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As Asia’s biggest film festival, there are also a few special appearances by famous and semi-famous people.

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The 14th Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) took place last month and was bigger than it’s ever been. Running from October 8th through the 16th, a record total of 355 movies from 70 countries were shown at six different theaters throughout Busan. Four theaters, including one outdoor theater, are located in or around the Haeundae area and two are located in Nampo Dong. As Haeundae is the most famous beach in Korea, it provides an excellent backdrop for all the happenings and goings-on during the festival.

For the nine days of the festival, movies run through a total of five separate time blocks. The earliest movies start around ten in the morning, with the last block of movies falling into the category of “Midnight Passion.”: a triple feature starting at 11:59 p.m., for those who far prefer movies to sleep, at only 10,000 won.

Each year, the organizers choose to highlight different directors, genres or nations for the festival. This year, Italian director Dario Argento, Indian director and producer Yash Chopra (Asian Filmmaker of the Year) and a variety of Filipino independent movies were all among those selected for a special focus. Other emphases of the festival include Korean and international short film, classic and modern Korean film, and films from international directors both fresh and experienced. In addition, a record 143 of the 355 movies screened were either international or world premiers.

Ticketing for the festival has caused difficulties in the past, especially for non-Koreans. Previously, foreigners have been unable to purchase tickets in advance through traditional methods. While a portion of the tickets for each film were sold in advance, some are held in reserve for same-day sales which could require waiting in lineups for four or more hours just to get tickets.

This year, the morning lineups seemed to be significantly shorter than in the past and many of the theaters seemed to have had a large number of seats empty. Whether this is due to the highest number of movies ever screened at the festival or a decline in interest and attendance will be determined once the final attendance numbers are published.

Many of the ticketing problems present in years past have been dealt with this year, the most significant being that foreigners in Korea and abroad can now purchase advance tickets online. Purchasing online doesn’t guarantee you will see your movie, however. You have to work quickly since many of the more popular films sell out within 20 minutes of the online box office opening. The opening and closing films (this year a Korean and Chinese film, respectively) have sold out in as little as 90 seconds in the past. Ticket prices are very reasonable at only 5,000 won. If you buy five tickets you get one free and if you buy ten tickets you get three free.

Once you have your tickets, the rest of the festival is easy enough to navigate. Four of the theaters are within ten minutes of Haeundae subway station, either by subway, walking or taxi and the other two theaters are nearly an hour away by subway and likely longer by taxi. As such, it’s important to leave enough time between movies should you have to change theaters. A free shuttle bus runs every twenty minutes between the four Haeundae-area theaters, the PIFF Village and a hotel or two. At the PIFF Village, there are a few exhibitions and stands set up as well as a few of the typical photo op places.

As Asia’s biggest film festival, there are also a few special appearances by famous and semi-famous people. At the Yachting Center, a special Warehouse Club was hosting performances by DJ Ryoo Seung-bum, Mondo Grosso and, perhaps most notably, Big Bang. Attending the festival to promote screenings, or perhaps for personal reasons, were actor Josh Hartnett, director Bryan Singer, hip-hop star Tiger JK, singer BoA, and Japanese pop singer Amuro Namie. It was never too difficult to tell when a star was, or would soon be nearby: simply look for the white van with the heavily tinted windows and the screaming crowd of girls still in their school uniforms.

While some people may be content soaking up the atmosphere and taking in the exhibitions, the main point of the film festival is the movies. Whether you’re a die-hard buff, or maybe just enjoy the occasional flick, the festival has something for you, and perhaps even something to broaden your taste. Here are a few reviews from people who attended the festival this year:

“Backyard” (Mexico)
Although violent and sometimes difficult to watch, Backyard provides a glimpse into the stories of a city and its people that we often hear about in the news but find ourselves detached and unaffected. Ciudad Juarez is a city with good intentions spoiled by corruption from the governor down to a newly appointed police chief. This corruption makes finding and prosecuting those who commit horrendous crimes against women nearly impossible. Based on real events, and highlighting actual numbers of violent crimes against women, this movie connects each of us to the lives of our neighbor’s right across the border.
Reviewed by Sara Fladmo

