Film Festival Organizations Urge Withdrawal of KOFIC Budget Cut Reversal Request

"Directly Undermining the Driving Force of Film Creation"
"A Table Must Be Formed for the Development of Film Culture"

Film festival organizations have demanded the Korea Film Council to retract its budget cuts for next year's film festivals. Fifty film festival organizations, including the Busan International Film Festival, Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, and Jeonju International Film Festival, issued a joint statement on the 14th, emphasizing that "film festivals are fundamental projects that serve as motivation and goals for film creation," and that they "act as a cradle for numerous creators and a bridgehead to introduce Korean films to the world, serving as a platform that shares and roots the true values of cultural diversity and inclusiveness in our society." They added, "Cutting the budget for film festivals directly diminishes the driving force of film creation," and criticized that "it will not only have a fatal impact on film culture but will also inevitably lead to negative consequences for the film industry."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

In the 2024 budget proposal submitted by the Korea Film Council to the National Assembly, the budget for regional support was cut by 100%, and the budget for domestic and international film festival development support projects was cut by 50%. The number of supported film festivals was reduced from forty to twenty. The film festival organizations stated, "This infringes on the diverse experiences and enjoyment rights of film audiences," and "it does not align with the policy direction of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration." The government has set national tasks such as "realizing universal cultural welfare that enriches everyday life" and "an era of local regions where it is good to live anywhere in the Republic of Korea."

The film festival organizations stressed, "'The Act on the Promotion of Films and Video Works' stipulates the promotion of video culture and the video industry to enhance the cultural life of the people," and "the Korea Film Council's budget should be the foundation for promoting film culture, which has been marginalized in the industry." They urged, "Withdraw the 50% cut in the Korea Film Council's 2024 film festival support budget immediately and establish a discussion table for the development of film festivals and film culture."

The statement included participation from the 2030 Youth Film Festival, 518 Film Festival, DMZ International Documentary Film Festival, Catholic Film Festival, Gwangju Independent Film Festival, Gwangju Women’s Film Festival, Namwon Youth Film Festival, New Wave Film Festival, Daegu Short Film Festival, Daegu Women’s Film Festival, Diaspora Film Festival, Mokpo National Road No.1 Independent Film Festival, Muju Mountain Valley Film Festival, Busan International Short Film Festival, Busan International Children and Youth Film Festival, Busan International Film Festival, Busan Independent Film Festival, Busan Women’s Film Festival, Busan Intercity Film Festival, Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, Seoul International Architecture Film Festival, Seoul International Alternative Video Art Festival, Seoul International Experimental Film Festival, Seoul International Women’s Film Festival, Seoul International Food Film Festival, Seoul International Pride Film Festival, Seoul Independent Film Festival, Seoul Animal Film Festival, Seoul Barrier-Free Film Festival, Seoul Yeongdeungpo International Ultra Short Film Festival, Seoul Indie-Anifest, Suryeohan Hapcheon Film Festival, Sci-Fi On Festa, Our Country’s Easternmost Film Festival, Ulsan Ulju World Mountain Film Festival, Wonju Rooftop Film Festival, Incheon Independent Film Festival, Incheon Women’s Film Festival, Jeonbuk Independent Film Festival, Jeonju Family Film Festival, Jeonju International Short Film Festival, Jeonju International Film Festival, Jeongdongjin Independent Film Festival, Jeju Women’s Film Festival, Jeju Hondwi Independent Film Festival, Jecheon International Music Film Festival, Jungnang-gu Youth Film Festival, Jungnang Starlight Film Festival, Changwon International Democracy Film Festival, and Chuncheon Film Festival.

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