From jury chairman director Na Hong-jin to the youngest juror, actor Han Hyo-joo, they shared their thoughts on the burden and responsibility of judging the newly established competition institutional sector at the 30th Busan International Film Festival.
On the morning of the 18th, at the Busan Cinema Center, a press conference for the 30th Busan International Film Festival (abbreviated 30th BIFF) competition jury was held. The event was attended by jury chair Na Hong-jin and Yang Ka-hui, Nandita Das, Marzieh Meshkini, Kogonada, Yulia Evina Bahara and Han Hyo-joo, under the facilitation of chief programmer Park Ga-eon.
This year at the Busan International Film Festival, a competition institutional sector was established for the first time. Director Na Hong-jin served as jury chair, and Chinese actor Yang Ka-hui, Indian director-actor Nandita Das, Iranian director Marzieh Meshkini, American director Kogonada, Indonesian producer Yulia Evina Bahara and Korean actor Han Hyo-joo served as jurors to conduct the judging.
The Busan International Film Festival, maintaining its status as Asia's top film festival, marked its 30th edition by officially creating a competition institutional sector to present a new perspective on Asian cinema from an Asian viewpoint. This competition institutional sector invited 14 major Asian works and will award the "Busan Award" in five institutional sector categories — grand prize, best director, jury special prize, best actor, and contribution to the arts — and winners will receive a trophy designed by Thai world-renowned director and installation artist Apichatpong Weerasethakul.
A total of 14 films advanced to the competition institutional sector. From the Sinophone region, a new work by the Asian master and 2024 CHANEL X BIFF Asian Film Academy president Zhang Lu, "Twilight of Luomu", Sri Lankan world-renowned director Vimukthi Jayasundara's "Spy Star", rising Chinese auteur Bi Gan's "The Age of Wilderness", Miyake Sho's "Travel and Days", which is leading a new wave in Japanese cinema, the buzzed-about "Left-handed Girl" directed by Zhou Suching and produced by Sean Baker, director of "Anora" (2024), and Taiwanese representative actor-seo Ki's astonishing directorial debut "Girl" were submitted.
Also competing are Im Sun-ae's third feature "7 a.m. Breakfast Meeting for the Heartbroken," starring Suzy, Lee Jin-wook, Yoo Ji-tae and Geum Sae-rok, who shone with the 2019 BIFF KNN Audience Award; "Who Is the Fool," completed by Nagata Goto, a former assistant director to director Shunji Iwai, with lead actor Kitamura Takumi of "I Want to Eat Your Pancreas" (2017); Hassan Najjar's "Unauthorized," which creatively inherits the inspiration and aesthetics of Abbas Kiarostami; and Tajikistan rising director Isobel Kalanda's beautiful poetic film "Another Birth."
Also among the candidates are Lee Je-han's third feature "By Another Name," which proved its strength with two consecutive invitations to the Korean Cinema Today Vision section; Shigaya Daisuke's debut "Release the Cat," which is emerging as a notable new talent in Japanese cinema; Han Chang-rok's debut "Chung Chung Chung," full of energy and provocation; and Yu Jae-in's debut "The Road to Erasure," which incisively and carefully addresses social issues.
Director Na Hong-jin began by saying, I honestly think I have a humble career, but my mentor, director Park Kwang-soo (chairman), spoke to me so much that I ended up taking the judging role, and added, I too have made films over the past few years, and I sincerely want to express my respect and gratitude to the competition institutional sector films and their teams who worked hard to complete and submit their works. I will do my best in the judging.
He continued, I also met them for the first time yesterday and only exchanged greetings. I am greatly honored to be with our jurors. We will do our best to produce results that befit the festival's reputation. I sincerely thank the Busan International Film Festival for inviting us. I am truly grateful to Chairman Park Kwang-soo.
Yang Ka-hui said, I'm excited and honored just to be here. I'm happy and grateful to be at the Busan International Film Festival. I'm very honored to be given a juror position. He said it was his second visit to BIFF; last time he came for film promotion, and this year he brought another film, but serving as a juror is more honorable than bringing a film. It's an honor to see various films and interact with filmmakers from around the world. I think it's a valuable opportunity as an actor.
