Director Jeong Ji-young (79) has received the Korean Film Contribution Award.
On the afternoon of the 17th, the opening ceremony of the 30th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) was held at the Busan Haeundae Cinema Center, hosted by actor Lee Byung-hun.
The Korean Film Contribution Award is given to filmmakers who have contributed to the development of Korean cinema.
Director Jeong Ji-young stated, “If we start from Director Jo, it has been 50 years since I started making films. In front of the camera were actors who worked hard, and behind the camera were the staff who stayed up all night with me. The audience who watched the films have also brought me to this place.”
He continued, “The past half-century has not been smooth. Sometimes I fought against rough waves and paddled hard. I did not cross that rough river alone; there are senior colleagues and juniors. I receive this award on their behalf.”
Director Jeong Ji-young also mentioned, “Although Korean cinema is currently facing a crisis, Korean filmmakers are preparing strong and desirable films. To the audience who came to enjoy the Busan Film Festival today and to the overseas guests, there are gem-like Korean films somewhere, so please find and enjoy them.”
Since his debut in 1982 with “The Fog Whispers Like a Woman,” Director Jeong Ji-young has received high praise from audiences and critics for over 40 years through works that sharply capture the undercurrents of Korean society and the challenges of the times. He has left a mark in Korean film history by directly addressing heavy themes such as social conflict, human rights, and justice in films like “Southern Army” (1990), “White War” (1992), “The Life of Hollywood Kid” (1994), “Broken Arrow” (2011), “Namyeong-dong 1985” (2012), “Black Money” (2019), and “Boys” (2020).
Beyond his activities as a film director, Jeong Ji-young has contributed to the development of the Korean film industry and the training of junior filmmakers by serving as the organizing committee chair of the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, and as the jury chair for the Asiana International Short Film Festival and the Jecheon International Music & Film Festival.
This year, the 30th Busan Film Festival will meet audiences with a total of 328 films from 64 countries, including 87 films in the Community BIFF section and 32 films in the Neighborhood BIFF section.
The opening film is “Nothing Can Be Done” directed by Park Chan-wook. “Nothing Can Be Done” tells the story of a company employee, Munsu, who feels satisfied with life to the point of feeling that “everything has been achieved,” but suddenly gets fired. To protect his wife and two children and to keep the house he worked hard to acquire, he prepares for his own war towards re-employment. The film stars actors Lee Byung-hun, Son Ye-jin, Lee Sung-min, Yeom Hye-ran, and Park Hee-soon.
The 30th Busan International Film Festival will be held until the 26th at the Cinema Center area.
[Yang So-young, Star Today Reporter]
