Former President Kim Dong-ho and the newly appointed President Park Kwang-su of the Busan International Film Festival have both confirmed their participation in the second Danang Asian Film Festival as esteemed guests and speakers.
The second Da Nang Asian Film Festival is hosted by the Vietnam Cinema Development and Promotion Association in partnership with the People’s Committee and the City Department of Culture and Sports, and is scheduled to take place from June 2 to 7, 2024 in Da Nang. The event continues to attract international guests, including two renowned figures from the Korean cinema scene, former President Kim Dong-ho and the new President Park Kwang-su of the Busan International Film Festival.
Mr. Kim Dong-ho – Former Chairman of Busan International Film Festival
Kim Dong-ho, the former President of the Busan International Film Festival, is a well-known figure to Korean and global film enthusiasts. Born in 1937, he is not only the founder of the Busan International Film Festival but also a symbol of Korean cinema, widely loved and admired worldwide for his illustrious career in the film industry.
Kim Dong-ho graduated from the esteemed Seoul National University with a law degree. Following his graduation in 1960, he held various positions at the Ministry of Culture and Information (now the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) of Korea, where he served in several management roles.
Since 1988, he has been the Chairman of the Korean Film Promotion Association (now known as the Korean Film Council – KOFIC). Additionally, he also served as the Chairman of the National Film Rating Council.
In 1993, he became the Deputy Minister of Culture and Director of the Korean Media Evaluation Council. From 1996 to 2010, during his chairmanship of the Busan International Film Festival, he made significant contributions to elevating the event to an international level by attracting numerous high-quality domestic and foreign films for presentation, screening, and competition. This effort helped create opportunities for discovering many talented filmmakers from around the world. After retiring, he served as the honorary director of the festival for a period of time.
Mr. Kim Dong-ho is also recognized for his illustrious career as the former Chairman of the Presidential Cultural Development Committee and the former Chairman of the Seoul Arts Center.
Mr. Kim Dong-ho has received numerous international awards in both cinema and culture. These include the Knight of the Legion of Honor by the French government, UNESCO’s esteemed Fellini Medal (2007), which honors significant figures in the film industry, and the National Medal of Culture of Korea, Silver Crown Award.
Mr. Kim Dong-ho also demonstrated his commitment to education by founding the Graduate School of Film Content at Dankook University.
Furthermore, he has an impressive portfolio as a producer for several critically acclaimed short films, including “10 Minutes” (2014), “End of Winter” (2016), and “The Seeds of Violence” (2017). Additionally, he is the author of two books: “History of Korean Film Policy” (2005) and “Mr. Kim Goes to the Festival” (2010).
Mr. Park Kwang-su, the new Chairman of the Busan International Film Festival
Park Kwang-su, born in 1955 in Busan, South Korea, began his career in the film industry while studying Fine Arts at Seoul National University. He joined the Yallasung Film Group and later went on to establish and lead the Seoul Film Group, becoming a prominent figure in the Korean New Wave cinema movement of the 1990s.
After studying film at the ESEC film school in Paris, he returned to Korea to work as an assistant director for the veteran filmmaker Lee Chang-ho. In 1988, he directed his first film and in 1993, he became the first Korean filmmaker to establish his own production company.
Park Kwang-su is widely regarded as one of the trailblazers of the “New Korean Cinema” movement in the 1990s. His films, including “Chil-Su and Man-Su” (1988), “Black Republic” (1990), “The Uprising” (1995), and “A Single Spark” (1995), are representative works of the Korean New Wave, offering profound insights into the realities of Korean society at that time. His works have garnered numerous prestigious awards and nominations both domestically and internationally, including recognition at the Blue Dragon Awards, Berlin International Film Festival, Locarno International Film Festival, Three Continents Film Festival, and Singapore International Film Festival.
In a congress held at the Busan Film Center early last year, the Busan International Film Festival appointed Mr. Park Kwang-su, a former professor of the School of Film, Television and Multimedia at the Korea National University of Arts, as the new President.
Park Kwang-su was one of the founding members of the Busan International Film Festival and served as the Deputy Director of the festival for three consecutive years since its inception. His contributions have been instrumental in establishing Busan as Korea’s cinematic hub. Additionally, he is the Founding Director of the Busan Film Commission, the first organization in Korea to provide support for film production, thus playing a significant role in bolstering the content industry in Korea.
Reflecting on his dedication to the industry, Park Kwang-su remarked, “To change a country’s cinema requires the consensus of all sectors: the government, professionals, and the public. For each individual filmmaker, the most important thing is to be sincere, wholeheartedly devoted to the path they have chosen and not afraid of difficulties.”
Former President Kim Dong-ho and New President Park Kwang-su of the Busan International Film Festival have been invited as honored guests and speakers at the Second Da Nang Asian Film Festival. They have been invited by the Organizing Committee to participate in the Conference on “International Film Festivals in Coastal Cities: Successful Models and Lessons in Organizing Experience, and Opportunities for Connection with Da Nang City and DANAFF.”
The conference will also feature the participation of esteemed experts, including Mr. Georges Goldenstern, former Director of the Cinefondation program of the Cannes International Film Festival, and Ms. Lorna Tee, producer and founder of the Asian film network AFAN, Co-founder and executive director of Macao International Film Festival. Mrs Meriette Rissenbeek, former Executive Director of the Berlin International Film Festival. Mrs Aika Tachibana, Festival Manager of Cinema at Sea – Okinawa Pan-Pacific International Film Festival, who attend the DANAFF with sponsor from Japan Foundation.
The conference aims to foster discussions on various issues, with a focus on the organization, operation, and sustained influence of international film festivals in coastal cities. It will explore how these festivals contribute to creating local, regional, and national cultural brands, enriching the spiritual life of people, and promoting tourism, economy, and cultural exchange. The conference is scheduled to take place on July 3 as part of the Second Da Nang Asian Film Festival.
Liên hoan phim Châu Á Đà Nẵng 2024, DANAFF II – Nhịp cầu Châu Á | Bridging Asia
Time: 02 – 06/07/2024
Website: danaff.vn
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