Changes Reflect New Environment for Arthouse Film in Korea
The
Korean Film Council (KOFIC, Chairman KIM Sae-hoon) has launched a new support program for arthouse film theaters, updating the one that had been in place since 2002. The change comes in light of an increase in the popularity of foreign diversity fare which has met with success in the market, as Korean buyers have become more active at global film markets, which has come at the expense of local independent productions.
Citing a tendency to sideline domestic low-budget films by relegating them to unfavorable screening times the fact that arthouses have been using funds for operating expenses rather than supporting Korea indies, the new program is designed to ensure better visibility for local productions in theaters wishing to avail of the support fund.
The program will see KOFIC outsource the selection of 48 independent Korean films, of which two would need to be screened each month, for a total of 24 per year. The primary condition for the support would be to guarantee either six weekend screenings, or six prime time slots during the week for the qualified arthouse films.