Women’s Film Fest Leaves Lasting Impression

Veteran actress/producer Choi Eun-hee, left, presents the Park Namok Award to director Lim Soon-rye at the closing the ceremony of the 10th International Women's Film Festival in Seoul, Friday. / Yonhap

By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

One of the world's largest and most influential film events for women, the 10th International Women's Film's Festival in Seoul (IWFFIS), came to a close Friday. The festival may have ended, but nine-days of enabling people to ``see the world through women's eyes'' left a lasting impression.

The festival celebrated its big birthday with a big party, showing 140 films from 30 countries. It attracted over 50 thousand people, including over 40 female cineastes and scholars from 14 countries. Screenings recorded an average capacity of 86 percent, with numerous sell-outs.

Special guests included esteemed directors such as Peng Xiaolian, the first Chinese filmmaker; Helena Trestikova, recipient of the 2007 Best Czech Documentary Film Award; and Barbara Hammer, who presented an intriguing documentary on women divers native to Jeju Island.

The IWFFIS, being a playground for artistic and intellectual discussion, held two seminars at Ewha Womans University. World-renowned professors Teresa de Lauretis, Meaghan Morris and others discussed the meaning of women's films and ``cine-feminism.'' The film section ``Female Bodies: Biopolitics and Body Politics'' was the perfect compliment to the seminar ``Women's Bodies in the Age of Bio-tech,'' drawing many more discussants and audiences to debate topics ranging from reproduction to plastic surgery.

This year's edition also marked several firsts. IWFFIS presented its first own production, ``Ten Ten,'' as the opening film. Another first was the new section called Open Cinema, which invited movies by male directors ― a bold move at a women's film festival. Films such as ``The Edge of Heaven,'' the latest work by acclaimed director Fatih Akin, attracted a considerable number of middle-aged men.

Young promising director Park Ji-wan, left, sheds tears of joy after receiving the grand prize in the Asian Short Film [culture/caption] Veteran actress/producer Choi Eun-hee, left, presents the Park Namok Award to director Lim Soon-rye at the closing the ceremony of the 10th International Women's Film Festival in Seoul, Friday. / Yonhap

Honorable Mentions

Friday's closing ceremony in Artreon Theater, northern Seoul, announced winners of various awards. One of them was the newly introduced Park Namok Award, named after Korea's first female filmmaker (``The Widow,'' 1955). Park, unable to attend the festival, sent a congratulatory message via video to director Lim Soon-rye. Lim rose to prominence with her critically acclaimed film ``Waikiki Brothers'' (2001) and recently enjoyed high box office ratings with ``Forever the Moment'' (2008), a sports drama about the Korean women's handball team.

Veteran actress Choi Eun-hee, a living legend here, made a rare public appearance to present the award on behalf of Park. ``It would've been great if Park Namok gave me the award herself, but I'm equally honored that Choi Eun-hee, also a film producer in her days, took the place,'' said Lim.

``I'm able to stand where I am now thanks to pioneering women like Park and Choi… But I'm embarrassed to receive the award, because I was hoping a younger director would receive it,'' she said. Lim offered to donate the cash prize to Park, who is having difficulty living abroad, and to the festival fund for young directors. ``No pressure for future recipients of the award,'' she added.

Kim Ji-young, who hosted the closing ceremony with her husband and fellow actor Nam Sung-jin, expressed glee that the film she starred in received the honor.

The festival's sole competition section, the Asian Short Film & Video Competition, drew over 260 entrees from 13 countries, of which 19 competed for three prizes. This year, the grand prize went to ``High School Girls'' (Korea, 2008) by Park Ji-wan, who received the prize shedding heavy tears of joy. First prize went to ``Lioness(es)'' (Korea, 2007), a comedy noir by Hong Jae-hee and ``The Thing She Can't Avoid in the City'' (Korea, 2008), an animated film by Park Jee-youn. Actor Jung In-gi, who starred in ``Lioness(es)'' and is a familiar face through the current box office smash ``The Chaser,'' made an appearance that evening.

``Mi-ja's Beauty Parlor'' (Korea, 2007), by Lee Youn-young, won People's Choice (audience award), while ``She Saw Spring'' (Korea, 2007) by Ji-min, received a special commendation from the jury.

The Women's News Award, awarded by the Women's Newspaper, went to ``Stairs of Doll'' (Korea, 2006) by Suh Jung-min and ``Alice or Life in Black and White'' (Belgium, 2006) by Sophie Schoukens.

Directors Hong Ji-yoo and Han Young-hee received the Documentary Ock Rang Award for their film project proposal, ``Lesbian Political Challenge.'' The two directors will film the activities of Choi Hyun-suk, Korea's first openly lesbian politician to run for a parliamentary seat. The documentary will be presented at next year's festival.

``The festival allowed moviegoers to see the world from a different light, as seen through women's eyes. Men and women alike should be able to taste the joys of life,'' said, Chang Pilhwa, chairperson of the festival organizing committee.

The 2008 IWFFIS provided not only cinematic diversions, enabling audiences to meet and converse with directors, but was also a hot spot for intellectually stimulating discussions. The intimate environment allowed festival-goers to approach filmmakers, who were easily spotted around the theater. The festival managed to get bigger and better, while still maintaining the homey atmosphere that people love most about it.

hyowlee@koreatimes.co.kr