Pusan film fest jurists expect to `discover future` among competitions

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By Shin Hae-in
BUSAN, Oct. 9 (Yonhap) -- While film fest awards are naturally given to the most
outstanding movies and their creators, jury members of the New Currents Award of
the Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) said Friday they plan to base
judgment on "future potential" rather than the current value of the movie.
"We are living in a world where things are more related to quantity and
moneymaking than quality (of the film)," said Jean-Jacques Beineix, head of the
jury for the New Currents section, during a press conference. "I would rather
look into the future. Being among the New Current is a big privilege (for the
directors) because you can show what you can do from scratch."
The New Currents, the only official competition section for emerging Asian
filmmakers in the ongoing PIFF, has been gaining influence throughout Asia during
the past few years.
This year's competition drew more interest as Beineix, one of the best known
European filmmakers as the creator of "Betty Blue (1986)," was named head of the
five-member jury including South Korean cinematographer Kim Hyung-koo and Thai
director Pen-ek Ratanaruang. "Betty Blue" was nominated for the best foreign film
at the Oscars and the Golden Globe Awards and received the top award at the
Montreal International Film festival.
Twelve films from 11 countries are up for competition in this year's New
Currents. Two selected winners will each receive a cash award of US$30,000.
Beineix said he expects "the best as usual," although he has not seen any of the
candidates yet.
"We cannot have preconceived ideas about the films we are going to watch, but I
know all of us will watch the films in a genuine approach," he said. "There is
always something in a movie, and we all like pictures."
Thai director Ratanaruang, whose films have been screened at previous PIFF events
including the New Currents section, said he would be looking for a glimpse of
"future cinema" in the entries.
"The section is for people who make their first or second films, so I'm hoping
they are at least able to give us a signal of what kind of cinema we can be
expecting in the future," he said.
"When I was asked to be on the jury I was very excited but reluctant at the same
time, because although I'm a film person, I don't really watch them," Ratanaruang
added. "But being among the jury was a way of paying respect back to PIFF which
has been one of the biggest supporters of my work. If PIFF asks you, you don't
say no."
Berlin film fest-winning Turkish auteur Yesim Ustaoglu, also among the New
Currents jury, said she'd be looking for "something new, individual and universal
at the same time."
"I am hoping to find something that is fresh for us and for everyone else," she
said. "I think it would be interesting to discuss and share ideas between
different cultures. I plan to be sincere and honest in choosing the best films."
Winners of the New Currents section will be awarded on Oct. 16, the closing day
of the PIFF which opened in this southeastern Korean city Thursday. Among this
year's competitions are "My Daughter (Malaysia)," "Lost Paradise in Tokyo
(Japan)," "Paju (South Korea)" and "A Man Who Ate His Cherries (Iran)."
"I'm not good at giving advices," Beineix said, on being asked for a few words to
emerging directors around the world. "Just do what you want and what you believe
in. Be consistent and maintain that fighting spirit."
The 14th PIFF, titled using the old Romanization of Busan city's name, will
feature 355 films from 70 countries as the largest of the annual event to date.
Established in 1996, the South Korean festival has since grown into one of most
influential film fests in Asia, focused on discovering new films and first-time
directors from across the region.
hayney@yna.co.kr
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