Honored for Contributions to Taiwan-Korea Film Industry Ties
The city of Taipei has honored Korean film industry veteran
KIM Dong-ho with a lifetime achievement award for his contributions to ties between the Korean and Taiwanese film industries. The Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) founder, and current Chairman of South Korean Presidential Committee for Cultural Enrichment, was presented the prize on November 24th by Taipei Mayor HAU Lung-bin.
HAU referred to BIFF’s role in promoting Taiwan’s cinema, pointing out the Taiwanese films Three Times by HOU Hsiao-hsien and Doze NIU Chen-zer’s Paradise in Service, which served as opening films for the event in 2005 and 2014. Expressing his gratitude for the honor, KIM stressed his commitment to strengthening the ties between both industries and the importance of government support in that aim. Guests at the awards ceremony included directors HOU and TSAI Ming-liang, Wilfred WONG of the Hong Kong International Film Festival, and actors LEE Kang-sheng and YANG Kuei-mei.
Founded in 1996, BIFF has become recognized as the premier film event in Asia, a launching pad for many high profile films in the region. As well as being the Honorary Festival Director of BIFF and his work on the presidential committee, KIM is also head of the Dankook University’s Graduate School of Cinematic Content, which has recently moved into feature filmmaking, with works such as the award-winning
10 Minutes, A Fresh Start and
End of Winter gracing the international film festival circuit.