Korea, Japan, Thailand to create omnibus film based on Busan

By Shin Hae-in
BUSAN, South Korea, Oct. 10 (Yonhap) -- Top filmmakers from South Korea, Japan
and Thailand will create an omnibus film based on the South Korean port city of
Busan, hoping to present it to next year's Cannes film fest, producers said
Saturday.
The 1.5 billion won (US$1.3 million)-project will be produced by Kim Dong-ho,
executive chairman of South Korea's Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF), and
joined by Korean director Jang Jun-hwan, Japan's Isao Yukisada and Thailand's
Wisit Sasanatieng.
The project was announced during the ongoing Pusan film festival, one of Asia's
most influential film fests, titled using the old Romanization of Busan city's
name. The event runs through Oct. 16, featuring 355 films from 70 countries as
the largest of the annual event to date.
"I decided to participate as a way of paying back respect to PIFF," said Japanese
director Yukisada during the press conference here. "I would not be who I am
today without the Korean film festival."
Yukisada has a strong fan base in South Korea as the creator of "Crying out Love,
in the Center of the World (2004)" and had several of his works screened during
the previous PIFF events.
"I have always dreamed about creating a film across national borders," he added.
"I am currently focusing on finding a location in Busan city that is more active
and lively than the city that I know. I am frankly a little burdened about
portraying the dynamic aspects of the city."
As a "pan-Asia love story," the project will help Busan increase global
recognition as a central location in Asia, producer Kim said.
Yukisada's story features a strange love story between a cameraman and a woman
who always walks bare feet. South Korea's Jang, the creator of "Save the Green
Planet (2003)," is to base his film on an ex-archery player who searches for love
in a hospital. Thailand's Sasanatieng, the director of "Citizen Dog (2004)," will
create a movie based on time travel.
hayney@yna.co.kr
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