A 20th anniversary should be a big occasion for any event, let alone for Korea's premier international film festival, known as BIFF, or the Busan International Film Festival. The annual fest has put the southeastern port city of Busan and the Korean films on the international cinematic map.
Unfortunately, what's been heard from this proud annual event has been negative rumblings and ruptures. The Korean Film Council, in its recent announcement of its 2015 funding decisions for international film events, has slashed the support budget for the BIFF by about half. Thus, as it looks to celebrate its 20 years, the BIFF will now receive only 800 million won, down from some 1.46 billion won it received last year.
The Korean Film Council said that the decision is to focus funding on festivals still developing internationally, and distribute funds more equally among film festivals in the country because the BIFF has to date received more than 40 percent of the council's budget. Accordingly, the council has increased the budget for five other domestic film festivals, including the Jeonju International Film Festival and the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival. The BIFF has had its budget cut previously, but not to this extent and not so suddenly, prompting speculation that the latest budget cut may well be politically driven.
Last year, the BIFF screened the film "Diving Bell," which is a controversial documentary about the tragic April 16 sinking of the ferry Sewol that killed 304 people. Mayor Suh Byung-soo, of Busan city, which also supports the BIFF, had objected to its screening. The mayor is also a close ally of President Park Geun-hye. Since then, there has been a special audit by the Board of Audit and Inspection, and a regular review by the city government that resulted in the demand that BIFF commissioner Lee Yong-kwan step down. The rift between the Busan city government and the BIFF commissioner seemed to have died down since then, but the BIFF now faces a bigger problem of diminished provisions from the council.
Culture thrives when unfettered and uncensored. It is true that government support has helped the BIFF catapult not only into Korea's, but Asia's premier film festival. But the feat was possible also because the previous commissioner, former Busan mayors and cinema people worked hard to maintain the festival's independence. The council should reconsider its financing plan for the 2015 BIFF.
Unfortunately, what's been heard from this proud annual event has been negative rumblings and ruptures. The Korean Film Council, in its recent announcement of its 2015 funding decisions for international film events, has slashed the support budget for the BIFF by about half. Thus, as it looks to celebrate its 20 years, the BIFF will now receive only 800 million won, down from some 1.46 billion won it received last year.
The Korean Film Council said that the decision is to focus funding on festivals still developing internationally, and distribute funds more equally among film festivals in the country because the BIFF has to date received more than 40 percent of the council's budget. Accordingly, the council has increased the budget for five other domestic film festivals, including the Jeonju International Film Festival and the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival. The BIFF has had its budget cut previously, but not to this extent and not so suddenly, prompting speculation that the latest budget cut may well be politically driven.
Last year, the BIFF screened the film "Diving Bell," which is a controversial documentary about the tragic April 16 sinking of the ferry Sewol that killed 304 people. Mayor Suh Byung-soo, of Busan city, which also supports the BIFF, had objected to its screening. The mayor is also a close ally of President Park Geun-hye. Since then, there has been a special audit by the Board of Audit and Inspection, and a regular review by the city government that resulted in the demand that BIFF commissioner Lee Yong-kwan step down. The rift between the Busan city government and the BIFF commissioner seemed to have died down since then, but the BIFF now faces a bigger problem of diminished provisions from the council.
Culture thrives when unfettered and uncensored. It is true that government support has helped the BIFF catapult not only into Korea's, but Asia's premier film festival. But the feat was possible also because the previous commissioner, former Busan mayors and cinema people worked hard to maintain the festival's independence. The council should reconsider its financing plan for the 2015 BIFF.
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