Busan film festival opening film press conference features Kim Min-ha and cast
In short
A press conference for the 31st Busan International Film Festival's opening film, Kim Jong-kwan's “낮과 밤은 서로에게,” was held on 6 October at the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae-gu, Busan. Kim Min-ha, who appears in the first of the film's four stories, said she was honoured to greet audiences as the festival's opening film, and she and Joo Jong-hyuk said they had long been fans of the director. The festival runs until 15 October and will screen 316 films from 59 countries.
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The opening film of the 31st Busan International Film Festival, Kim Jong-kwan's “낮과 밤은 서로에게,” held its press conference on the afternoon of 6 October at the Junggeuk Theater of the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae-gu, Busan. Director Kim Jong-kwan attended along with actors Kim Min-ha, Joo Jong-hyuk, Han Sun-hwa, Jang Ryul, Sim Eun-kyung, Jeon So-young and Kim Dong-hwi, according to Hankook Ilbo. Sports Chosun's report on the event also lists programmer Jung Ji-hye among those present. [ 1 , 5 ]
Kim Min-ha, who appears in the first of the film's four stories, said she was honoured to be able to greet audiences as the festival's opening film. She said she remembered the day she first received the script, describing herself as a longtime fan of the director who had followed his guest visits, and said the script felt like a dream. She called the film a gift-like work, noting that her first day of shooting fell on her birthday. [ 1 , 4 ]
Kim Min-ha and Joo Jong-hyuk both said they had been fans of Kim Jong-kwan for a long time, according to Sports Chosun. The director said of Kim Min-ha's acting that it was as natural as breathing. The film follows conversations between day and night at a single cafe across one season, with eight actors — paired as Kim Min-ha and Joo Jong-hyuk, Han Sun-hwa and Jang Ryul, Sim Eun-kyung and Lee Hee-joon, and Jeon So-young and Kim Dong-hwi — performing across four stories. [ 1 , 5 ]
Hankook Ilbo reported that the 31st Busan International Film Festival runs until 15 October in the Busan Cinema Center area, with 316 films from 59 countries screening for audiences. [ 1 ]
Why it matters
The opening film sets the tone for Busan, which the Korea Economic Daily describes as Asia's largest film festival, and the press conference is the first public showcase for Kim Jong-kwan's new ensemble work. The festival's 316-film, 59-country programme gives Korean audiences and visiting industry a two-week run of international premieres in Busan.
Key facts
- The 31st Busan International Film Festival's opening film is “낮과 밤은 서로에게,” directed by Kim Jong-kwan. [ 1 , 4 , 5 ]
- A press conference for the opening film was held on 6 October at the Busan Cinema Center's Junggeuk Theater in Haeundae-gu, Busan. [ 1 , 4 , 5 ]
- Kim Min-ha said she was honoured to be able to greet audiences as the festival's opening film. [ 1 , 4 ]
- Kim Min-ha and Joo Jong-hyuk said they had been fans of director Kim Jong-kwan for a long time. [ 4 , 5 ]
- The film depicts conversations between day and night at a single cafe over the course of one season, told in four stories with eight actors. [ 1 , 5 ]
- The festival runs until 15 October in the Busan Cinema Center area and screens 316 films from 59 countries. [ 1 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Kim Jong-kwan's “낮과 밤은 서로에게” is the opening film of the 31st Busan International Film Festival, and its press conference took place on 6 October at the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae-gu, Busan. [ 1 , 4 , 5 ]
- Kim Min-ha, Joo Jong-hyuk, Han Sun-hwa, Jang Ryul, Sim Eun-kyung, Jeon So-young and Kim Dong-hwi are among the cast of the film. [ 1 , 5 ]
Still unclear
- Whether actor Lee Hee-joon attended the press conference. Hankook Ilbo lists Lee Hee-joon among the film's eight actors, paired with Sim Eun-kyung, but his name does not appear in the attendance list in either Hankook Ilbo or Sports Chosun's report.
- The exact time the press conference began. The documents say only that it was held on the afternoon of 6 October.
- The film's official English or international title. The documents give only the Korean title, which is rendered here literally; no official English title appears in the sources.
- Kim Min-ha and Joo Jong-hyuk both said they had been longtime fans of director Kim Jong-kwan. Reported by a single source so far
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Hankook Ilbo publishes its report from the opening film press conference, quoting Kim Min-ha. [ 1 ]
- Korea Economic Daily publishes Busan International Film Festival coverage featuring the film and actors Kim Min-ha and Han Sun-hwa. [ 2 ]
- Sports Chosun, carried by Chosun Ilbo, reports Kim Min-ha and Joo Jong-hyuk describing themselves as longtime fans of director Kim Jong-kwan. [ 4 ]
- Sports Chosun, carried by Chosun Ilbo, publishes a fuller report on the cast's ensemble performances. [ 5 ]