 to 23

Different Sea Stories, A Harmonious World Sea

Yeongdo Amir Park Area, Haeundae Cinema Center

Busan City will hold the '2023 International Maritime Film Festival' for three days from the 21st to the 23rd at Amir Park in Yeongdo and the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae.

Hosted by Busan City and organized by the International Maritime Film Festival Organizing Committee (Chairman Jo Hana), the 'International Maritime Film Festival' is the only maritime-specialized film festival in Korea befitting Busan, the city of sea and film, and this year marks its 6th edition.

Especially this year, with the support of Yeongdo District Office (District Mayor Kim Gijae), the event venue has been expanded from the Busan Cinema Center to include Amir Park in Yeongdo District, allowing simultaneous hosting and offering festival visitors a wider variety of attractions.

This film festival, featuring diverse stories of the sea, presents 29 invited feature and short maritime films from over 10 countries under the theme 'Across Different Seas.'

Having passed through the global pandemic era and entering the endemic phase of daily recovery this year, the festival has curated works that depict different seas from around the world.

The opening film is 'My Dolores Story: Patrick and the Whale' by Mark Fletcher, a wildlife filmmaker and writer who has won multiple awards including the Emmy.

Viewers can vividly experience Patrick’s journey to find the female sperm whale 'Dolores' and their touching bond on screen. Patrick’s story, based on years of research and observation learning the whale’s lifestyle, raises questions about the harmonious life of humans, marine creatures, and the sea.

Major screenings include 'Habana Libre,' which depicts surfers’ struggle for free sea enjoyment against the Cuban government’s surfing ban, and 'Sura,' which reveals the reality of the domestic tidal flat ecosystem destroyed by the Saemangeum reclamation project.

Notably, nine films were selected as part of the newly established International Maritime Film Festival Screening Support Contest, including 'The Old, The New and The Other,' showcasing works produced with our seas as the backdrop to the audience.

The opening ceremony will be held at 6 p.m. on July 21 at the special stage in Amir Park, Yeongdo, with actress and promotional ambassador Choi Songhyun hosting and a congratulatory performance by the band 'South Carnival' to mark the start of the festival.

Actress Choi Songhyun, who will host the opening ceremony, is a scuba diving instructor and has been actively engaged in marine environmental protection activities domestically and internationally for over 10 years.

The band 'South Carnival' is a group that blends Latin, ska, and reggae rhythms from Latin America with the sentiment of Jeju Island to create uniquely Korean music.

After the screening of the opening film 'My Dolores Story,' marine explorer Patrick, the film’s protagonist, will visit the festival in person to share his reflections with the audience.

Additionally, during the festival, there will be audience talk sessions (GV) with film directors, critics, and marine experts after screenings, as well as marine-related experience booths, providing meaningful opportunities to reflect on the festival’s significance beyond simple film viewing through various interactive events.

Key events include the attendance of pop columnist Kim Taehoon, active in film and music criticism, as a special guest after the screening at the Busan Cinema Center on the 22nd.

On the 23rd, director Woo Gwanghoon and actress Moon Heekyung of 'Mermaid’s Dream,' along with directors of supported films, will meet with the audience.

Experience events include marine creature crafting by the Marine Environment Education Center, toy fishing experiences by domestic and international non-profit marine organizations, plastic injection experiences, and exhibitions of marine debris recycled artworks, all aimed at raising awareness of marine pollution and protection methods. There will also be marine-related crafting activities and a commemorative photo zone for visitors.

Mayor Park Hyungjun stated, “The Busan International Maritime Film Festival is growing into a platform that introduces major entries from overseas maritime film festivals and screens domestic works that tell stories of our seas,” adding, “I hope many citizens will have meaningful opportunities to connect with the diverse seas of the world through this festival.”

Reservations for screenings at the Busan Cinema Center for the 2023 International Maritime Film Festival will be available from 10 a.m. on the 17th via the Busan Cinema Center website, while screenings at Amir Park in Yeongdo can be viewed free of charge without separate reservations.

For more detailed information about the festival, please refer to the official website.