World's first 'in-flight' film event announces lineup

By Shin Hae-in
SEOUL, Oct. 6 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's largest international short film contest,
hosted by one of the country's two major airlines, finalized its lineup Tuesday
with a record-breaking number of candidates competing for the top prize.
A total of 79 films from 32 countries will be screened during the seventh Asiana
International Short Film Festival (AISFF), running Nov. 5-10 in Cinecube, a
cinema space located in central Seoul that highlights the latest in artistic
films, organizers said. The event is sponsored by Asiana Airlines.
The annual fete has quickly evolved into one of Asia's most noticeable short film
events, due especially to its "In the Air" program that features selected films
from the AISFF international competition to Asiana Airlines passengers once the
event ends.
By providing license fees for in-flight screenings separate from the awards, the
program has gained recognition as a contributor to the development of short films
around the world.
"I participated as a jury member during the first event in 2003," South Korean
director Kim Ji-woon, chief of the jury, said during a Seoul press conference
Tuesday. "In seven years, it has grown into Korea's iconic short film festival."
"Choosing the best short film has an important meaning because we must select
something that is not only good, but shows a glimpse of the future (of the
director)," he said. "I plan to choose something that has its own breath and
language. I hope to see something completely new."
This year, 2,027 films from 82 countries were submitted to the festival,
organizers said, setting a new record for the festival, which gives eight awards
amounting to around US$43,000.
A total of 52 films will be competing for the prizes with winners selected by
seven jury members, including director Kim of "The Good, the Bad, the Weird" and
American actress Amanda Plummer.
The grand prize winner receives 15 million won (US$13,000) and two round trip
tickets, while winners of the best international short film award and best Korean
short film award each receive 5 million won and complementary tickets.
Four non-competition sessions will be showing works by internationally-renowned
auteurs including Jean-Luc Godard and Lee Sang-il, as well as an omnibus film by
eight directors including Jane Campion and Gus Van Sant.
This year's event will also be joined by top South Korean celebrities including
Ahn Sung-ki, who will be working as the executive committee chief, and actresses
Son Ye-jin and Koo Hye-sun, working as special jury and director of the festival
trailer, respectively.
Under the title "R.U. Short?," this year's AISFF will also hold follow up events
in six cities including Seoul, Daegu and Incheon, screening prize winners for
three months. Titled "AISFF touring," the regional tour started last year with
organizers hoping to offer moviegoers in cities that do not host their own
international film fests easier access to worldwide short films.
The festival also launched a fund in 2005, aiming to support and encourage Korean
short filmmakers with production support opportunities.
hayney@yna.co.kr
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