Kofic News
KOFIC's Korean Film Night in Berlin a Success
63rd Berlin International Film Festival Screens 10 Korean Films
Korean Film Council (KOFIC, Chairman KIM Eui-suk) held the ‘Korean Film Night’ reception at the 63rd Berlin International Film Festival on February 11th (local time). Ten Korean films which were invited to the festival were introduced at the reception and attracted the attention of many.
The event was co-hosted by KOFIC and the Busan International Film Festival and supported by the Korean Cultural Institute in Germany. Including executives of the Berlin International Film Festival, about 600 foreign film professionals attended the event.
This year a Korean film entered the competition section for the first time in two years and Korean films were also screened in the Panorama, Forum, Generation, Berlinale Shorts sections. Chairman KIM Eui-suk opened the reception with his welcome speech. Following that, the invited film directors were introduced.
LEE Don-ku, the director of Fatal who handled a heavy and serious topic in a non-beginner like way with the extreme low-budget of three million won, came with the leading actor NAM Yeon-woo. The attendees also included Director E J-yong of Behind the Camera, KIM Tae-yong of Crossroads of Youth and its main actor CHO Hee-bong, SHIN Su-won of Pluto, and LEESONG Hee-il of White Night was there with his lead actor WON Tae-hee. Short film directors including KIM Dong-ho of Jury, who is also the Honorary Chairman of the Busan International Film Festival, KIM Jung-in of Cheong, and JOUNG Yu-mi of the animation Love Games attended to receive enthusiastic responses.
Local film professionals at the event appreciated that they could meet Korean film people and enjoy Korean food and culture.
The foreign guests included major international film festival officials and buyers, such as Christoph TERHECHTE, the Director of Forum in Berlin International Film Festival, Wieland SPECK, the Director of Panorama in Berlin, Alberto BARBERA, the Director of Venice Film Festival who awarded the Golden Lion to Pieta, and Charles TESSON, the Artistic Director of Semaine De la Critique of the Cannes International Film Festival.
Nobody’s Daughter Haewon by HONG Sangsoo is generating high expectations in the main competition, where it is competing for the Golden Bear. It officially entered the competition section and is scheduled to be screened on Friday, February 15th, local time.
Korean films are drawing great attention at Berlin International Film Festival, of which WONG Kar-Wai’s The Grandmaster starring SONG Hye-kyo was the opening-film. The European Film Market, which is open during the same period, is also seeing a great success.
KOFIC opened the Korean Film Center at the festival venue and is holding dozens of meetings, experiencing a boom in Korean films. The Korean Film Center closes on February 17th.
