The opening film of the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) has been leaked in advance, to the bewilderment of many. (Image: Yonhap)
BUSAN, Sept. 9 (Korea Bizwire) — The opening film of the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) has been leaked in advance, to the bewilderment of many.
It is customary that the opening film for every renowned international film festival is kept under tight security until its formal screening in order to attract more attention and to maximize its success.
The news that “Glass Garden” starring Moon Geun-young will be screened as the 22nd BIFF opening movie in October was spread on the internet, starting from Korean film industry’s epicenter in Seoul’s Chungmuro district on September 7,and was even broadcast on some media.
The news that “Glass Garden” starring Moon Geun-young will be screened as the 22nd BIFF opening movie in October was spread on the internet, starting from Korean film industry’s epicenter in Seoul’s Chungmuro district on September 7, and was even broadcast on some media. (Image: Yonhap)
Festival officials are not denying the news, and are clinging to their position that they will make a formal announcement on September 11 at the press conference for the festival’s opening ceremony.
After the failure to keep the title of the opening film under wraps, typically the film that attracts the most interest among festivalgoers, this year’s iteration of BIFF has already lost some of its intrigue.
The latest incident is yet another setback for the festival after the resignation of commissioner Lee Yong-ho in 2014 over the controversial film “Diving Bell”, and the resignation of both director Kim Dong-ho and commissioner Kang Soo-yeon just last month.
The opening film is the one that receives most attention at the opening ceremony press conference because it exhibits the theme and the identity of the festival as a whole along with its leading actor and the producer.
For these reasons, all matters related to an opening film are typically kept secret before its formal release.
The leak appears to be attributed to lax organizational management and staff indiscipline after the supervision of BIFF was transferred from the city of Busan to a private association.
BIFF this year will be held at the Busan Cinema Center and Haeundae from October 12 to 21.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
