Comment on Asia's largest film festival closes with record visitors

Asia's largest film festival closes with record visitors

Organizers also arranged bullet trains or drivers to whisk many of the A-list guests stranded at a Seoul airport, including German actress Nastassja Kinski, to Busan in time for the opening ceremony. Legendary filmmakers such as Hou Hsiao Hsien and Leos Carax, American actor Harvey Keitel, French actress Sophie Marceau and Korean heartthrob Yoo A-in were among the top stars who met audiences at a movie screening or at an open air talk on the beach. Other movies that impressed jurors and audiences were honored with awards in Busan, including "Boys Run" by South Korean director Kang Seokpil, which showed alternatives to the South Korean educational system; "Look Love" by Chinese director Ye Yun about struggles of two kids for love and recognition; "Communication & Lies" by South Korean director Lee Seung-won; "Radio Set" by Indian director Hari Viswanath; "Eyelids" by South Korean director O Muel. China continued to be a notable force at the event, despite fears that Chinese attendance would be affected by the Middle East respiratory syndrome that hit South Korea in the early summer and a plunge in mainland Chinese stocks. The Asian Film Market, the 10-year-old market that is part of the festival, demonstrated its potential to become the go-to place for Asian film professionals to tap the fast-growing Chinese market. The outdoor screen with 5,000 seats under the futuristic metal wing of the cinema center played a box office hit from India, "Bajrangi Bhaijaan," and Chinese box-office hit "Monster Hunt" as well as Japanese animation favorite "My Neighbor Totoro."

 

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