Pusan Int'l Film Festival kicks off

The 14th Pusan International Film Festival officially kicked off today, opening with South Korean film "Good Morning President", starring Hallyu star Jang Dong-gun as one of the three presidents.

Asia's biggest film fest set a new record this year by showing a total of 355 films from 70 countries. And the number of movies making a world premiere and international premiere are counted at 144, also a new record for PIFF.

The opening ceremony, to be held 7 p.m. today at Haeundae Yacht Club, will be hosted by Korean actors Kim Yoon-seok and Jang Mi-hee and attended by some 150 actors and industry people from all over the world.

Korean stars set to attend the PIFF include Hallyu star Lee Byung-hun, Kim Yun-jin, Ha Ji-won, Ahn Sung-ki and Kang Soo-yeon. Some of Korea's top filmmakers, including Jang Jin and Lim Kwon-taek, are also expected to show up.

Foreign stars visiting Korea for the film fest include Hollywood actor Josh Hartnett, who will be promoting his new film "I Come with the Rain", Japanese singer and actor Kimura Takyua, British actress Tilda Swinton, Korea-American actress Moon Bloodgood and French director Costa Gavras.

The committee has also organized a section dedicated to Korean director Yoo Hyun-mok and actress Jang Jin-young, who died of stomach cancer last month. Three movies starring Jang -- "Sorum", "Blue Swallow", "Singles" -- will be shown while a special booth will display her personal belongings and videos.

The festival will close with Chinese film "The Message", directed by Chen Kuofu and Gao Qunshu, on October 16.

Reporter : Ko Kyoung-seok kave@asiae.co.kr
Editor : Lynn Kim lynn2878@asiae.co.kr