Nandita also said, I'm very grateful. I'm honored to be selected as a juror. I've been to Busan many times and have often participated in the Asian film year as an actor and director. Still, being a juror is a very different experience. Of course, I've served as a juror at other festivals. Judging films is subjective, but I will do my best. I will try to give comments that match the works at the festival. I had many good experiences yesterday. Thank you for coming today as well. I really love people who love films and Busan audiences. Thank you again for inviting me.
Marzieh Meshkini said, I've been coming to the Busan International Film Festival for 25 years. When I first attended BIFF, I came with my debut work. I received the best film award and have very happy memories. I am grateful to all the audience members and those involved with BIFF. I'm especially happy to be a juror. We will do our best to judge the competing films.
Korean-American director Kogonada said, I'm pleased to serve as a juror in a historically important institutional sector. I've always had Busan in mind, but this is my first visit. I started as a film critic, and talking about films is something I love. I believe in the power of film.
Producer Yulia said, I'm honored to be invited. I have participated as a film producer since 2016. It is a tremendous honor to serve as a juror this year. Thank you.
Han Hyo-joo said, It's a tremendous honor to serve as a BIFF juror, which means a lot to me. I loved watching films as a child and on my days off I would watch three or four films in a row, so watching films isn't difficult for me, but judging is extremely hard. I will continue judging with the excellent jurors here. Somehow I ended up being the youngest juror. I will try to judge fairly with a youthful perspective, she said with a laugh.
About the judging criteria, director Na Hong-jin joked, I have very limited information. I might have to watch the films without any opportunity to access work information for the first time, so I'll have to watch the films to know, and added, A film has so many and varied elements. The differences and textures between works are so large that we'll have to open them up to see. I will watch each film carefully and pay close attention.
Director Kogonada added, Some people may focus on acting, others on emotion, but through discussions among jurors we can find a balance on what to look for. As the full jury, we'll do our best.
Judging was a burden for them. Director Na Hong-jin said, It's a burden. It's big. I really didn't want to do it. It was too burdensome. I went on stage yesterday and you know I haven't filmed in a long time. I haven't been on a stage like this in nearly 10 years, and I didn't know I had panic disorder. I don't know if it's panic, but I had a panic attack. It's a very burdensome position. What can I do? I must do my best. Anyway, the festival made a careful and important decision. It has to go well. I will do my best. Thank you, he said, drawing laughter from the audience.
Han Hyo-joo also said, I remember the first time I stood at the Busan Cinema Center; it was special because I stood there when "Only You" was chosen as the opening film. That moment remains vivid. BIFF was a festival I admired and followed as a fan since childhood. I'm honored just to participate. But I wanted to run away. It was overwhelming. I feel I must do well. I'm also grateful to meet the wonderful people here by being a juror. Though I feel the burden, I will do my best in the judging.
Programmer Park Ga-eon laughed and said, I wondered if it was only hard to invite people like us, but all festivals are the same. People want their films to be in competition and judged, they don't want to judge. I want to thank the jurors who made the time to attend.
Regarding the judging criteria, director Nandita said, I cannot speak for everyone. But I will read the synopses and watch the films without prejudice, without preconceived notions. Of course, unjust things are happening around the world. Consciously or unconsciously, I will try to choose progressive, more humane films that can encompass the world. Technical aspects are important, but the intent behind the film is more important.
Han Hyo-joo added, Watching a film without prejudice, feeling the emotions it evokes and the message it contains — judging whether it's good or bad and what makes a good film — seems extremely difficult. I will try to watch and judge without prejudice, focusing on what messages and authenticity the film holds.
Programmer Park Ga-eon said, Our judging method aims for unanimous decisions. I think we will have long discussions and conversations. We aim for a dialogue-based approach.
Finally, director Na Hong-jin said, A very important time has begun. I will do my best for the festival. Whatever differences there are, I will do my best to bring out good results and be helpful.
[Photo] OSEN reporter Lee Seok-woo.
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