By Bryan Kay
Staff Reporter
Foreign cinema will be showcased in a new special section at this year's Seoul International Family Film Festival (SIFFF).
The two countries to feature in the debut of the program are Australia and Denmark, from where native producers and directors have contributed productions.
"We are so proud to present the films in Korea," Busik Park, program team manager, told The Korea Times in a telephone interview. "We would like our festival to be a platform."
From Australia there are five feature films and five shorts, including "Broken Hill", "In My Father's Country" and "Accidents Happen," starring Oscar-winning actress Geena Davis.
Work has also been contributed by Danish director Nils Malmros, who has put together four films set in his home city of Aarhus, Denmark.
Malmros, who gained international recognition from films such as "Tree of Knowledge" and "Arhus by Night," is also a practicing doctor.
"Beautiful Change" is the chosen theme for the 3rd edition of SIFFF, where 117 films from 24 countries will be screened, running from Wednesday through Nov. 3.
Having previously selected themes of a political nature, this year SIFFF's "Beautiful Change" will attempt to "change the normal concept of a traditional family," said Park.
The festival holds an international film competition ― SIFFF International Competition-All About Family ― where works from both upcoming and established directors are shown.
This year, eight films from eight countries ― China, Canada, Sweden, France, Korea, Argentina, Germany and Austria ― will be shown during the competition, all of which depict "the inner struggles of youth," according to SIFFF.
Nineteen special guests are set to attend the six-day event, including famous actors, directors and producers, some of whom will sit on the jury for the international film competition.
Randal Kleiser, director of renowned films such as "Grease" and "Flight of the Navigator," is expected to make an appearance.
Korea Times intern JR Breen contributed reporting to this article.