korean iranian dramas share top prize at asias leading film fest
Last Updated : GMT 09:07:40
Egypt Today, egypt today
Egypt Today, egypt today
Last Updated : GMT 09:07:40
Egypt Today, egypt today

Korean, Iranian dramas share top prize at Asia's leading film fest

Egypt Today, egypt today

Egypt Today, egypt today Korean, Iranian dramas share top prize at Asia's leading film fest

The Busan International Film Festival (BIFF)
Busan - Egypt Today

A Korean drama about desperate teens and a movie that exposes the hardships of daily life in the Iranian capital Tehran shared the top prize at Asia's premier film festival on Saturday.

The two grim tales left award jurors at the 22nd Busan International Film Festival concerned that modern cinema was heading "towards visions of darkness and desperation".

Korean director Kim Ui-seok's teen-themed drama "After My Death" and "Blockage" from Iran's Mohsen Gharaei were announced as the two winners of this year's New Currents award for first or second-time filmmakers.

Both films were praised for their "vivid detail and excellent craftsmanship" but jurors -– led by the Oscar-winning US director Oliver Stone -– said they were concerned by how the dramas mirrored the current state of the world "as presented by media".

"But the jury believes tomorrow's filmmakers can find more hope and light in this life, and bring it to their films to encourage their audiences to see all kinds of life," said veteran Philippine director Lav Diaz, who announced the awards.

Along with Stone, Diaz was joined on this year's New Currents panel by Iranian director Bahman Ghobadi, Korean director Jang Sun-woo and French cinematographer Agnes Godard.

Contemporary local politics were also to the fore in the festival's other major prizes, with director Park Baeil's documentary "Soseongri" claiming the BIFF Mecenat Award. 

Jurors praised its "carefully balanced" focus on a group of elderly women protesting the controversial instalment of the US Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system near their town to guard against growing missile threats from Pyongyang.

- Mired in politics - 

The Busan festival has been mired in politics in recent years, having seen its funding cut following the screening in 2014 of "Diving Bell: The Truth Shall Not Sink With Sewol".

The documentary was critical of the South Korean government's handling of the Sewol ferry disaster that claimed around 300 lives.

BIFF director Kang Soo-yeon and the festival's 81-year-old founder Kim Dong-ho, brought back onboard in 2015, will step down from their posts after this year's event.

Their departure follows a letter of criticism from staff who claimed they had not properly -– or openly -– dealt with BIFF's woes.

Kang said on Saturday she was proud that BIFF had been able to continue through the troubles and hoped it would now be left to focus on cinema. "For any festival, that's the most important thing," she said.

Local media in Korea have pointed to the presence of President Moon Jae-in this year -– he attended a screening of the E Oni's socially charged drama "Missing" -– as a sign that government support has swung back in the festival's favour.

Highlights among the 300-odd films from 76 countries that screened this year included the world premiere of director Jeon Jae-Eun's heartfelt drama "Butterfly Sleep".

The film stars Miho Nakayama and is sure to be a commercial hit given her following internationally. Another big draw was the premiere of rising Chinese talent Li Xiaofeng's gripping murder mystery "Ash".

The curtain officially comes down on the festival at the Busan Cinema Centre on Saturday night with the world premiere of veteran Taiwanese director Sylva Chang's generation-crossing drama "Love Education", and the official handing over of the awards.

egypttoday
egypttoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

korean iranian dramas share top prize at asias leading film fest korean iranian dramas share top prize at asias leading film fest



GMT 09:46 2017 Saturday ,11 November

Four dead as Yemen troops clash with Al-Qaeda

GMT 14:47 2013 Tuesday ,26 March

Armed Islamists vow to continue fight in Mali

GMT 13:11 2016 Wednesday ,14 December

Sochaux topple Marseille in French League Cup

GMT 07:12 2017 Thursday ,24 August

Fugitive Venezuelan prosecutor says life in danger

GMT 06:47 2017 Wednesday ,04 January

Trump picks Robert Lighthizer as trade Representative

GMT 01:47 2012 Tuesday ,03 January

Kim Kardashian New Hairstyle

GMT 13:31 2012 Wednesday ,28 November

AHG, Emaar in talks on investments

GMT 11:54 2013 Saturday ,28 September

Former UW student accused of threatening school

GMT 05:43 2017 Tuesday ,21 February

CEFC China Energy wins 4% stake in UAE oil project

GMT 09:23 2013 Saturday ,28 September

Taliban victim Malala pleads at UN

GMT 07:32 2016 Thursday ,15 September

The many faces of the hajj pilgrimage

GMT 04:59 2017 Saturday ,11 March

FM receives IFAD's Regional Director

GMT 08:46 2017 Sunday ,15 October

Egypt's Amer picked best governor in region

GMT 20:43 2016 Wednesday ,11 May

Libya's Sarraj arrives in Cairo

GMT 05:19 2017 Saturday ,18 February

8 Killed in Knife attack in China's Xinjiang Region

GMT 07:48 2011 Wednesday ,22 June

Designer Galliano claims drink, drug addiction

GMT 06:10 2011 Wednesday ,23 November

Six great dates that won\'t break the bank

GMT 05:23 2011 Friday ,18 November

9 Things men hesitate to tell women

GMT 18:43 2012 Thursday ,01 March

US women gets life

GMT 12:38 2016 Monday ,01 August

South Korean women on tee

GMT 14:36 2012 Wednesday ,25 January

U.S. workers under pressure to improve skills
 
 Egypt Today Facebook,egypt today facebook  Egypt Today Twitter,egypt today twitter Egypt Today Rss,egypt today rss  Egypt Today Youtube,egypt today youtube  Egypt Today Youtube,egypt today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

egypttoday egypttoday egypttoday egypttoday
egypttoday egypttoday egypttoday
egypttoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
egypttoday, Egypttoday, Egypttoday