Korean short film up for competition at Venice film fest

SEOUL, Sept. 2 (Yonhap) -- The 66th Venice Film Festival kicks off Wednesday with
South Korea's "Mom's Vacation" among 18 films competing in the shorts section,
according to the event's Web site.
The Italian festival is the oldest and one of the most prestigious film events in
the world, founded by Count Giuseppe Volpi di Misurata in 1932. This year's event
will run through Sept. 12 with Ang Lee as head of the jury and Moroccan actor
Ilyass Derfouf as host of the festival.
"Mom's Vacation," a 22-minute-short film created by emerging director Kim
Kwang-bok, is among 18 entries competing in this year's Corto Cortissimo (short
competition) line up. Other titles include "The Game (Italy)" and "Kingo
(Japan)."
"Cafe Noir," a debut feature by South Korean critic-turned-auteur Jung Sung-il,
will be premiered during the festival's Critics' Week. The film, a love story
involving four women and one man, is the sole Asian title among 10 world
premieres to be presented in the section.
Films screened during Venice Critics' Week will not be judged by a jury but
through votes cast by audiences, with the winner of the top prize to receive
5,000 euros (US$7,100).
Korean-American director Gina Kim's "Faces of Soul" will be screened at the
event's Horizons section.
Top celebrities including George Clooney, Jane Birkin, Julianne Moore, Nicolas
Cage, Tilda Swinton, Sylvester Stallone and Colin Firth are to attend the
festival, which will open with Giuseppe Tornatore's "Baaria" competing for the
top Leone d'Oro (Golden Lion) award.
Other feature competition entries include U.S. director Michael Moore's
"Capitalism: A Love Story," "Mr. Nobody" by French director Jaco van Dormael,
"Tetsuo The Bullet Man" by Japan's Shinya Tsukamoto and "Women Without Men" by
Germany's Shirin Neshat.
South Korea failed to enter the feature competition this year.
hayney@yna.co.kr
(END)