[PIFF] PIFF jury has eyes set on challenge takers

Japanese costume designer Wada Emi speaks at the press conference at the Haeundae Grand Hotel in Busan, South Korea on October 8, 2010. [PIFF]

The Pusan International Film Festival's main competition New Currents section may only recognize new Asian directors but its jury has its eyes set on the more challenging films.

"How challenging the films are given the long history of movies will be the main focus since they'll influence later works," said Emmy-award winning costume designer Wada Emi, also heading the jury, at a press conference in Korea's second largest city Busan on Friday.

Wada has long observed the film industry while creating costumes for the works of major filmmakers including Japan's Akira Kurosawa, Britain's Peter Greenaway and China's Zhang Yimou.

Head of the Berlin International Film Festival's International Forum Christoph Terhechte agreed with Wada. "As long as it has personal views and has the quality to bring something new and challenging to the way we see films," he remarked, adding that some of the most daring films he had seen were at PIFF's New Currents section.

Terhechte, attending PIFF for the tenth year, pays special attention to Asian cinema in his independent section of the Berlin fest.

Meanwhile, Korean actress Kim Yun-jin, star of American public network ABC's hit series "Lost," explained that she was uncertain about her ability to judge the best film given her relatively short experience in movies, but decided to go with "what moves my heart" as advised by festival head Kim Dong-ho.

Kim Yun-jin, who debuted through television, became a household name in the country after starring in 1998 smash hit film "Shiri."

The jury, also including Cannes Camera d'Or-winning Indian director Murali Nair and Golden Horse-winning Taiwanese actress Yang Kuei-mei, will pick two films they deem best from a range of debut or sophomore features by Asian directors at the PIFF running from October 7 to 15.

From left, head of festival Kim Dong-ho, Taiwanese actress Yang Kuei Mei, Japanese costume designer Wada Emi, Indian director Murali Nair, Korean actress Kim Yun-jin and Berlin's International Forum head Christoph Terhechte poses during a photocall of a press conference at the Haeundae Grand Hotel in Busan, South Korea on October 8, 2010. [PIFF]

Jessica Kim jesskim@