“Cole” (Canada)
Cole Chambers is from a small town called Lytton. A town so small that it is Coles only dream to escape and create a better life for himself. When given the opportunity to attend a creative writing class in the city, he battles between his small town relationships and pursuing his dream to become a writer. Cole finds difficulty balancing school, friends, rivals, taking care of his dependant mother and helping his sister manage the family gas station. When his new love interest, a girl he met in his writing class, comes to visit a dramatic course of events unfold that Cole nor anyone could have predicted.
Reviewed by Christina Wolfe

“여행자 / A Brand New Life” (Korea)
A Brand New Life is a beautiful look into the life of young Jin-hee, unexpectedly left by the father she adores to a Catholic girls’ orphanage on the outskirts of Seoul. Though set in 1975, the story is a timeless experience that many Korean children sadly have shared. The directorial debut of Ounie Lecomte, the film is a loose autobiography of Lecomte’s own experience. The story follows Jin-hee as she learns to deal with abandonment and settles into her new life. Viewed from the perspective of Jin-hee, the film becomes poignant and personal. Though the pacing is slow, it provides opportunity to follow the girls’ emotional maturing. With superb acting, particularly that of Kim Sae-ron (Jin-hee) and Park Do-yeon (Soo-kee, Jin-hee’s best friend), the story flows skillfully as the girls bring the audience into a superb drama of emotions.
Reviewed by Rebekah Hastey

“Paranormal Activity” (USA)
Although Paranormal Activity is not entirely unique nor does it have star power, it gets back to the basics in hair-raising fashion. The film is set in San Diego, California in 2006. A young couple decides to videotape the strange paranormal activity they’ve been experiencing at night. The camera is set up in their bedroom and captures increasingly disturbing phenomena as time goes on.

The boyfriend obsesses about abolishing their tormentor but in the process of investigating the haunting he only manages to anger it more. The paranormal activity increases throughout the movie testing the couple and their sanity.

The film only has four characters and is entirely presented through the footage of the couple’s own camera (Blair witch style). If you enjoy scary movies this is one you don’t want to miss. The audience was screaming and squirming in their seats at PIFF and it concluded with a huge applause. This movie cracked my, very exclusive, top 5 scary movie list. 
Reviewed by Shawn Green

“Five Minutes of Heaven” (UK / Ireland)
Starring Liam Neeson, Five Minutes of Heaven is a story set in the context of the conflict between Catholics and Protestants in Ireland. Neeson plays Allistair, a man who at the age of seventeen murdered 19-year-old James Griffin because of rumours that James (a Protestant) was making trouble for some Catholic co-workers. James’ brother Jim witnessed the murder and the movie centres on the relationship between Allistair and Jim. The movie tells the story of these two men thirty-three years after the murder, when they are brought together by a television show for an on-screen process of reconciliation.

This was one of my favourite movies at this year’s film festival as it examined some tough themes very poignantly. I always appreciate a movie that challenges my presuppositions about issues and I left this movie considering the efficacy of reconciliation, as well as humankind’s desire for vengeance. The acting was stellar and the story was stark yet touching, handling the issue with sensitivity without being trite. I heartily recommend this movie to others.
Reviewed by Emily Reesor

“선화, 또 하나의 나 / Sona, the Other Myself” (Korea / Japan)
In her second film examining life in Pyongyang through the eyes of her family, director Yang Yong-hi focuses on the life of her niece, Sona. In a series of home video recordings dating from 1995 to 2008, Yang chronicles her visits to her family in Pyongyang. Only three years old in the first scenes of the movie, bright and naturally inquisitive Sona quickly becomes the focal point of Yang’s observations during her family visits and the two share several candid conversations contrasting life inside and outside the secretive state. Yang’s portrait of her family manages to simultaneously convey the warmth and intimacy of their reunions, her own misgivings regarding the repressive state in which her family lives, and Sona’s growing interest and curiosity about her aunt’s world. Expect “Sona, the Other Myself” to be released to the general public in fall 2010. Constantly thought-provoking and often emotionally charged, this film is a must-see.

Reviewed by Josh Hastey

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