S. Korea`s `Asia-oriented` genre film fest announces lineup

(ATTN: REPHRASES para 2; UPDATES with press conference details in paras 4, 9)
By Shin Hae-in
SEOUL, June 16 (Yonhap) -- Some 200 domestic and international genre films will
be screened at South Korea's Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival (PiFan)
this year, event organizers said Tuesday, finalizing the lineup for the event
noted for the particular attention it's paid to Asian cinema over the past
decade.
Under the theme "Love, Fantasy, Adventure," the annual fete will run from July 16
through 26 in the city of Bucheon, adjacent to Seoul, featuring 202 films from 41
countries. The event will open with "M.W.," Japanese auteur Hitoshi Iwamoto's
live-action adaptation of Osamu Tezuka's dark revenge manga, and close with
"Merantu," considered the first Indonesian martial arts film, by Gareth Huw
Evans.
Celebrating its 13th anniversary this year, PiFan organizers said the event will
be paying special attention on horror films, focusing on the "unlucky number 13."
"While the number 13 is generally recognized as an emblem of fear and bad luck,
it also represents unique and significant meaning when it comes to genres of
horror, mystery and thriller," said PiFan chief organizer Han Sang-joon at a
press conference in Seoul. "As the world's third largest fantastic film festival,
we will create an event this year that matches every expectation of genre film
enthusiasts."
Since its birth in 1997, PiFan has grown by leaps and bounds, delving into
various genres of horror, thriller, mystery, animation and fantasy with
particular attention to Eastern and Southeastern Asian cinema.
Cooperating with Japan's Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival, and
European Fantastic Film Festival Federation (EFFFF), the PiFan has progressed
into the biggest gala of Asian film across all genres.
A total of 38 films will be screened for the first time in the PiFan, which
consists of eight sections: Puchon Choice, World Fantastic Cinema, Fantastic
Short Films, Forbidden Zone, Family Fanta, Ani-Fanta, Special Programs and
Retrospectives.
Six awards are open to innovative feature films in the event's official
competition section the Puchon Choice Feature, selected by five jurors. Four
awards totaling a sum of 13 million won (US$10,200) will be given to short films
selected by three jurors. A separate award, selected by the EFFFF's
representative two jurors will be given to Asian films.
The PiFan also established two new prizes this year, the Netpac Award and the
Fujifilm Eterna Award, to honor admirable Asian film and an independent feature
by emerging Korean auteur, respectively.
This year's PiFan will also accompany events like "Fantastic Concert" and
Fantastic Book Fair," open to all visitors. A broader range of topics and ideas
will be exchanged in PiFan's industry program Network of Asian Fantastic Films,
established last year, and the "Eat and Fun Screening" section will greet
audiences not only with scary films but snacks to pass the summer night.
Tickets for the event will be on sale from June 18.
hayney@yna.co.kr
(END)