[Photos] Jecheon gears up for Bong Joon-ho, Park Chan-wook appearances, unseen Snowpiercer stills and 188 films from 45 countries

Masters return, awakening a city of 120,000

Asia’s only music film festival, the Jecheon International Music & Film Festival (JIMFF), opens its doors on the 3rd. Now in its 22nd year, the festival is generating more excitement than ever. News that directors Jang Hang-jun, the festival’s executive chairman, and Bong Joon-ho and Park Chan-wook, widely regarded as the twin pillars of South Korean cinema, will attend has already sent anticipation soaring. Festival organizers said overall advance bookings remain at typical levels, but tickets for key programs are selling out at an unusually rapid pace. Jecheon was calm but taut and busy on the eve of the opening. Large promotional displays went up across the city, while workers preparing the festival and members of the press streamed through the streets, bringing a fresh burst of energy to the city.

Festival moves downtown, boosting the local economy

The festival’s most significant change this year is its effort to expand the connection between audiences and the local community. Screenings of the opening film and major performances, previously held at an airfield on the outskirts of the city, have been moved to the heart of downtown, at the Arts Center Outdoor Stage. Organizers have also introduced a program that refunds part of visitors’ ticket-booking costs in local currency, ensuring that cultural spending translates into actual sales for local businesses. The strategy is already showing results. Lodging facilities near the venues reached full occupancy early, while restaurants have expanded their supplies and staffing to prepare for the crowds. Busking and other side events taking place throughout Jecheon have transformed the once-quiet small city into one enormous outdoor festival grounds.

188-film musical journey unfolds under tight security

Authorities are deploying extensive safety measures as large crowds are expected. The city of Jecheon has assigned about 70 employees from its culture and arts department, along with police officers, to the festival grounds. It has also deployed a police tactical unit and is conducting counterterrorism prevention measures, including explosives inspections, to maintain tight security. Under the slogan “Fly Together,” this year’s festival will present 188 diverse films submitted from 45 countries around the world. Screenings will take place at Jecheon Culture Theater, the Jecheon Center for Media and Culture “Bom,” and Yeonyeoncho Salon. The signature music festival One Summer Night will run for two days beginning on the 4th, with top artists including FTISLAND and Crush heating up the stage. Other rare events are also set to satisfy audiences’ intellectual and cultural appetites, including Talk to You, featuring prominent figures such as Sohn Suk-hee, Jeon Mi-do and Kim Yoon-ah, as well as exhibitions of previously unreleased still photographs from Oldboy and Snowpiercer.