No less than 11 Korean films will be screened for audiences at the 15th Shanghai International Film Festival, scheduled to take place from June 16-24. A large number of Korean companies who do business with China will also participate at the SIFF Market, held in tandem with the festival.

 

Foremost among the Korean films selected is director SONG Young-sung’s <The Client>, which will compete with nine other films for the Asian New Talent Award. This competitive section, which provides cash awards for Best Director and Best Feature Film, will be judged by a jury headed by Iranian filmmaker Amir NADERI, and also including Korean critic/programmer JUNG Sung-il.

 

KIM Ki-duk’s documentary <Arirang>, which was awarded in the Un Certain Regard category of the 2011 Cannes Film Festival, will screen in the Official Selection, which highlights new works by acclaimed directors and important films that have screened at other festivals. A 3D remastering of BONG Joon-ho’s acclaimed <The Host> will also screen in a special section devoted to 3D films.

 

Finally, eight new Korean films will be included in the Spectrum section, which highlights contemporary world cinema. The films include animated feature <Green Days> by AHN Jae-hoon, <Love Fiction> by JEON Gye-soo, box office hit <Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time> by YOON Jong-bin, popular coming-of-age drama <Punch> by LEE Han, romantic comedy/horror film <Spellbound> by HWANG In-ho, last year's smash hit <Sunny> by KANG Hyung-chul, and the courtroom drama <Unbowed> by veteran director CHUNG Ji-young. CHOI Jin-sung’s epic K-pop documentary <I AM.> was also a late addition to the section.

 

Meanwhile, 11 Korean companies will be taking part in the SIFF Market, which provides an opportunity for sales companies and other international firms to meet and do business with Chinese counterparts. The majority of the Korean companies taking part are in the burgeoning field of post-production, including CJ Powercast, Digital Idea, Digital Studio 2L, Moneff, Macrograph, and Next Visual Studio. Wave Lab Production and Studio SH specialize in the field of audio post-production. In recent years, Korea has become an increasingly popular choice among Chinese producers looking for high-quality digital effects and other post-production services.

 

Other companies taking part in the market include Yuyoung Makeup, the Busan Film Commission, and international sales company CJ Entertainment.

 

More information about the festival and the market can be found at the website http://www.siff.com.