Crossing the Boundaries of the Sea... Busan '2024 International Marine Film Festival' Opens on the 19th

Marine Film Festival to Screen 27 Films from 11 Countries at Yeongdo P.ARK, July 19-21

Diverse Programs Including Director Talks, Marine Exhibitions and Hands-on Experiences

Busan Metropolitan City will host the '2024 International Ocean Film Festival' at the Yeongdo Complex Cultural Space P.ARK from July 19 to 21.

2024 International Maritime Film Festival Poster.

Now in its seventh year, the event is organized by the city and the International Ocean Film Festival Organizing Committee (Executive Director: Cho Hana), and is sponsored by Yeongdo District (District Mayor: Kim Gijae).

Under the theme 'Crossing the Line: Boundless Ocean,' the festival will showcase 27 feature and short films from 11 countries.

Screenings will begin with the opening films on the first day and continue for three days across two theaters located on the 6th floor and basement level 1 of the Yeongdo Complex Cultural Space P.ARK.

There are two opening films. The first is 'Disappearing Jewels' by Korean-American animator Wol Kim, a watercolor-illustrated animation that presents scientific data and a love for marine life in the face of global warming. The second is 'Alien Contact,' a documentary by marine biologist Rick Rosenthal, which offers a glimpse into the life of the manta ray, a fish with a wingspan of nearly 8 meters and the most advanced cognitive abilities among fish.

Manta Ray, Encounter with Extraterrestrial Life Form.

The closing film is 'Nangin,' directed by Ma She, which captures the subtle emotions between love and friendship in Wanan, China, a utopia for surfing enthusiasts. At the closing ceremony, lead actor and script contributor Xu Weihao will visit Korea to greet the audience on stage.

Key screenings include 'Boksun's One Day Class,' which follows Boksun, who lives in Jeju, as she finds healing through yoga, and the investigative documentary 'Orca - Black and White Gold,' which depicts a journalist persuading the government to release orcas after documenting their overfishing for profit.

The opening ceremony will be held at 6:30 p.m. on July 19 on the outdoor stage on the 6th floor of P.ARK in Yeongdo. The event will be hosted by actress Choi Songhyun, the festival's ambassador, and feature a celebratory performance by the a cappella group Ojikmoksori. After the screenings of the opening films 'Disappearing Jewels' and 'Alien Contact,' there will be an online Q&A session with the audience.

Choi Songhyun, who will host the opening ceremony, is a scuba diving instructor and has been actively engaged in domestic and international marine environmental protection activities for over 10 years. The a cappella group Ojikmoksori, winners of the Asian Cup A Cappella Competition and recent guests on MBC's 'Hangout with Yoo,' are leading the contemporary a cappella scene.

Contemporary a cappella is a fast-paced, rhythmic style of unaccompanied choral music, rediscovered in modern music.

In addition, the festival will offer meaningful experiences beyond film screenings, including ▲Guest Visit (GV) programs with directors, critics, and marine experts, and ▲marine-related experience booths.

On the evening of the 20th, after the screening of 'I Teach You the Sea,' there will be a music talk session with director Noh Jaeyoon and pop columnist Kim Taehun. Beer will be provided to the audience, offering a special experience of enjoying film, music, and travel stories together. In addition, before the screening of 'Boksun's One Day Class,' there will be a special program where audiences can participate in yoga featured in the film.

Experience programs include a sun catcher workshop with writer Ahn Heejeong, activities to raise awareness about marine litter through water gun and fishing games, and a recycled plastic molding experience booth.

Park Geunrok, Director of the Tourism MICE Bureau of Busan Metropolitan City, said, "The Busan International Ocean Film Festival is a venue to explore marine environment and culture through film, and it is growing as an opportunity to screen domestic works that tell the stories of our seas. I hope this year's festival will be a meaningful time to reflect on the impact of the ocean on our lives through the medium of film."

Tickets for festival screenings can be reserved through the reservation link on the International Ocean Film Festival website, and on-site ticketing will also be available during the festival period.

Ticket prices are 10,000 KRW for special programs and 5,000 KRW for general screenings. Upon exchanging reserved tickets for physical tickets at the venue, attendees will receive a voucher for a canned coffee or financier at the P.ARK cafe.

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