Canadian films have fared well in the competition for up and coming non Asian directors.
The 16th Busan International Film Festival has announced ten films for its Flash Forward competition for up-and-coming non-Asian directors. The selection ranges from a re-working of Dostoevsky in The Idiot from Estonia to memories of the 1995 Kobe earthquake in Memories Corner, a France/Canada coproduction, to family and conflict in Off White Lies from Israel.
The festival stated: “The 10 films selected for this year’s Flash Forward section tell the stories of war wounds and the painful reality that weighs down on the activities of artists. By illustrating the memoirs of both life and death in the story, these 10 films prove the power of films that empowers its own voice even in the middle of a painful reality.”
The lineup highlights several feature debuts from directors who have previously won shorts awards, spots in incubating workshops and/or project markets. Director of Joan And The Voices, Mikayel Vatinyan was a participant of the 2007 Pusan Promotion Plan (now renamed the Asian Project Market.)
Ahead of its official lineup press conference on Sept 8, BIFF has also announced a Special Focus on Yonfan: A Touch of Sensuality, a retrospective on 60s master Kim Kee-duk (Five Marines), and Tsui Hark as Asian Filmmaker of the Year.
In addition, the Asian Film Market has opened its online screenings for badge holders to view Asian Project Markt (APM) directors’ previous works.
Flash Forward Lineup
Courage – dir. Greg Zglinski (Poland)
The Idiot – dir. Rainer Sarnet (Estonia)
Joan And The Voices – dir. Mikayel Vatinyan (Armenia)
LA-BAS - A Criminal Education – dir. Guido Lombardi (Italy)
Memories Corner – dir. Audrey Fouché (France/Canada)
MESH (Walking) – dir. Shiar Abdi (Turkey/Germany)
My Father is Baryshnikov – dir. Dmitry Povolotsky / Mark Drugoi (Russia)
Nuit #1 – dir. Anne Émond (Canada)
The Odds – dir. Simon Davidson (Canada)
Off White Lies – di. Maya Kenig (Israel)
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