Pusan Promotion Plan rewards outstanding directors

Chinese director Lin Cheng-sheng and Korea's Kim Ki-duk were the big winners at the Pusan Promotion Plan (PPP), Asian co-production workshop which wrapped on Wed, Nov 14 in Korea.

At a ceremony involving much of the top brass from the Cannes festival including chief selector Thierry Fremaux, newly installed Critics' Week head Claire Clouzot and Directors' Fortnight representative Jacques Gerber, the directing pair shared the $20,000 Pusan Metropolitan City Award, for their projects The Moon Also Rises and Bow (Hwal), respectively. The prizes are paid for by a permanent fund set up by the city of Pusan.

Kim, who presented his latest completed feature Bad Guy in the linked Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF), also won the KF-MAP/Sony PCL award for Korean independent films. Lin's previous credits include Berlin silver bear winner Beijing Bicycle, while Kim's includes acclaimed Venice contender The Isle.

The PPP, which matches Asian-originated projects at a number of different stages with financiers form around the world, was of outstanding quality and boasted established talent including two-time Palme d'Or winner Shohei Imamura and Bakhtiar Khoudoinazarov.

Other winners sharing the $150,000 of prizes included Thailand's Danny Pang with a project entitled Nothing To Lose. Korea's Lee Chang-dong, who previously directed Peppermint Candy, and Chinese director Liu Bingjian for Cry Woman, a recently wrapped picture in search of finishing funds. There were also a range of prizes given to first timers in the New Directors In Focus section.

Pusan Metropolitan City Award (shared)
The Moon Also Rises Dir: Lin Cheng-sheng
Bow (Hwal) Dir: Kim Ki-duk

Korea Technology And Banking Award
Nothing To Lose Dir: Danny Pang

Hubert Bals Fund Award
The Truck Dir: Kambozia Partovi.

Kodak Award
Cry Woman Dir: Liu Binhjiaan

Mybi Award
Oasis Dir: Lee Chang-dong

KF-MAP Award
Bow (Hwal) Dir: Kim Ki-duk

Zemiro Award
Serein Dir: Kook Nam

Movie Zemiro Award
Into The Mirror Dir: Kim Sungho

Muhan Award
The Humpty Dumpty Love Song Dir: Choie Young-Jin

Busan Film Commission Award
Hana Dir: Cho Eur-ryung