Courtesy of BIFAN
The highly anticipated 27th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN) is set to commence with an 11-day program at the Bucheon City Hall Lawn Plaza in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province. The opening ceremony will be co-hosted by acclaimed actors Park Ha-seon and Seo Hyun-woo, both of whom have strong connections to the festival. Park was honored with BIFAN's Fantastic Best Actor Award in 2020 for her remarkable performance in "Go Back," while Seo received the same award in 2022 for his outstanding role in "Thunderbird."
Park, who made her debut in 2005 with the SBS drama "Love Needs a Miracle," has since established herself as a versatile talent in both film and TV dramas. Her latest work, "Where Would You Like to Go?," is currently captivating audiences in theaters nationwide.
Seo, whose career began with the musical "The Harmonium in My Memory" in 2010, has garnered praise for his appearances in numerous hit films, including "Honest Candidate 2" (2022) and "Decision to Leave" (2022). Next on his horizon is a leading role in the upcoming Netflix film "My Name is Loh Kiwan."
Under the captivating theme "Stay Strange," this year's BIFAN will launch with the screening of director Ari Aster's "Beau is Afraid." The film revolves around Beau (portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix), a paranoid man embarking on an arduous journey to visit his mother (played by Patti LuPone) on her birthday. Known for his acclaimed horror films such as "Hereditary" (2018) and "Midsommar" (2019), director Ari Aster will grace the festival with his presence and offer a masterclass to attendees.
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| ▲ Courtesy of BIFAN |
An exceptional retrospective of esteemed actor Choi Min-sik will also be a highlight of the festival. Choi himself curated a selection of 12 films from his illustrious career, which will be showcased during the event. Following screenings, the actor will engage in insightful Q&A sessions with the audience and impart his wisdom through a masterclass.
Choi's journey began in 1989 with a supporting role in the series "Ambitious Times," and he has since crafted an impressive portfolio with over 30 films and 15 TV series under his belt. Notably, his breakthrough role as the lead character in the 1999 action film "Swiri" propelled him to stardom. He continued to deliver captivating performances in notable works such as the Cannes-winning "Chihwaseon" (2002), "Oldboy," and the historical film "Roaring Currents" (2014), which achieved record-breaking success in the Korean box office with over 17.6 million admissions.
"BIFAN programmer Mo Eun-young praised Choi as the epitome of Korean cinema, stating, 'Like no other Korean actor, Choi Min-sik is the face representing Korean cinema; he is Korean cinema itself. In every movie he has starred in, he demonstrates his acting skills transcend limits as he portrays unique characters.'"
The festival's competitive sections include the Bucheon Choice for international features, featuring 10 films such as Cannes' Critics' Week Grand Jury Prize winner "Tiger Stripes" and Taiwanese actor Kai Ko's feature directorial debut "Bad Education." Additionally, the Bucheon Choice offers 14 titles competing in the shorts category.
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Kang In sig, insig6622@naver.com
