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 Yongsan CGV, 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 Jeonju International Film Festival Organizing Committee Chair Woo Beom-ki, Co-Executive Chairmen Min Seong-wook and Jung Joon-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 gaining attention in the global film industry, director Tsai Ming-liang brings his new film <All of Dawn> to Jeonju. The film centers 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 commented on the opening film, saying, “It’s a beautiful film that everyone can enjoy, even if they are not fans of so-called art films.” Director Tsai Ming-liang, who attended the Jeonju International Film Festival in 2019 with <Your Bird Can Sing>, returns to 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 summarize 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 a jury member for the international competition of this year’s Jeonju International Film 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. Subsequently, he has directed works more suited to art galleries than traditional cinemas. A representative 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 only Tsai Ming-liang's persona, actor Lee Kang-sheng, walking slowly in a red robe.
This film festival will provide an opportunity 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 of director Tsai Ming-liang, stating, “The Jeonju International Film Festival has supported films free from the conventions of film expression, which is why we invited director Tsai Ming-liang, a symbol of innovation.”
Disney∙Pixar Theme Zone Operation, Jeonju Cine Tour with Baro Entertainment Actors and Other Side Events
The organizing committee of the 25th Jeonju International Film Festival has shown ambition to create a ‘festival-like festival’ despite the government cutting the 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 programs. 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’ program. 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 programs.
Additionally, the ‘Star Wars Day’ event held at last year’s Jeonju International Film Festival received a great response, so this year the festival will continue its collaboration with Walt Disney Korea. The 25th Jeonju International Film Festival plans to operate a Disney∙Pixar theme zone and 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. The festival will screen his films <Spring Days Go By> (2001) and <Outing> (2005), as well as films that greatly influenced him, including Yasujirō Ozu’s <Tokyo Story> (1953), Ha Gil-jong’s <March of Fools> (1975), and Wim Wenders’ <Paris, Texas> (1984). Unfortunately, Hur Jin-ho’s new film <Ordinary Family> is not yet scheduled for release in Korea, so it will not be available at this festival.
Hur Jin-ho’s early works resemble the sentiments of Wim Wenders and Yasujirō Ozu. He stated that the reason he selected 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 close relationships and everyday life.”
In addition, this year’s Jeonju International Film Festival will feature various programs such as the ‘See Again: 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 the area around Jeonju, including Film Street. 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
