The 12^th Pusan International Film Festival held its annual plenary session announcing important changes in its organization.  Director KIM Dong-ho, who has headed the festival since its very first edition, will now share responsibilities with newly appointed co-festival director LEE Yong-kwan – formerly deputy director.  KIM will primarily handle international relations, while LEE will be in charge of domestic affairs. 

PIFF will now also have three deputy directors.  Veteran actor AHN Sung-ki who has held the position since 2005 will now share it with Jay JEON who is also programmer of PIFF’s World Cinema section, and AHN Byung-yul, GM of MBC broadcasting company. 

Korean cinema programmer HUH Moon-yung, who resigned, will be replaced by CHO Young-jung, coordinator of the Korean Retrospective, and LEE Sang-yong, one of the nation’s top film critics.  Other programmers include HONG Hyo-sook for Wide Angle, PAK Do-sin for Midnight Passion,  LEE Soue-won for Special Programs in Focus and KIM Ji-seok as Program Director for the Asian Cinema section.

The budget for 2007 was drawn up with US$ 8 million including $1.5 million from the national expenditure, and $ 3 million from Busan municipal expenditure. The main plans for the upcoming PIFF are the initiation of an Asian Actor Festival (tentative title), building on last year’s Asian Star Summit,  creating a more audience-friendly environment, and constructing what will become the exclusive media center for PIFF.

The 12th Pusan International Film Festival will be held from October 4^th to 12^th and the Asian Film Market will run from Oct 8^th to 11^th.

Nigel D’Sa (KOFIC)