This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Jeonju International Film Festival, which has unveiled its lineup. At 25 years old, akin to a person entering young adulthood, the festival is also contemplating what it means to be more ‘authentic’ and ‘Jeonju-like’. On the 3rd, a press conference announcing the films of the 25th Jeonju International Film Festival was held at CGV Yongsan, kicking off with a new festival identity video. With the slogan ‘We Always Cross the Line’, the Jeonju International Film Festival has introduced independent and alternative films with new expressions every year, and this year invited Taiwanese New Wave master Tsai Ming-liang, aiming for genre expansion and boundary-less growth both inside and outside the festival. Based on the words of the Jeonju International Film Festival’s Organising Committee Chair Woo Beom-ki, Co-Executive Chairs Min Seong-wook and Jeong Jun-ho, programmers Moon Seok, Moon Seong-gyeong, Jeon Jin-soo, and General Producer Park Tae-jun, we introduce notable points of this year’s Jeonju International Film Festival.
The Opening Film is Tsai Ming-liang's <All of Dawn>
Representing Japan's New Generation and a director noted by the global film community, Tsai Ming-liang brings his new film <All of Dawn> to Jeonju. The film centres on the friendship and solidarity between a woman suffering from PMS (premenstrual syndrome) and a man with panic disorder, depicting the process of people living with various wounds coming together to create a peaceful universe. Programmer Moon Seok described the opening film as “a beautiful film that everyone can enjoy, even if they are not fond of so-called art films.” Tsai Ming-liang, who attended the Jeonju International Film Festival in 2019 with <Your Bird Can Sing>, visits Jeonju once again.
The closing film will be <Matt and Mara> directed by Canadian Kazik Radwanski. Programmer Moon Seong-gyeong introduced the film by saying, “If I were to summarise the closing film in one sentence, it could be reduced to ‘If we love each other’.” <Matt and Mara> tells the story of two people who knew each other in the past reuniting after a long time, transforming a potentially clichéd subject into a unique and realistic film. Leading actor Vera Farmiga will also visit Jeonju as an international competition jury member for this year’s festival.
Special Exhibition 'Tsai Ming-liang - Walker Series' with Director Tsai Ming-liang and Actor Lee Kang-sheng
Director Tsai Ming-liang declared in 2013, after winning the Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival for <Stray Dogs>, that he would no longer be bound by commercial systems in filmmaking. Since then, he has directed works more suited to art galleries than traditional cinemas. A notable example is the ten works known as the ‘Walker Series’. From <Colorless> (2012) to <No Alcohol> (2024), the ten films in the ‘Walker Series’ feature Tsai Ming-liang’s persona, actor Lee Kang-sheng, walking slowly in a red robe.
This year’s festival will provide a space to answer Tsai Ming-liang’s main question, “Why can’t cinemas be art galleries?” The ‘Tsai Ming-liang – Walker Series’ special exhibition at this year’s Jeonju International Film Festival will introduce all ten films of the ‘Walker Series’ for the first time in the world, and Tsai Ming-liang and actor Lee Kang-sheng will discuss the works directly. Programmer Moon Seong-gyeong explained the intention behind the special exhibition, stating, “The Jeonju International Film Festival has supported films free from the conventions of film expression, which is why we invited Tsai Ming-liang, a symbol of innovation.”
Disney∙Pixar Theme Zone Operation, Jeonju Cine Tour with Baro Entertainment Actors and Other Side Events
The Organising Committee of the 25th Jeonju International Film Festival has expressed its ambition to create a ‘festival-like festival’ without reducing its scale, despite the government cutting its budget. The reason the Jeonju International Film Festival was able to maintain its scale this year is due to cooperation from local governments, linking Jeonju City’s tourism business with the festival’s programmes. For instance, the festival’s representative exhibition ‘100 Films 100 Posters’ can be found at tourist attractions throughout Jeonju City, and various stars will visit Jeonju as part of the ‘Jeonju Cine Tour X Majung’ programme. This year, ‘Jeonju Cine Tour X Majung’ will be conducted in collaboration with Baro Entertainment, with actors Jin-goo, Gong Seung-yeon, Lee Yoo-mi, Lee Soo-kyung, Byun Woo-seok, and others visiting Jeonju to participate in screenings of their works and talk programmes.
Additionally, following the great response to last year’s ‘Star Wars Day’ event, the Jeonju International Film Festival will continue its collaboration with Walt Disney Korea this year. The 25th Jeonju International Film Festival will operate a Disney∙Pixar theme zone and plans to hold a special screening of <Inside Out 2>, which is set to be released in June.
This Year’s Special Programmer is Director Hur Jin-ho
The Jeonju International Film Festival selects one filmmaker each year under the name ‘J Special: Programmer of the Year’. This year’s special programmer is director Hur Jin-ho, who is also from Jeonju, and the festival will screen his films <Spring Days Go By> (2001) and <Outing> (2005), along with films that greatly influenced him, such as Yasujirō Ozu’s <Tokyo Story> (1953), Ha Gil-jong’s <March of Fools> (1975), and Wim Wenders’ <Paris, Texas> (1984). Hur Jin-ho’s new film <Ordinary Family> is yet to be released in South Korea, so unfortunately, it will not be available at this year’s festival.
Hur Jin-ho’s early works resemble the sentiments of Wim Wenders and Yasujirō Ozu. He stated that the reason he chose Ozu’s <Tokyo Story> as a screening film is, “When I decided to become a filmmaker, it was a film and director I wanted to emulate.” He added, “Rather than telling a story with a narrative, it’s a film that makes you reflect on relationships and everyday life that are close to you.”
In addition, this year’s Jeonju International Film Festival will feature various programmes such as the ‘Revisiting: 25+50’ special exhibition in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Korean Film Archive and a special exhibition for the 10th anniversary of the Sewol Ferry tragedy. The 25th Jeonju International Film Festival will be held from May 1 (Wednesday) to May 10 (Friday) in Jeonju City, including the Street of Cinema. Online and mobile ticket sales for the opening and closing ceremonies will begin on April 17 (Wednesday) at 14:00, and general screening ticket sales will start on April 19 (Friday) at 11:00.
Cineplay Reporter Kim Ji-yeon
