IFFI 2016 – PIB FEATURE PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU GOVERNMENT OF INDIA With love from South Korea South Korean Films Mesmerized the Audiences at the 47 th International Film Festival of India in Goa By Syed Mahmoud Nawaz South Korea, the land of morning calm with its spellbinding natural beauty of picturesque high mountains and clear waters and its splendid tranquility has always attracted film-makers even from beyond its borders. Over the years South Korean films have made their presence felt across the world. Technology driven contemporary South Korean Cinema has been attracting the younger lot too. The 47 th International Film Festival of India in Goa showcased a whole package of South Korean Films as South Korea was the ‘Country of Focus’ at the festival. Around 18 South Korean Films made deep strides in the hearts of the audiences in Goa. The ‘Country of Focus’ section opened up with the Film ‘Tunnel’, directed by Kim Seong-hun which tears down the conventions of the disaster movie genre. Through a disaster which seems lifted from ordinary reality, the film reminds us all of the forgotten human dignity. With doses of laughter and tension interwoven, the film was able to take the audience on a journey of emotional extremes smoothly despite its heavy theme ‘Coin Locker Girl’ directed by Han 1 Jun-hee, Dongju : ‘The Portrait of a Poet’, directed by LEE Joon-ik, ‘The King of Pigs’ and ‘Train to Busan’, both directed by Yeon Sang-ho, ‘The Shameless’, directed by Oh Seung-uk and ‘The World of Us’, directed by Yoon Ga-eun were the other prominent films screened under this section. The section ‘Memoirs of Fear’ included ‘Alone’, directed by Park Hong-min, ‘Horror Stories III’ directed by Min Kyu-dong, Kim Gok, Kim sun and Baek Seung-bin, ‘Inside Men’, directed by Woo Min-ho, ‘Office’, directed by Hong Won-chan and ‘The Wailing’, directed by Na Hong Jin. ‘A Quiet Dream’, directed by Zhand Lu, was screened under Festival Kaleidoscope section and three films namely, ‘The Bacchus Lady’, directed by E J-yong, ‘Black Stone’, directed by Roh Gyeong tae and ‘Time Renegades’, directed by Kwak Jae-yong were included in the Cinema of the World section. One of the South Korean films ‘The Throne’, directed by Leel Joon-ik, competed in the International Competition section of the 47 th IFFI along with 14 other films from across the globe. The film won the Special Jury Award. The award comprised of a Silver Peacock Trophy and a cash prize Rs 15 lakh. ‘The Age of Shadows’, directed by Kim Jee-Woon, which was the Closing Film of the 47 th International Film Festival of India, is also from the Republic of South Korea. The film is set in 1920s, a period marred by the Japanese occupation of Korea. In its classic action style, the film beautifully captures the clandestine fight between South Korean resistance fighters and the Japanese occupiers. No wonder that ‘The Age of Shadows’ has been chosen as South Korea’s official submission for the Oscars. A man who once had to make his living by selling military boots in Busan because his family was labeled as ‘partisan family’ due to left wing connections and was troubled by the authorities in the early 1950s, is today considered as the master of Korean Cinema. And the man is none other than Kwon Taek Im-the father of the New Korean Cinema. Prestigious ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ was conferred upon the legend during the opening ceremony of the 47 th International Film Festival of India.Celebrated across the world for the depth of his artistic vision and the sheer consistency of his cinematic output, Im Kwon-taek humbly said after receiving the award that he personally felt that he had not created a masterpiece yet and this award is a message to make better films in the future. 2 Im Kwon-taek was born in 1934 in Jangseong in South Korea and his first job was as an assistant in the production of ‘Jang-Hwa and Hong-Ryeon Story’ directed by Chung Chang-wha in 1956. He became the first assistant to Chung for the film ‘A Sunny field in 1960 after working as prop man and assistant for several productions. His film ‘Chihwaseon’ (Strokes of Fire) which was made in the year 2002 won Im, the best director award in Cannes. Im directed his 100 th feature film ‘Beyond the Years’ in 2006, his 101 st film ‘ Hanji’ in 2010 and his 102 nd feature ‘Revivre’ in 2014. On the sidelines of the 47 th IFFI, a Korea-India Co-production Workshop titled ‘Workshop on Korea-India Co-production: Opportunities and Challenges’ was also organized in Goa. A representative of the Korean Film Council, while interacting with media, said, “Korean films act as brand ambassadors and their participation in IFFI will also help strengthen the foundation of Indo- Korean relationship”. A strong 60 member delegation from South Korea came to Goa to promote their films. Republic of Korea is a major East Asian country with which India has been able to establish a multifaceted relationship over a period of time. Last year, an audiovisual co-production agreement was signed between the two countries, thereby opening up new frontiers for the film industries of both countries. This will surely lead to wide ranging collaboration in the times to come. 3 Syed Mahmoud Nawaz is a Special Correspondent of Urdu fortnightly ‘Mustaqbil’ published from New Delhi PIB Mum/MD/301116 4 .