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| Maeng Soo-Jin, right, the programmer of the 18th Jecheon International Music & Film Festival (JIMFF), speaks during a press conference held at the Haso Living Culture Center Walk in Jecheon, North Chungcheong Province, Thursday. Other participants are, from left, journalist Jang Sung-ran, organizing committee head Kim Chang-gyu and festival director Cho Sung-woo. Courtesy of JIMFF |
By Kwak Yeon-soo
The 18th Jecheon International Music & Film Festival (JIMFF) will offer a program packed with music-centered films and present a special concert by Justin Hurwitz, the multi-award-winning film composer behind films "Whiplash" (2015) and "La La Land" (2016).
The festival, which will be held in Jecheon, North Chungcheong Province, from Aug. 11 to 16, will also feature original film concerts accompanied by a live orchestra, named "Film in Live," to promote Korean film scores abroad.
The film concerts of "Leafie: A Hen into the Wild" and "One Fine Spring Day" will be presented at Urimji stage, while "E.T: The Extra-Terrestrial in Concert" will take place on the Airfield Stage.
The festival organizers promised to hold all-outdoor events, such as the "One Summer Night" and Film in Live programs, despite the resurgence of COVID-19 in the country. At this year's edition, popular artists, including Seonwoo Junga, Paul Kim and Jannabi will perform onstage.
"Starting this year, JIMFF has set out to cement its position as both a film festival and a celebration of film music. We aim to create a global network for film musicians around the world and become the largest music film festival not only in Asia but also in the world," Cho Sung-woo, the director of the festival, said during a press conference, held at the Haso Living Culture Center Walk in Jecheon, Thursday. It was also livestreamed via YouTube.
He introduced newly added programs that include the JIMFF OST Market, aimed at discovering and supporting the debut of aspiring artists in the field of film music, and the "Remembering Artist Bang Jun-seok" section, where JIMFF will hold memorial screenings for the artist who passed away this year. In addition, music director Cho Young-wuk was named Curator of the Year.
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| From left, the 18th Jecheon International Music & Film Festival's programmer Maeng Soo-Jin, organizing committee head Kim Chang-gyu and festival director Cho Sung-woo pose after a press conference held at the Haso Living Culture Center Walk in Jecheon, North Chungcheong Province, Thursday. Courtesy of JIMFF |
Under the slogan of "a tempo," a musical term that means "return to the original tempo," this year's festival aims for visitors to enjoy it "with a stable tempo, comfortably and leisurely." A total of 140 films from 39 countries will be screened during the six-day festival.
Polish film "Sonata," directed by Bartosz Blaschke, has been selected to open the festival. The film is based on the true story of musician Grzegorz Plonka, who was initially diagnosed with an autistic disorder before it is discovered he had acute hearing loss. With the support of his parents and auditory implants, he begins to learn music and dreams of becoming a pianist.
A total of 12 films were invited to compete in the international section, including: "Calendar Girls" by Swedish director Love Martinsen, "The Extra Terrestrial Orchestra" by Spanish director Imanol Zinkunegi and "Limbo" by British filmmaker Ben Sharrock.
This year's festival also welcomes a competition section for local films. The 17 contenders include: "Freespirit," "Withstanding and Exiting" and "Busking."
"This year, we have received more entries (140) compared with last year (116). Of all the programs we have prepared, I personally recommend the original film concert of 'E.T: The Extra Terrestrial' that will be held on Aug. 14," the festival's programmer, Maeng Soo-jin, said.
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