Busan Film Fest announces 10 nominees for new award category

Busan International Film Festival on Tuesday announced 10 nominees for its new Kim Ji-seok award, honoring the longtime program director of the festival who passed away in May.

Kim began as a programmer of Asian films at BIFF in 1996, and in 2007 went on to serve as the head programmer of Asia’s largest film festival.

Kim passed away during a trip to France’s Cannes Film Festival.

The award celebrates the late Kim’s passion for Asian cinema and the discovery of emerging directors.

The nominated 10 works have been made by Asian directors who have been active in cinema for a while.

Chinese director Li Xiafeng’s “Ash” deals with a medical student, steelworker and young police investigator who become entangled in two murders.

Taiwanese director Yang Ya-che’s “The Bold, The Corrupt and The Beautiful” traces an ambitious businesswoman whose plan to scam both government and industry backfires.

Indonesian director Ismail Basbeth’s “The Carousel Never Stops Turning” is about a man mourning over his late wife, newlyweds and an array of women.

Nepalese director Nabin Subba’s “Goodbye Kathmandu” is set in 2004 as Nepal’s brutal civil war rages, and three characters look for success, identity and love in Kathmandu.

Indian director Dipesh Jain’s “In the Shadows” is a psychological thriller in which a lonely man obsesses over the people he watches on hidden cameras.

Thai director Anuch Boonyawatana’s “Malila: The Farewell Flower” depicts former lovers who navigate a break-up, child, death and terminal illness.

Japanese director Yoshida Daihachi’s “The Scythian Lamb” is about a government-sponsored program that brings six strangers to a small town by the sea harboring sinister secrets.

Chinese director Zhang Miaoyan’s “Silent Mist” sees danger lurking in a foggy town in modern-day Southern China.

In Filipino director Raya Martin’s “Smaller and Smaller Circles,” a dead boy from a poor community is found on a trash heap and investigation ensues.

Japanese director Yoshiyuki Kishi’s “Wilderness” features an abandoned child and a child from an abusive home honing their boxing skills as a way of self-discovery.

Two films will be selected and awarded prizes of 10 million won ($8,800).

BIFF will also be launching Platform Busan, a network for Asian independent filmmakers that the late Kim had organized, offering seminars, forums and workshops in which filmmakers can exchange information.

The 22nd edition BIFF is set to take place on Oct. 12-21.

(doo@heraldcorp.com)