The Busan Metropolitan Government, the main sponsor of the Busan International Film Festival, is seeking to block the screening of a controversial documentary on the Sewol ferry disaster during the festival.
The 85-minute documentary, “The Truth Shall Not Sink with Sewol,” depicts rescuers working with a “diving bell” during the search for victims of the accident. The film is about the poor response to the tragedy by the Coast Guard and the government.
The screening of the film is scheduled for Oct. 6 and 10 during the festival, which will run from Oct. 2 to 11.
However, Busan Mayor Suh Byung-soo recently told a local daily that the city government will block the screening in consideration of the political controversy surrounding the film.
Kim Jung-yun, the festival’s public relations manager, said the screening will go ahead as scheduled.
“It’s only a week away. And, all the seats are booked,” Kim told The Korea Times.
“If there’s anything to be discussed, the chairman has to communicate to us directly. So far, we have not heard anything from him.”
If the screening gets cancelled, Kim said it would be unprecedented in the festival’s history. And many worry it could tarnish the reputation of the festival.
Meanwhile, a group of relatives of the Sewol victims voiced their opposition to the screening on Thursday.
“We are deploring the fact that the documentary about the failed mission of the diving bell is going to be screened,” they said in a statement.
According to the Busan Metropolitan Government, Seo does not want the screening because of the issue’s political sensitivity.
Seo said, “I don’t think screening something that can potentially feed political prejudice to the general public is good for the festival.”
A Busan city official said the mayor’s opposition also reflected the wishes of the victims’ families.
The documentary was made by two journalists ― Lee Sang-ho from Gobalnews.com and Ahn Hye-ryong, a freelancer documentary journalist. Neither was available for comment.
The documentary is one of 313 works to be screened during the festival, and was chosen by the festival’s seven-member selection committee.