The Gyeongju World Culture Expo Organizing Committee announced a week-long ‘Korean Film Festival’ to be held throughout Sept. 12th – 19th at three theater venues in Istanbul, Turkey. As one of the main cultural programs of the Istanbul-Gyeongju World Culture Expo 2013, which starts on the 31st of this month, this will be the first film festival to be shared by film professionals of both Korea and Turkey. 17 films from Korea and 10 from Turkey will be showcased along other programs for cultural exchange between film professionals of both film industries.

 

The Gyeongju World Culture Expo, which had its first year in 1998, celebrated six successful editions with 9.89 million attendees up till 2011, earning a reputation as one of the leading Korean cultural brand names. Scheduled to be held from August 31st to September 22nd in Istanbul, Turkey, the Istanbul-Gyeongju World Culture Expo 2013 offers 40 cultural programs including exhibitions, performances, audio-visual displays, experiences and special events in eight different fields with 40 countries participating under the theme of ‘roads, encounters and companionship.’

 

The Korea Film Festival will be held at the Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University Cinema and two cinemas in downtown Istanbul, showcasing a total of 27 films (17 Korean, 10 Turkish). The opening film will be Architecture 101, and Masquerade, The Thieves, The Host (2006), The King and the Clown (2005), Hanji, Duresori: The Voice of the East, Radio Star (2006), Love Fiction, and Leafie, a Hen Into the Wild are a few of the titles included in this lineup offering an overview of Korean films from the 2000s. Turkey will showcase a total of 10 titles including the 2012 Montreal World Film Festival FIPRESCI World Competition Prize and Grand Prix des Amériques Award-winning Where the Fire Burns, the 2011 Cannes Film Festival Grand Prize of the Jury for Best Film-winning Once Upon a Time in Anatolia and the 2008 San Sebastián International Film Festival Golden Seashell Award and Silver Seashell for Best Actress Award-winning Pandora’s Box.

 

In addition to the screenings during the film week, a variety of programs such as a KIM Ki-duk Masterclass and a “Korea-Turkey Film Seminar’ for members of the Korea Film Producers’ Association (KFPA) and Turkey's Television and Motion Picture Producers Association(TESIYAP) to discuss the cultural development of both countries will be offered. LEE Dong-woo, the secertary general of Istanbul-Gyeongju World Culture Expo 2013, stated that “The Korea Film Festival week is the first attempt ever to connect the film industries of both countries” and also emphasized that “a number of distinguished guests from both film industries including film producers, renown film directors and actors will attend this event to strengthen friendship and cooperation between both countries.”

The opening event which will take place at the Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall on September 12th will welcome honored guests such as KIM Ki-duk, The King and the Clown director LEE Joon-ik and LEE Yong-ju, the director of opening film Architecture 101, as well as actors PARK Joong-hoon, KANG Soo-yeon, YEA Ji-won and HAN Ga-in, and film producers LEE Eun, CHOI Yong-bae and WON Dong-yeon.